The decline of service in the US

[oldman45]

Much has been written lately on the failures and wrong doings in law enforcement. Sadly I cannot put up much of an arguement against it since it is often correct.

I have given this a lot of thought and discussed it with others over the last few years. Your thoughts may be different and that is fine as everyone has opinions. I only ask that you look at things from my view for a few minutes.

Political Correctness and mandated quotas have caused a decline in most service businesses.

The police departments across the US are prime examples. We no longer get the quality of applicants that we did 20 yrs ago. This is not to say that some young officers are not good quality but that the caliber of those being hired is not to the standard of years ago. I see new officers, those past being recruits or trainees, that cannot spell properly or even write to where someone can read what tehy tried to articulate. I see those that cannot tell north from south. Many are less than honest. There are more officers today being fired with just cause than years ago. One former officer in the local area went to the scene of an officer involved shooting, got out of his car, looked at what was happening and took off running to his car and left. All caught on video tape and then he committed perjury on the stand by denying he was ever there. He was sentenced to several yrs in prison. I see fewer applicants able to pass the drug screening, many failing for hard drug use. I have seen the educational requirements drop from needing an Associates degree to just having a GED. Officers are being hired to fill a slot and nothing more. They are being fired for wrong doing which also includes drug use.

The same in any other area of service. Those at McDonalds are often unable to make change without the use of a display on a cash register. I was in a pizza business last week to eat with family but had to get up to intervene in a physical altercation between two employees. Walk into any business these days and you are likely to see more horseplay than work, more idle hands than active workers and a lack of concern about the business by employees but more concern about how much they will make,the vacation time and, of course benefits.

When I was young and working my way through school, my father owned his firm. I had worked for him just like any other of his employees. There was no idle time. If I had time to stand around, I had time to sweep floors, load trucks or whatever there was to be done and I did it all without pay. He put me through more schooling, fed me well, furnished me nice cars and such and felt I was being paid enough in my benefits. I learned the business from the ground up and I learned hard work. But I also got an education that required I either pass or fail. There was no F+ being given. I had to be able to spell, do math and speak properly. This is not the way it is now. Kids are passed just to get them out of the system. They want a paycheck and not a job. They do not care about enriching the business but rather what they will get out of being at the business.

The youth of today go to job interviews in clothes I would not want to be seen wearing while doing anything. They have piercings visible all over. Many have tattoos on their arms, necks and other places not visible but years ago the tattoos were worn by those in the military and an officer was forbidden to have one, at least if it was visible. Kids of today do not know how to speak properly or even use good English. They spend more time playing video games or sports than doing homework.

Unfortunately most of the problems of today have been mandated by the government or political correctness but I feel it is destroying the US. It is said our educational system is lacking but it decayed to to tolerance, empathy and political correctness. This means our youth are lacking and it shows.

 

[Moonman]

Political Correctness, The Government Mandates, The Wellfare System, TOO Many Attorneys, The Educational System in General, Soccer Moms attitudes concerning competing and having REAL WINNERS in contests and DRUGS along with an uncontrolled immigration policy lacking a mandated social language assimilation. Tattoo's, Piercings, Dress Codes, Texting/Sexting and a lack of Cursive Writing produces what some social engineers consider a nicely diverse population.
It seems like they've really just created a totally Mutated Mess.

 

[NFrameFred]

Oldman45, just be prepared to be hammered by some whose progeny resembles a lot of what you describe who will insist to the death that we are out of touch old fools and they are "good kids".

Kids cannot be taught skills by parents that don't have them - that's where we are today.

A lot of the things you describe are harmless enough in and of themselves and are not always indicative of the sum of a persons character, but there is no denying the bar has been and is being lowered, good manners, civility, and common sense are in short supply. We have gone from the "greatest generation" to the "me" generation. Self esteem trumps the good of those around us, whether it's earned or not.

I have to have faith in a silent majority and hope that there is a bulwark of solid citizens coming up, but I believe our easy lives, national entitlement mentality, and pluralism has helped drag standards lower. Those who don't have those standards are apt to question the need for such - more's the pity now that many of them are in charge.

