VERN HUMPHREY wrote in a message to ROY J. TELLASON:

RJT> VH> Right -- now let's concentrate on getting back to the America of my
RJT> VH> boyhood, when crime was low, and a 16-year old could buy a 7mm
RJT> VH> Mauser rifle through the mail. :-)

RJT>It _was_ a different society then,  no question about it.

 VH> Wouldn't it be great to get back to that society?

In many respects,  yeah.  In some others,  not necessarily.

 VH> Crime was low, compared to today, drug use was far lower, unwed
 VH> births were low, and poverty was declining.

People were stereotyped,  roles were much more narrowly defined,  choices
were more limited,  conformity was expected and much social pressure
exerted to enforce it...

It wasn't *all* better.

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