Is Lying The New Way Of Doing Things In the United States

 

 

It seems that everyday we deal with the repercussions of the new way of doing business in the US.  Whether it is pages of disclosures we have to read and sign when we try to buy something or the willingness of people to "shave the truth" when they tell us their point of view or our politicians who cavalierly mislead us.

Whether it was the mortgage companies who sold mortgages to those who could not afford them; the people who submitted the false income numbers to justify their loans; the government regulations which required the banks to lend to those who could not afford a loan; or the politicians who saw nothing wrong with the process until it exploded, our country is experiencing a decline in morals.

Why have our morals changed? 100 years ago, a man's word was his bond. If he said he would do something, he did. If you asked someone to "put it in writing" they would be insulted. Now, the opposite is true.  Even if it is in writing, there are always those "wiggle words or phrases" which allow us to get out of the contract if we want.
This change has permeated the entire country, every business, every aspect of society.  As the following article illustrates school administrators and teachers made changes to the kids grades so their schools would meet certain requirements. If there should be one aspect of society that you would hope would not be corrupted, that would be schools.  Obviously, schools are reflective of the society in general.

History is always a good teacher and usually is illustrative of future events. In Rome we had the same degradation of values. The longer the country existed, the standards continued to decline. Are headed to the same direction. In short, we believe it is so.

Can the trend be reversed?  Possibly, but it would take an attitude adjustment which would be traumatic and most people do not like change never the less massive change. So the chances of anything occurring are minimal at best. 

What can be expected?  The government will continue to mislead and misdirect us. Our leaders will treat us like children.  Business deceit will increase. Government will add  more regulations to legislate morality and fair business. Morals in general will decline. It will become fair to take from those who have more through theft.  Bribery of officials will become common. Stealing money, benefits or privileges from the government will be the norm, in other words, playing the system will be legalized.

Yes, it is not a pretty picture, but never is life in a third world country to which we are quickly descending.  The United States never was intended to end up this way.  I can only hope that we, Americans, can find the intestial fortitude to make the necessary changes to avoid this tragedy.

The attached article relates the story about education deceit. I hope it upset you as much as it did me.

 

Bill O'Reilly

Lying and Cheating in the Home of the Brave

7/23/2011 |

So, I'm trying to channel Moses here to find out why so many Americans are bearing false witness against their neighbors. Ask any attorney or judge, and they will tell you that lying under oath is now the rule, not the exception, in the nation's courtrooms.
In addition, the national cheating epidemic has exploded. A Georgia investigation alleges systematic cheating occurred at 44 public schools over a 10-year period. But it's not the kids who were caught. No, the state says at least 178 teachers and principals did the deeds. It seems the remarkable improvements in student scores on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests were fraudulent. Educators doctored the tests in order to make their schools look good. They have all been fired.
Lying and cheating almost always come down to betrayal and are most often driven by selfishness. America has become a nation obsessed with immediate gratification. Public schools have embraced secularism with a vengeance; therefore, Moses and his 10 Commandments have been banished.
There are, of course, good people who understand that honesty is indeed the best policy if you want to live a worthwhile life. But their numbers are dwindling. In fact, a recent study out of the University of Connecticut says that an astounding 95 percent of high school students have admitted to cheating in the past year.
For a variety of reasons, our society now embraces and empowers scoundrels. Many of them are fun and exciting. Charlie Sheen commands headlines. Bad guy rappers make millions. In the 1960s, it was: "If it feels good, do it." Today, it is: "If it looks good, steal it." Or: "If it sounds good, say it." Many of the moral boundaries that once elevated this country have collapsed.
President Obama talks about "shared sacrifice," and we used to have that in the USA. My parents pulled together with their neighbors during the Great Depression and World War II. Americans looked out for each other in those trying times. Lying and cheating were considered shameful and could get you ostracized. Generosity and honor were celebrated in even the poorest precincts. This is not some romantic remembrance. It's what happened.
Not today. Now it's a free-for-all of getting what you want as quickly as possible. Lying and cheating are considered by many to be useful tools on the road to accomplishment. If society does not hold us responsible for deceit, why should we hold ourselves responsible?
That's a tough question to answer when students see their teachers cooking the books. And God help the public person who addresses the issue. That person will be branded a hypocrite if he or she has any wrongdoing on the resume.
Truth be told, even Moses would have a tough time in this environment