My how times have changed.

[Gramps]

I was born in Iowa during the roaring 20's, the 2nd son of plain dirt farmers who were staunch Republicans. Fact was, a majority of plain dirt farmers were devoted Reps in a state that was so conservative that even after I returned from WWII almost anything that was considered "living it up" was against the law. Hard liquor sales were government controlled through state run liquor stores and records were kept regarding every bottle sold for consumption in the state. Taverns sold only 3.2 beer. Gambling was unlawful -- period. Sunday was go-to-meeting day, a break from the action to have a family gathering in the park (something most every family did with some regularity) and retail establishments except for those necessary (a druggist here and there, restaurants, and gasoline stations) for survival locked things up. Church's didn't, however, lock their doors ever and if a soul was down on their luck and needed somewhere to console their mind they could enter the sanctuary and commune with their god unmolested. Times were hard but that didn't hamstring the average man or women when it came to sharing with one another and it wasn't rare when someone donated their last dollar to help out a needy family when they actually needed the dollar themselves.

I could go on but I imagine you get the picture, That was then and this is Iowa now.

Still a red state come hell or high water EXCEPT liquor flows from one end to the other, retailers at slugging it out 24/7/52, there are horse tracks and casinos handy if you want to throw your money away and I don't think you can get inside of a church after dark because he doors are locked to keep out the criminal element who might just hoist the fixtures to sell at the Sunday Swap meet that replaced the family picnic somewhere along the line.

Now, a majority of Iowans still vote Republican and claim to be God fearing folks of unquestionable character so explain how this can be given the radical changes that have transformed the state into an "every man for himself" place. Or is the GOP still the conservative bastion of hope they try to display?

Oh, our first home (which I built for us) had no locks on the doors, nor did the houses of my neighbors.
It wouldn't happen today in Iowa or anywhere else.

gramps

 

[drivebyheckler]

So Republicans are to blame for the decay of society? Is that your position?

 

[Bo-4]

I was born in Iowa during the roaring 20's, the 2nd son of plain dirt farmers who were staunch Republicans. Fact was, a majority of plain dirt farmers were devoted Reps in a state that was so conservative that even after I returned from WWII almost anything that was considered "living it up" was against the law. Hard liquor sales were government controlled through state run liquor stores and records were kept regarding every bottle sold for consumption in the state. Taverns sold only 3.2 beer. Gambling was unlawful -- period. Sunday was go-to-meeting day, a break from the action to have a family gathering in the park (something most every family did with some regularity) and retail establishments except for those necessary (a druggist here and there, restaurants, and gasoline stations) for survival locked things up. Church's didn't, however, lock their doors ever and if a soul was down on their luck and needed somewhere to console their mind they could enter the sanctuary and commune with their god unmolested. Times were hard but that didn't hamstring the average man or women when it came to sharing with one another and it wasn't rare when someone donated their last dollar to help out a needy family when they actually needed the dollar themselves.

I could go on but I imagine you get the picture, That was then and this is Iowa now.

Still a red state come hell or high water EXCEPT liquor flows from one end to the other, retailers at slugging it out 24/7/52, there are horse tracks and casinos handy if you want to throw your money away and I don't think you can get inside of a church after dark because he doors are locked to keep out the criminal element who might just hoist the fixtures to sell at the Sunday Swap meet that replaced the family picnic somewhere along the line.

Now, a majority of Iowans still vote Republican and claim to be God fearing folks of unquestionable character so explain how this can be given the radical changes that have transformed the state into an "every man for himself" place. Or is the GOP still the conservative bastion of hope they try to display?

Oh, our first home (which I built for us) had no locks on the doors, nor did the houses of my neighbors.
It wouldn't happen today in Iowa or anywhere else.

gramps

Fantastic post Gramps, thanks.. and thank you for your service in what WAS our last (forever) reasonably well-substantiated war.

And as a Blue Boy in a Red State? My condolances!

 

[Dawg]

I was born in Iowa during the roaring 20's, the 2nd son of plain dirt farmers who were staunch Republicans. Fact was, a majority of plain dirt farmers were devoted Reps in a state that was so conservative that even after I returned from WWII almost anything that was considered "living it up" was against the law. Hard liquor sales were government controlled through state run liquor stores and records were kept regarding every bottle sold for consumption in the state. Taverns sold only 3.2 beer. Gambling was unlawful -- period. Sunday was go-to-meeting day, a break from the action to have a family gathering in the park (something most every family did with some regularity) and retail establishments except for those necessary (a druggist here and there, restaurants, and gasoline stations) for survival locked things up. Church's didn't, however, lock their doors ever and if a soul was down on their luck and needed somewhere to console their mind they could enter the sanctuary and commune with their god unmolested. Times were hard but that didn't hamstring the average man or women when it came to sharing with one another and it wasn't rare when someone donated their last dollar to help out a needy family when they actually needed the dollar themselves.

I could go on but I imagine you get the picture, That was then and this is Iowa now.

Still a red state come hell or high water EXCEPT liquor flows from one end to the other, retailers at slugging it out 24/7/52, there are horse tracks and casinos handy if you want to throw your money away and I don't think you can get inside of a church after dark because he doors are locked to keep out the criminal element who might just hoist the fixtures to sell at the Sunday Swap meet that replaced the family picnic somewhere along the line.

Now, a majority of Iowans still vote Republican and claim to be God fearing folks of unquestionable character so explain how this can be given the radical changes that have transformed the state into an "every man for himself" place. Or is the GOP still the conservative bastion of hope they try to display?

