Mad Men Regression

Growing up, I learned about the greatness of the US. How we were at the forefront for liberty, freedom, progress, equality (of sorts), and about our great manifest destiny, melting pot, and American exceptionalism. We were always moving forward, advancing, tweaking and perfecting our accomplishments. We may have gotten some big things wrong - HUGE things, like slavery and genocide,  - but eventually we righted our wrongs. Or at least acknowledged our wrongs, with the righting still up for debate.

There's that commercial that's out now - the one with the little boy and his grandfather. The little boy says that he will own a house just like this one - the one his mom grew up in. And, grandpa says something like, "I hope so." Obviously, this is a testament to our current economic status. For the first time in our history, we are backsliding - with the next generation either falling at the same level of their parents, or lower. For me, this goes beyond economics, but to social norms as well.

I've been thinking about this for a number of years now, but the past few months - heck, even weeks - it's like a fast forward button has been pushed but in reverse (which is a subtle but important distinction from rewind). Let's just quickly list some highlights of late, focusing on the domestic for now.

Labor and Economy

• Teachers, Firefighters, & Police Officers can fend for themselves says Govs.Walker & Kasich
• I say - right, because they always put themselves first when teaching, rescuing, and protecting 
• "I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs a repair , I'll fix it," says Romney
• I say, right, because the fact that the poverty level scale hasn't changed since its inception provides a solid basis for who is very poor and how much money really helps them
• "Really poor children in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and have nobody around them who works...They have no habit of ‘I do this and you give me cash’ unless it’s illegal,” says Gingrich
•  I say, right, because there is no working poor who hold multiple low paying jobs, nor do any parents living in poverty try to help their child get out of it 

Women's Health, Birth Control and Abortion

• Defund Planned Parenthood says Congress
• I say - right, because if you're against abortions, planning doesn't make sense
• Defund Planned Parenthood says Komen
• I say right, because a wellness visit comes not only with a breast exam but a bonus abortion
• Mandatory Vaginal Probe says Trey Parker & Matt Stone, I mean Gov. McDonnell
• I say, right, because women clearly don't have the ability to make up their minds on their own
• Aspirin is a wonder drug (again) says Santorum's biggest financial backer
• I say, right, because swallow a pill when a bottle between your legs does the trick
• Tell your employer why you need birth control says Republican controlled AZ legislature
• I say, right, because I'd much rather have my boss involved in my decisions than my doctor or my government. Why not all three?
• Birth control pills are taken just like viagra - every time you have sex - sorta said by Rush
• I say, right, because how else would it ever be covered under any pharmaceutical plan?

Race

•   "I don't want to make black people's lives better by giving them somebody else's money; I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money," says Santorum.
•  I say right, because only black people receive public assistance, evidently because they don't want to work.
•  "Like any other state, there has to be compliance with this and any other federal law, And that is that English has to be the principal language," says Santorum.
•  I say right, because of that invisible section of the Constitution - the one you need that orange marker to rub over to see it - that says every state must favor the "king's english" even though there's no more king. 

I know that some would call me naive thinking that these things wouldn't be floating around in 2012. But, I blame my naivety on what I was taught about American progress. We improve upon things and make them better.  That's better, folks. Not worse.

As I've said, I've felt like I've been in a time warp for more than a few years now. Looking at 2012 alone though - on January 1, who would have really thought that birth control would be come the lightening rod of the political stage? What is this - 1950?

And, to that I say - maybe it is. That's where we're headed. That's where we're going back to live. Grab your pillbox hat, your liquid lunch, and your 2.5 children... Hold on to the TARDIS or the Way Back Machine... and leave your civil rights, your labor laws, and your independent brain at the door.

There's no more critical thinking. There's group think. Or propaganda. Or brainwashing. Or maybe it's the water - like in Dr. Strangelove. But, I can't believe this is American progress.

If I'm to long for the 50s , it's for how it spawned the 1960s - and the progression of freedom, equality, and coming together to better society. But I don't want to re-fight the battles of my parents. I want to protect what they won, and then I want pay it forward - as they did for their parents and for me.