[December 14, 2020] A Gallup poll in October 1940 found American youth as “a flabby, pacifist, yellow, cynical, discouraged, and leftist lot.” On the precipice of war, the United States was wholly unprepared militarily or socially. We were, indeed, a cowardly, leftist lot. Today, we are no different.
We honor and respect the Greatest Generation; those who served our nation and the world in the most deadly, destructive war ever imposed upon us. Pre-WWII men and women were wretchedly pathetic. At the time, a social scientist said that “to make a soldier out of the average free American citizen is not unlike domesticating a very while species of animal.”1
Are Americans a flabby, cowardly, cynical, leftist lot?
Yes!
And worse, Americans today are also more self-centered, distrustful, and consciously (purposefully?) ignorant than any recorded time in the past. Despite the most incredible advancements in technology and higher education availability, we are dumber than ever before. The ‘man-on-the-street’ knows less about other folks and our past than at any point in our history.
Americans, like our British counterparts, are also prone to Leftist ideologies based on Marxism. We give this simple-minded approach to governance names like socialism, communism, anti-fascism, and progressivism. The twentieth century tested this ideology in various forms, much to the chagrin of 100 million-plus people murdered, died of starvation and illnesses, or froze to death. Tried that, didn’t work out so well.2
We are separating guilt from responsibility.
Since the 1960s sexual revolution, the push to separate guilt from responsibility has been unstoppable. We are no longer perceived as individuals but as part of a group, judged based on our sexual orientation, race, gender, ethnic group, and religion.
This approach separated guilt from responsibility. An official of Lenin’s secret police, in a 1918 instruction to interrogators, wrote:
“We are not waging war against individuals. We are exterminating the bourgeoisie as a class. . . . Do not look for evidence that the accused acted in word or deed against Soviet power. The first question should be to what class does he belong. . . . It is this that should determine his fate.”3
Is this sustainable?
No.
The United States and the rest of the civilized world paid a hefty price for the same ideology that led them astray from the ideas of individual responsibility based on the Judeo-Christian tradition. We are paying another price today as much of the Western world slides back into the past’s Leftist ideologies. These ideologies have repeatedly proven unworkable despite the high cost of human lives they produced.
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- https://faroutliers.blogspot.com/2020/04/
- This 100 million figure does not include deaths from 20th-century wars.
- 100 Years of Communism—and 100 Million Dead – WSJ
This article describes to a T what our propagandize youth are like today. Well written and scarily accurate.
This article goes well with today’s article, “Why I’m a Patriot.” I’m sure that Gen. Satterfield is a patriot and not flabby, cowardly, cynical, or leftist.
You got that right, Dale.
I too am a patriot and will always be. That means I’m not afraid of those crazy leftist, progressive, bed-wetting liberals that roam the streets looking to loot, burn, murder, and destroy the property of others. Joe Biden is a real socialist and we are about to see it full force. Of course, that assumes he can even think any more.
We are getting flabbier (ah, call it like it is … we are fatter). This doesn’t mean lazy.
Gen. Satterfield, I read your article with a bit of skepticism but came away with the feeling you are right after all. I see it daily. And, now with the COVID pandemic, it is giving laziness a new name – normal. It all scares me to think the damage we have inflicted upon ourselves with the lockdowns and such. Too much power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats.
You got that right Jerome. And often we elect the worst possible politician.
Great article today. Soooooo very true.
Another enjoyable article by General Satterfield. I’m glad I found this leadership website. I’m a big big fan.
Yes, Valkerie, that is why, IMHO, we all come here. What I like most is that I can write about what I think and I only get positive feedback on how to make my argument stronger, or, short of that, why and how my arguments can be destroyed and suggestions on how to make them better.
“Separating guilt from responsibility.” Now that is something to really think about.
Well written and interesting article, so I will thank Gen. Satterfield once again for laying out a subject we don’t necessarily think of. When he looks at our society, he sees us getting lazier … progressively so (less intellectual and less physically in shape). Why? Great question for our social scientiests.
Greg, yes, and I will add that Gen. Satterfield’s observation is not the only one. I have read a lot lately on how we are acting sillier and sillier. We always seem to move toward laziness (or maybe there is a better word) when things are good (more security and economic freedom).
Hmmm, not so sure about that. I think we are getting smarter all the time. Lazy? Nope. But we do want to have more leisure time. “Work smarter, not harder.”
Great article, Gen. Satterfield. Seems like when we CAN be lazy, we ARE lazy. What’s up with that. I guess that is the direction we are headed when the crazies are in charge. Great comment also on socialism/communism/progressivism ideology that kills innovation, creativity, and wealth.
Apparently those who do well in Communist Russia today had a talent in the areas of organized crime or seizing natural resources.
Good comment, Audrey. Thanks. I’m in full agreement with your assessment of Communist Russia and I will also note that it is true also of China where the top govt officials get rich, while the average person is regulated to nothing.
Scary! 😳
Thanks, JT.
Not so sure this is true but I have no evidence to contradict it. I would think the opposite to be true. When we have security and external threats are reduced to a manageable level, then creativity, at least theoretically, blossums.
…. I will add PRETENTIOUSNESS as well. See Gen. Satterfield’s Daily Favorites!
Stacey, you beat me to the punch on this one. Soon-to-be, maybe, first lady Jill BIden insists upon being called “Doctor” with an Ed.D. degree. We all know its not the same level as a Ph.D. or Medical Doctor. But the pretentiousness of the Bidens and the overall progressive leftists need their titles because form is more important that substance.
Ha Ha… how true. And, how embarrassing for this level of a person to be so NEEDY! Jill Biden can’t even recognize the dementia her husband has and which will not allow him to finish his term as “president” (small “p”). Stupid is as stupid does! Wow, someone said that once.
Max, once again, you hit the ball out of the park with one of your comments. Well done!
Yes, excellent. 👍👍👍👍
Max is always there with a great comment. To connect the dots is something we all should be better at doing. One of the advantages of this comment forum is that it gives us the chance to do exactly that and get postiive feedback that provides an incentive for better and more logical thinking. 😊
Great comment Max. I was laughing all the way.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Go USA
Ha Ha Ha ——- great commentary!