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High
Times?
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!!! This column is a "part-two" - so to speak - from last week's
column...or maybe a more "in-depth" view. But our (the US) history
shows us that we - as a people - were not ready for an extended period
of peace - or blessings - or growth of mind/inventions, etc or whatever
you want to call it.
After World War 1, there were the Roaring Twenties. It was a time of
economic growth and widespread prosperity. This was driven by a
recovery from wartime devastation...deferred spending (loans), a boom
in construction, and a rapid growth of automobiles & electricity.
The USA provided loans for a European boom as well.
Women were liberated (flappers), more people lived in cities than on
farms, and the USA's wealth more than doubled. Then the stock market
crashed.
During the Great Depression we had World War 2. The US got back on her
feet. And then entered a couple more "wars"...Korea...Viet Nam.
After Viet Nam, it seemed as though the world had had enough. Enough
war. Enough death. Enough of losing the ground that was gained.
Times got easier. Opportunities were more abundant. More jobs in
factories were available. More factories were built.
Social Security was signed into law by US President Franklin Roosevelt
in 1935.
Massachusetts was the first state to make auto insurance mandatory. It
went into effect in 1927.
Insurance - at large - made life less chancy. You could get home
insurance, land (crop) insurance, health insurance, etc. You could get
insurance on your kiddies while they were walking to and from school.
Women's hygiene products became readily available "on the shelf."
Oral contraceptives were introduced in the early 1960's.
Philip Morris, a London-based cigarette maker, opened a New York
subsidiary in 1902. In 1923 cigarettes were marketed and in
1924...Marlboro was launched.
Procter and Gamble introduced Tide laundry detergent in 1946. It is the
highest-selling detergent brand in the world.
In the 1930's, P. Duff and Sons introduced an "invention" that
developed into our modern day boxed cake mixes.
King Camp Gillette invented the world's first disposable razor
blade in 1901.
Frederick Maytag Washing Machine Company was founded in 1893. In 1925
it became Maytag, Inc.
With the above inventions - some already in place - more to be "born" -
came a sort of "power trip"...if you will. No more washing laundry by
hand. Sweet freedom! No more making your own feminine hygiene products.
Yay! No more kneading dough for bread...no more
measuring/melting/folding-in for baked goods...no more making your own
soap. Yay! Yes! And sweet, sweet freedom!!
No more rolling your own cigarettes. No more sharpening your own razor
blades...no more straight razor! Yay!
No more wondering about a job. No more wondering how you would fix your
car in a wreck.
No more wondering what would happen to you and/or your family if you
were unable to work. No more wondering how you would make it if your
crops failed or were destroyed. No more wondering how you would make it
if your kiddie got hurt on the way to or from school. Yay! Kudos! Big
sigh of relief!!
No more wondering how to escape an unwanted pregnancy. No more
wondering if marriage is the "right thing to do" under high-pressure
circumstances.
History shows that we - as a people - jumped in with both feet and said
"yes!" Yes to anything that would give us more freedom...more time.
Without a look forward - or backward - we said "yes!" Yes to it all.
We're moving forward. We're making more money than we ever made! We're
saving money! We're saving time! We're taking advantage of new
opportunities! We are in control of our lives! We're shaping our
destinies! We're doing this for our children! We're giving them all
that we (the parents) never had!!
As I write this - New York is on the precipice of enacting a law that
would allow for "late-term" (3rd trimester) abortions.
Virginia is currently embroiled in a lobbying battle for
"late-term"...3rd trimester abortions...which are currently prohibited.
The parameters here are: "health of the Mother is compromised or
a case of rape." Virginia wants to let a bay be born...keep it
comfortable until the parent(s) decide if they want to keep it.
All of the above may be found on Wikipedia. Thanks for
considering.
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!!! MONA
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