Comments about ‘History shows New Year's optimism pays off’

This editorial is completely misguided. Society has fundamentally changed for the worst in the past 100 years. Time-honored values have been disregarded and society has degenerated. Unless we return to the values of the past, there is no reason for optimism.

We live in an era in which the cult of self reigns supreme. Selfishness, avarice, and greed rule the day. The only thing that matters is the obtaining of immediate gratification, without regard to the consequences. As a result, crime, addiction, and immorality are rampant.

America cannot remain great when a majority of the public wears sweat pants and sits in a basement day after day watching television and playing video games. The only things of note that this produces are enlarged welfare roles and increased rates of illegitimacy.

Let us not fool ourselves into thinking all is well. Instead of staying up late engaging in debauchery, let us get to bed early so that we may start this New Year with the energy we need to reform society before it is too late.

Thank you Mr. Evensen,

As you said, "optimism and hard work, in the long run, tend to be rewarded".

Nice article.

Don't forget we've got another apocalypse scheduled this year, towards the end if I recall.

Not my favorite piece by Mr Jay E. I'm all for optimism but am a realist. Never mind, Jay, there are times to wear those rose-colored glasses, keep a hold on them, but take them off when you're driving.

Yet again, if more of us kept our "resolutions", which Jay mentioned positively, New Year's and otherwise, we would do better. There was a good point there, as resolutions are up to us as individuals, not families, nations or worlds. I think it's in individuals that the improvements will come this year.

It'll all come out right in the end, I believe, but not until it gets worse. Those world wars and the associated 'Flu Pandemic and Depression didn't just happen, they were the result of certain attitudes and associated actions.