Decency

 It seems to me that these days in America we have come to believe in freedom without responsibility. We become convinced that whatever we want we can have without considering the impact on others. In a globally connected world, we are always at the center. The main purpose of education is to secure material comfort. 

To solve problems like addiction, mental health, homelessness, poverty, incarceration rates and family dysfunction, we throw money at them after the fact.

Maybe I’m naïve, but I believe that if a primary social goal were to build productive,  educated, decent human beings, this would address many of our nation’s problems at their roots.

We don’t talk much about decency these days. But I believe a decent person lives by a conscience, respects others and gives back. Certainly lots of people like this would come in handy.