Election results should move both parties to introspection. Journalists, too.

[80zephyr]

You might be interested in looking at these statistics from a Congressional Research Firm. Warning, PDF

Teen sex was happenings in the 1950's and 1960's. One of the differences was the fact, I think, that abortions were rare and marriage post-pregnancy were greater. But the sex was still happening.

I have no doubt sex was happening. But at least there was the facade of living a moral life. In the 60's, a divorce was something to be ashamed of. Today, they have parties to celebrate their failure.

Mark

[80zephyr]

I remember, what would you like to know? How a guy who got a girl pregnant could avoid all legal and social responsibility by getting a couple of friends to say they had also had sex with her? Or, on the flip side, laws and biases that made it virtually impossible for a man to get custody of his child(ren), even if the mother didn't or couldn't take care of them properly, and even if she was the one catting around and abandoning the marriage?

How rape victims could grilled and taunted on the witness stand (after being grilled and taunted by the police) about everyone they were ever even thinking about having sex with, even if the rape was obviously forcible?

Perhaps you'd be interested in laws that allowed or compelled involuntary sterilization of young women and girls who were deemed "unfit" mothers, even though the criteria for "unfitness" was often nothing more than being black and pregnant?

Perhaps you're aware that people could be jailed for marrying someone of a different race in 1962? That there were different and openly discriminatory voting laws to prevent black people from exercising the right to vote? That Jim Crow was in full swing?

And then there was employment. You probably think it's silly of me to find it disgusting that in 1962, an employer told my mom, at that time the sole breadwinner in our family (following my dad getting laid off, fortunately briefly), that she was the best qualified candidate for the job but didn't get it because the less-experienced young man who applied "had a family to support." Morals don't just involve sexual behavior.

I could go on, but you see the 50s and early 60s through rose-colored stove lids*, so it's not worth the bother.

* That's a literary reference, for those who have only read one book.

The situation isn't all or nothing. The trend in society should be to keep the best aspects of it, while continually trying to right the wrongs of the past. You seem to believe that because the 60's also had some bad things, we should salvage none of it.

I disagree.

Mark

[Gramps]

I do wish there could be a well supported third party that would be truly conservative on fiscal matters, moderate on social matters, and take the executive branch. I guess a better start would be looking at the legislative branch

It won't happen in our lifetime.
If it's very conservative, the D's win it all.
If its very progressive, the R's win it all.
If it stays in the middle it dies on it's own.

[Frostbit]

It won't happen in our lifetime.
If it's very conservative, the D's win it all.
If its very progressive, the R's win it all.
If it stays in the middle it dies on it's own.

Once all the states pass ranked choice voting it's game over.

[scott]

I have no doubt sex was happening. But at least there was the facade of living a moral life. In the 60's, a divorce was something to be ashamed of. Today, they have parties to celebrate their failure.

Mark

Damn right I celebrated my divorce! My life is so much better. Melanie's life is so much better. We don't fight anymore, we're very good friends now. Seriously, we talk . The kids had a calmer existence after the first few months. ALL 4 are doing quite well. We weren't trying to raise compliant children, we raised happy self-sufficient (3 out of 4 so far) adults.

To your point, my marriage wasn't terrible. No abuse, no drug or alcohol problems, no infidelity until it was obvious we just were not going to have that deep connection (she just isn't that into me - I was good on paper but that wasn't enough for her after about 5 years).

[80zephyr]

Damn right I celebrated my divorce! My life is so much better. Melanie's life is so much better. We don't fight anymore, we're very good friends now. Seriously, we talk . The kids had a calmer existence after the first few months. ALL 4 are doing quite well. We weren't trying to raise compliant children, we raised happy self-sufficient (3 out of 4 so far) adults.

To your point, my marriage wasn't terrible. No abuse, no drug or alcohol problems, no infidelity until it was obvious we just were not going to have that deep connection (she just isn't that into me - I was good on paper but that wasn't enough for her after about 5 years).

I'm glad you are happy. Still wrong to celebrate failure.

Mark

[scott]

I'm glad you are happy. Still wrong to celebrate failure.

Mark

You call it failure, I don't.

[80zephyr]

You call it failure, I don't.

You call it what you want. "Your" truth, is not the truth.

Mark

[scott]

You call it what you want. "Your" truth, is not the truth.

Mark

You're awfully judgy. I wonder if anyone said anything about that in the Bible.

[80zephyr]

You're awfully judgy. I wonder if anyone said anything about that in the Bible.

Reality is not judging. It simply is.

Mark

[Gramps]

Wish I were pure.

[Michele]

Marriages don't need a divorce to be a failure.

[80zephyr]

Marriages don't need a divorce to be a failure.

True. But they do need a divorce to be a failure.

Mark

[80zephyr]

Wish I were pure.

Who said they were? Why are people here so dead set against the truth?

Mark

[scott]

True. But they do need a divorce to be a failure.

Mark

A failure in my view is something I would not repeat.

I don't care how it happened but I have a wonderful family and even a pretty cool ex-wife. That's not a failure.