It will take a real wake up call such as a question of national survival as in WWII to retard the swing of that pendulum. I wonder sometimes if it can ever swing back the other way sufficiently. It has always been thus, but it disturbs me that we even allow voice to be given to those who think that this country should not survive in it's former form. Such is the price of living in the greatest country in the world that has elevated the freedoms of citizens around the world to previously unseen levels in history.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

I really wish I could argue with your assessment of todays culture but I cannot. Growing up in the 50's we were taught to call anyone older than you "Sir" or "Mam". That when you walked indoors you took off your hat. That you held a door open for women and older people or gave them your seat on the bus. That swearing in public was a sign of disrespect. You certainly didn't wear sneakers or jeans to school. Basically we, in losing respect for authority, are losing respect for ourselves. We are going from a culture of "we" to a culture of "me". Hence we have politicians who lie without fear of consequences, television programs that call themselves "reality" but are not real, and a significant number of people who cannot accept valid criticisms regarding their actions (whether at work or in public). My parents were forged in the Great Depression and WW II. I wonder what will forge this next generation.

 

[Bekeart]

AMEN Brother; You are preaching to the Choir.

AMEN Brother; You are preaching to the Choir.

Our education system with its Social/Peer Promotion policy is only part of the problem. Student/Familial/Peer lack of standards and/or initiation is also part of the problem. "You can't push a rope!"

The number of college freshmen being REQUIRED to take REMEDIAL classes that will being them up (previous) high school graduation standards is absurd.

Same university offers special services to those with "Learning Disabilities". Tutoring, extra lecture and class note provided, additions time to complete exams ... But, they will eventually be granted a degree, usually BA, not a BALD to indicate Learning Disability. How will they function in the work force with no special compensations for their disability??

Clerks who can not calculate correct change, or even count out CORRECT change when the register has calculated it for them. Last week, at a burger joint, I was told my change was twenty six cents, then the clerk proceed to give me twenty four cents. This employee was the manager, a title that must be granted to some employee who is present on the current shift. Ms. Manager was actually Mismanager .

Clerks who do not notice obvious errors with the register total. Twelve dollars and some cents total when buying four items of less than two dollars each should be a clue. This was at a BIG-BOX store and required a CSM (customer service manager) to get it straightened out.

Clerk at burger joint who did not notice that my order for a dollar shake rang up at $1.19. Had to point out the $1 priced shake on the large menu board to clerk and manager.

I have worked at three universities. The smartest man I ever met had finished third grade and educated himself after that. Degrees indicate book learning - NOT common sense or true intelligence.

Bekeart

 

[brucev]

I have no experience in law enforcement. My experience is in private contracting while working through college and seminary, and then further private contracting from time to time to supplement family income while also pastoring full-time as a minister.

I have just finished seeing my second daughter graduate from college. She went to class and worked a weekend job. She and so many of the other students are simply excellent. The same is very true of young men and women who are employed in professional and service jobs.

The quality of education in both public and private schools is what it is. Much of it reflects the priorities of those who lead. This includes PC and quotas, etc. As much it reflects the priorities or lack thereof of the parents. Children do not normally lead their parents. But if parents fail to lead, the children must get along as best they can.

Part of the lesser quality of literacy stems from children not reading and not being raised in homes where reading is front and center. But increasingly ours is a society that prizes "tweet" conversations of limited content. This is not conducive to thoughtful discourse. The failure of character and integrity that once was atypical does not now even raise an eyebrow even when a president is convicted of perjury in a federal court.

The lack of standards to which you refer in the conduct of employees at a place of business are typical of poorly managed establishments where the Peter Principle is on full display as marginal individuals are promoted to the level of their incompetence. They lack of professionalism and seriousness is demonstrated in their management in the same way that their lack of discipline and direction is demonstrated in their educational and employment process. The lack of a positive contributive work ethic is evident. But, for those young men and women who are raised by intact functioning families where both the father and mother are married and jointly involved in the direction of the family, things are much different. It has little to do with the resources of the family, i.e., money, cloths, cars, etc. It has very much to do with the intangibles... rooted in those solid rewarding and encouraging relationships that are fostered in a good family that shares, lives out and transfers quality meaningful values and standards.

