tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168871.post114167107021966186..comments2023-10-15T04:05:30.697-04:00Comments on Rambling Rebuilder: Long Distance Phone CallEgyptoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09597551318426532162noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168871.post-1141846710188980022006-03-08T14:38:00.000-05:002006-03-08T14:38:00.000-05:00from theKING of BAMAfrom the<BR/>KING of BAMAEgyptoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09597551318426532162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11168871.post-1141846667127500682006-03-08T14:37:00.000-05:002006-03-08T14:37:00.000-05:00I read your blog entry. The idea that 'no one is...I read your blog entry. The idea that 'no one is honest anymore' is BS. I have found that dealing with the public that MOST people ARE honest, even when it hurts them. There are some trends. The older people are less likely to lie, or at least lie badly. Women tend to be more truthful than men. No comment there. The more education a person has, the more likely they are to attempt to lie. I haven't noticed a big difference in city vs. rural and north vs. south. I have noticed a big difference east vs. west, westerners are more likely to lie to the government than easterners and there is little difference in California and the rest of the west. To be fair, I have had little experience with the upper west, i.e. Washington Oregon Idaho, Montana etc. On the other hand, I scrutinize statements from folks in California, Texas and Nevada closely. I suspect California is a cultural thing, I have the wrong accent. My cousin who lived in South Cali for many years says that the general perception out there is that anyone with a southern accent is stupid. I have found this to be true in dealing with Californians and it can be used to great advantage. ;) <BR/><BR/>The guy who called you WAS a brick and is deserving of applause and many kind thoughts. Just my two cents on your post. KING of BAMA <BR/><BR/><BR/> <B>>> well you are right, mostly. <BR/>> I have a similar discussion frequently <BR/>> with people who say the USA is going to heck. </B><BR/><BR/>If one thinks things are bad nowadays, one should study seriously the period from 1870-1900. We are living in a golden age compared to then. The good old days that everyone seems to pine for lasted from about 1905-1920. And they were rather problematic for some folks even then. Most of the social ills that afflict the US today have afflicted us in the past. We haven't learned our history. A generation of men were shattered by the Civil War, yet PTSD is rediscovered again and again. We talk of the 'drug epidemic', yet the term 'dope fiend' comes from the laudanum epidemic of the late 1800's. People talk of AIDS as an end time plague, yet thousands died every year in epidemics of yellow fever in such exotic places like Tampa, New Orleans and Memphis. Scarlet fever was a killer of children. There are huge debates about safe food, but before the FDA, milk was often adulterated with chalk dust and water to the point of being non nutritive. As far as political corruption, what Duke Cunningham did which will cause him to spend most of the rest of his life in jail was pretty much SOP for congressmen for most of the 1880's-1890's. I could make a very good case that times are getting better, not worse. But the pessimistic view sells papers and magazines and makes for good Nielsons and Arbitrons. Unfortunately, your outlook colors your world. <BR/><BR/> <B> remember the story in the Bible <BR/> > where Elijah is wailing to the Lord:<BR/> > " (they) have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.? <BR/> > Then the LORD said to him ... Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal" > <BR/> > so I should remember my own argument to those people, <BR/> > that there is still good out there, huh? </B><BR/><BR/><BR/>A lot of people think of me as a pessimist, but I consider myself to be a realistic optimist. However, I am open to the possibility that I may be wrong ... 8 )Egyptoidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09597551318426532162noreply@blogger.com