Oh, our first home (which I built for us) had no locks on the doors, nor did the houses of my neighbors.
It wouldn't happen today in Iowa or anywhere else.

gramps

Well Gramps, 'O' promised CHANGE

 

[Gramps]

So Republicans are to blame for the decay of society? Is that your position?

I did not say that but evidently you made that conclusion based on the evidence.

gramps

 

[drivebyheckler]

I did not say that but evidently you made that conclusion based on the evidence.

gramps

No, I certainly do not blame any single party. One would have to be pretty dumb to do that, don't you think?

 

[fairsheet]

When I was a kid, the doors were locked now and again, but only so's our mother could keep us out of the house! I imagine these days, she would've been on "CPS Most Wanted"!

 

[resident_evil]

I was born in Iowa during the roaring 20's, the 2nd son of plain dirt farmers who were staunch Republicans. Fact was, a majority of plain dirt farmers were devoted Reps in a state that was so conservative that even after I returned from WWII almost anything that was considered "living it up" was against the law. Hard liquor sales were government controlled through state run liquor stores and records were kept regarding every bottle sold for consumption in the state. Taverns sold only 3.2 beer. Gambling was unlawful -- period. Sunday was go-to-meeting day, a break from the action to have a family gathering in the park (something most every family did with some regularity) and retail establishments except for those necessary (a druggist here and there, restaurants, and gasoline stations) for survival locked things up. Church's didn't, however, lock their doors ever and if a soul was down on their luck and needed somewhere to console their mind they could enter the sanctuary and commune with their god unmolested. Times were hard but that didn't hamstring the average man or women when it came to sharing with one another and it wasn't rare when someone donated their last dollar to help out a needy family when they actually needed the dollar themselves.

I could go on but I imagine you get the picture, That was then and this is Iowa now.

Still a red state come hell or high water EXCEPT liquor flows from one end to the other, retailers at slugging it out 24/7/52, there are horse tracks and casinos handy if you want to throw your money away and I don't think you can get inside of a church after dark because he doors are locked to keep out the criminal element who might just hoist the fixtures to sell at the Sunday Swap meet that replaced the family picnic somewhere along the line.

Now, a majority of Iowans still vote Republican and claim to be God fearing folks of unquestionable character so explain how this can be given the radical changes that have transformed the state into an "every man for himself" place. Or is the GOP still the conservative bastion of hope they try to display?

Oh, our first home (which I built for us) had no locks on the doors, nor did the houses of my neighbors.
It wouldn't happen today in Iowa or anywhere else.

gramps

So what are you saying? You'd prefer Democrats?

 

[drivebyheckler]

When I was a kid, the doors were locked now and again, but only so's our mother could keep us out of the house! I imagine these days, she would've been on "CPS Most Wanted"!

Hahaha same here dude! Good one!

 

[Gramps]

No, I certainly do not blame any single party. One would have to be pretty dumb to do that, don't you think?

Here's the thing. Yes it is foolish to blame either party simply because with the rapid transformation regarding every phase of our existence today as compared to the days of my childhood almost everything that's transpired in recent years was bound to happen out of necessity in order for us to survive, We are advancing at a pace now that totally overwhelms the tail end of horse and wagon logistics I can recall as a boy. And this technology has put a financial burden on everyone today, a burden that I was not shackled with years ago.

We can shout "jobs, jobs, jobs" til the cows come home but the truth is technology is replacing human on the production lines and those jobs are gone, done, history. The same scenario is largely responsible for the high cast of education today when compared to the ice age methods I studied with -- chalk boards, notebooks, pencils and slide rules as opposed to rows of computers in classrooms that are air conditioned -- a sharp contrast to the one-room counytr schoolhouse I attended.

And it isn't goin to get easier as daily inventions dawn to be absorbed by us all if we intend to compete for the future. Still, here I am hammering on this keyboard, holding my own against younger folks with twice the teaching I had, so there must have been something quite worthwhile with the scrap of paper schooling I received.

Gramps

 

[NightSwimmer]

If one compares the 8 years of the Clinton administration with the 8 years of the Bush administration, and then compares the current administration with the prior administration, and can still say with a straight face that there is no difference between our two major political parties, then that is not a person whose opinion can be taken seriously.

 

[Minotaur]

Here's the thing. Yes it is foolish to blame either party simply because with the rapid transformation regarding every phase of our existence today as compared to the days of my childhood almost everything that's transpired in recent years was bound to happen out of necessity in order for us to survive, We are advancing at a pace now that totally overwhelms the tail end of horse and wagon logistics I can recall as a boy. And this technology has put a financial burden on everyone today, a burden that I was not shackled with years ago.

We can shout "jobs, jobs, jobs" til the cows come home but the truth is technology is replacing human on the production lines and those jobs are gone, done, history. The same scenario is largely responsible for the high cast of education today when compared to the ice age methods I studied with -- chalk boards, notebooks, pencils and slide rules as opposed to rows of computers in classrooms that are air conditioned -- a sharp contrast to the one-room counytr schoolhouse I attended.

And it isn't goin to get easier as daily inventions dawn to be absorbed by us all if we intend to compete for the future. Still, here I am hammering on this keyboard, holding my own against younger folks with twice the teaching I had, so there must have been something quite worthwhile with the scrap of paper schooling I received.

Gramps

Your reminders of a less suspicious, less angry, less greedy time are about as important as it gets for individuals to ask themselves whether they are willing to let what is today jade them into being a part of the issue. With you and your writings I am always reminded that the choices I make and what is in my life is always my choice and that maybe I need to rethink priorities and grab some of yesterday for today. No one can remove the complexities of the world and technologies part in that but we can all make our own lives a bit less complicated. We can stop and make popcorn and say "Good morning!" to a stranger. We can still care.