I have been involved with children and youth in pastoral ministry for 31 years. My wife and I have also raised two daughters to be independent self-directed successful adults. We have seen tragic failures of families. We have also seen children fail in spite of being afforded so many advantages. With respect, troubled and failing youth are not the norm of society any more than summa cum laude scholarship is the norm of high school and college work/experience. I deeply regret that so many young people fail to achieve their potential. But they are the exception. They are not the norm. For the future, I will look to that majority of youth who seek to accomplish meaningful results with their lives. They are the norm. They are the future. God bless them all. JMHO. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Bat Guano]

As far as I can see, what passes for civilization is essentially a veneer, very thin and fragile; hard to acquire and easy to lose. I wish it were otherwise but we are seeing the results of neglect. We are getting too close to the age of "Whatever" and the consequences are going to be rugged.

We get our police, doctors, and clergy from the society we live in, and I agree that the pool isn't what it was. It used to be that expectations for careers like that used to be pretty high, and you would be proud to make it into that field. It wasn't just a coincidence that a lot of the best people were seasoned military veterans and grownups. Now you have to wonder just what ethical standards--if any, are being followed. Sometimes we get to find out the hard way, and it's discouraging. I sometimes wonder how many LEOs would balk at serving an immoral or oppressive system, and how many team players would "go with the flow".

The Founding Fathers were very specific in stating that our Republic was only suitable for a religious people, which was a shorthand way of saying that without moral standards we weren't going go make it.

I think they were absolutely right.

 

[oldman45]

I deeply regret that so many young people fail to achieve their potential. But they are the exception. They are not the norm. For the future, I will look to that majority of youth who seek to accomplish meaningful results with their lives. They are the norm. They are the future. God bless them all. JMHO. Sincerely. bruce.

Bruce, you bring out some good points but I see those that failed to achieve their potential more often than I do those that become anything in life.

Like you, I have seen my three daughters all get great educations with multiple degrees. Yet the education began at home and at an early age. My kids were told that there were only two things they had to fear in life. One was God and the other was me. The difference is God is more forgiving and I am way more harsh in punishment. One child, as a older teen, pushed me and I caught her with some illegal substance. I was the one that put the cuffs on her and the one that drove her to jail. She learned a valuable lesson that day that remained with her for several more years. Sadly after a few years of being on her own in the world, far away from me and running with the wrong crowd, she resumed a destructive path that led to her death at age 42.

Days like yesterday when a medical doctor calls me to say how great my youngest daughter is, how she is honest, dependable, and a dedicated associate that he would trust with his life. She is 30 yrs old, single, owns her home and a new car with a great salary and stable job. The problem is out of her high school graduating class she is the only one to make anything of her life. Several are in jail, two died of drug overdoses, at least one is homeless, a few work in minimum wage jobs for short terms. One has been married three times and has children by several ladies. You see, our kids are not the norm, they are well above the norm.

As another poster said, the youth of today lacks respect for themselves and as such, lack respect for others. They have low self esteem because schools held their hands and their parents did not. Schools taught me what I needed to know and my parents steered me in the proper direction Once out of school, I learned others did not care if I lived or died or if I worked or not. I soon learn I was going to have to make it on my own if I were to amount to anything in life. Instead of being one wanting instant gratification, I realized it took my parents a lot of time to get what they had and I was not going to have life handed to me by quotas or court order. It was then I learned the one thing school did not teach me and that was my life was in my hands to either make something of myself or end up being a failure.

I see failures daily. I see people with four year degrees working at jobs for minimum wage because schools failed to teach them and those raising them failed to guide them in the right direction.

No sir, your kids are not the norm, they are well above the norm and they have a real head start in life to continue making something of what you began. Rejoice in the fact they are not the norm.

