Overprotective Parents From The Good Old Days

Here's an interesting story about how parents have become more protective of their children.

I, for one, am guilty of overprotectiveness. But, as many parents/grandparents do, I don't sit around and wax nostalgically about how great things use to be.

Writing about Coshocton a century ago ago has reminded me life hasn't changed much. Things move faster and I think we're overstimulated to the point of paranoia, but people are people.

What I've found during my six months of writing this blog:

There were numerous attacks on females, multiple burglaries, constant train fatalities, illness, hardships, dictatorial-like local government, extremely low wages, constant workplace injury and death. You couldn't walk in the evening for fear of being run over by a car which had no head lamps. Drunkeness was rampant as was domestic violence. A man could beat the crap out of his wife and would receive a $10 fine. If you became ill, good luck. Health care was primitive and most often dangerous. Hucksters were everywhere as was mass homelessness.

Look throughout our country in the same time period. If you were a minority, forget it. Lynchings were a daily occurence, and poverty ruled. Mortality rates were high and in many cities, gangs ruled the roost. Government and corporate corruption ran rampant.

Of course, none of it was on TV...or radio...or a computer...or a podcast. It seems as things were more civilized then because it wasn't being shoved down your throat 24 hours per day.

But now, it's a great big game of fear factor. Fear sells. Fear is why we gut our expendable income. You have to have the latest and greatest to protect yourself from terrorists, anthrax, Republicans, Democrats, real and imagined disease, pollution, accidents, electrocution, gangs, crackheads, alcoholics, pedophiles, and on and on.

You fear for your children's safety because your force fed this crap minute-by-minute. Hey, we're only human and therein lies the exploited weakness. Remember, an old salesman's adage, you motivate people only two ways; through desire of gain or fear of loss. Next time you watch an advertisement or a political speech, see if you can figure out how you're being motivated.

The movie might be new, but it's the same soundtrack.