As a minister, you see the better of the world. I see the worst of the world. There are more in my vision than in yours.

Bruce, we are a point in life where our prisons are overcrowded and our churches have gone to having to entertain to get people in to hear what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.

 

[G.T. Smith]

You gotta kinda feel a little bit sorry for kids these days though. Like they say, "a mind is a terrible thing to waste". I sometimes think that being raised poor was a blessing. Kinda makes you appreciate the simple pleasures in life and instills resourcefulness I think. I wonder how many morally neglected kids of today will look back on their life when they are old and wonder what happened?
Maybe something will happen to shake it up and straighten out the wrinkles of the newer generations and their parents. Probably won't happen in my lifetime but there has to be a breaking point. Have you ever wondered what would happen if there was a worldwide failure of the digital things like cell phones and stuff. If that happens, which it could, would be a major wake up call to the society that has put all their eggs in one basket. Look at the list of things that you have to buy for your kid at the beginning of a school year, where are the paper tablets and pencils?
I'm gonna try to stay optimistic about it. I do worry about my grand kids though.
Peace,
gordon

 

[captorquewrench]

It is hard to raise kids to NOT be what has sadly become the norm discussed in this thread, but the job is worth doing right and well worth it.

My kids are not perfect by any means--but they are good. And I don't mean that in the superficial sense of simply staying out of trouble. They know they are different, and sometimes they get tired of being held to a higher standard. Usually, however, they are glad for it. So am I.

 

[wbraswell]

I know what oldman45 is talking about. I live in the Arklatex area also, and I watch Shreveport TV stations. I agree with a lot he is saying, but I also have hope, because I've seen older generations (mine) mature and come around. Shreveport has always had it's problems, but they had made a lot of progress, I thought, and now they seem to be sliding back into the abyss. This may very well be because of the local administration (ya think!). I hope they can recover, I enjoy my visits there. Remember there have always been bad cops, think prohibition Chicago, and Serpico. Today there are cameras everywhere and media of all kinds. Every misstep will be recorded. Percentage wise, I don't think there are any more bad people of all walks, there are just a lot more people and we hear about all the bad ones, and little about the good ones.

 

[cass]

The company I worked for became obsessed with Diversity and Affirmative Action. As a result, new employees were hired using a strange set of "requirements", and our customer service complaints hit the ceiling. The requirement for a college degree took a back seat if the applicant was minority, gay, or foreign. Promotions from within the ranks were impossible if you were a white male over 50 yrs old. Add the union to that mess, and you have the typical American company. I elected to get off the Titanic just in time.

 

[blackflag]

Word......

 

[Rule 303]

I all started when they did away with the Draft.
The great Socialization of American Youth.

The Youth of our Country lost out on learning Disipline and the maturing process stopped at about age 18.

Been down hill ever since for a majority of this country's youth.

Rule 303

 

[27145]

I disagree with needing college to become a Cop. All you need is common sense, a work ethic, solid moral values and empathy towards people.

Not all people are cut out for college. College should be reserved for people who apply themselves and get good grades up until high school. Unfortunately, the liberal communistic elite thinks everyone should be like them. They have geared this economy and our workforce towards a service economy. They want to develop young people who do not like to work or get their hands dirty. They question authority and feel they deserve everything because they went to school.

What is wrong with aspiring to be a master craftsman in your chosen trade? No longer can you work in a trade and make a decent living. Corporations have been importing illegal aliens for years, with a wink and a nod from Government. Ya these people can work for lower wages, they sleep in shifts with 30 people living in a house. They send their money back to their native Country, then live like kings. Mean while the US Citizen who just wants to make a decent living is under bidded by illlegal aliens for wages.

Not having a draft is not the downfall of this Country. It is the soft lives kids lead these days. Remember getting thrown out of the house by your Mom to go out and play for the day, you were expected to return only for meals. As a kid, you, not the illegal alien cut the lawn and did the yard work.
Your household had a chain of command and god forbid if you didn't follow it. There was no such thing as walking past your Dad while he was shoveling the snow, so you can go play Nintendo with your friends. You didn't ask your Dad for money to go to the movies, you asked the neighbor for payment when you did some work for him. Your Parents fed you, clothed you and put a roof over your head, how could you demand more?
People today do not value craftsmanship, why spend the extra money on a kitchen table that you can pass down for 5 generations when you can buy a made in China table for $150 and throw it out in 2 years?

I dare say that NONE of us, including myself is half the man our fathers and grandfathers were.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I agree there are problems but I don't think you can paint with too broad a brush, and it's not just the younger generations. I have several friends who live in retirement communities, they have some choice things to say about their supposedly "mature" neighbors-"old children" and "overage brats" are some of the politer things I have heard.
Many of the top business "leaders" of today are children of the 60s and have all the 60s values and attitudes-the cynicism, the dishonesty and selfishness, the 'what's in it for me" attitude. Boost the stock price, sell out at the top of the market, leave the company, when it goes belly up 6 months later be all lawyered up and refuse to cooperate with any investigations, etc.
I have mixed feelings about the Draft. As a veteran of the Draft Era Army
(though I was an RA) I could go on and on about the incompetence, the confusion, the misadministration and the dishonesty I saw in my 4 years of active duty 1967-1971, on the other hand they didn't get people who enlisted because they need the medical and other family benefits for their dependents and who whined and cried when they were called upon to perform the duties they had taken the Oath of Enlistment for. And no "Affirmative Action" back then, either. No women being allowed to finish flight school simply because they were women, e.g.
The suburban police departments around here seem to adhere to the Old Standards. All the young LEOs I have seen in recent years are all trim, fit,
almost all are veterans who accept the military style discipline that good PDs maintain.
The "disintegration of family life" and the rejection by men of the role of protector and provider is a big part of the problem-I often think it is THE problem. Then there's the 40% rate of illegitimacy. We can rail against the schools all we want but I don't envy teachers and school staff dealing with teenage girls whose ambition is to become a welfare mother by the time they're 16 and boys whose role models are pimps, pushers
and those who spend their prison time working out and come out sleek and buffed.
Then there's the kids who want to got to college and become something but who find the only financial aid available to them are student loans that are inadequate, meanwhile they see their grandmother who never did a lick of work outside-or inside-the home glued to the TV and their grandfather drinking away his Social Security check. And trying to squeeze money for higher education out of a parent who is a high school dropout and has the same contempt for their children's education as they did for their own, who has no work ethos, who is too fond of alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances, trips to the race track, prostitues, pornography-can you say "blood out of a stone"?

 

[blackflag]

"I regard the principle of conscription of life as a flat contradiction of all our cherished ideals of individual freedom, democratic liberty and Christian teaching. " Roger Baldwin

I think if we listed out the countries that have forced service, it wouldn't be a list of wonderful societies.

 

[Onomea]

Read this. It'll make you feel better:

Power Line - From South Greenwood to Dartmouth

There are still kids, and parents, out there that truly get it.

 

[imjin138]

I see it all the time in my job, in the past few months we interviewed 600 applicants for 45 jobs. Most of them had college degrees, some were vets and some were people off the street. Almost all had a prblem with an ethical question, either they did not know what ethics were or were so programed they automatically answered it as if it were an ethnical question.

We recently had an officer dismissed because her boyfriend was arrested for dealing drugs. She claimed no knowledge of any wrong doing apparently he ws just rich and unemployed.

In Wisconsin there has been a big debate over union collective bargaining, in MPS the Milwaukee public school system the graduation rate is 50% and the teachers want a raise, better insurance and health care. They called in sick enough to shut the schools down so that tells me they didn't take their jobs for the children.

I listen to inmates all day long talk about how they got over , then listen to fellow employees do the same thing, taking in foster children for the money or taking over time to sit on their *** and do nothing.

I get so annoyed with people sometimes I just want to scream.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Well... I can pretty much guarantee that the youth of today will do a lot better job with this country than their parents and grandparents have done.... or this country will no longer be.