Average life expectancy in 1862 was 39 years.

Then most of our current legislators would not now be alive if it was the olden days.

How is that a bad thing? :)

Your best post ever!

I'm not sure exactly what you're getting at because we still have freedom of religion. We are free to be as religious (or unreligious) as we want to be. And, as far as I know, we still have the same form of government with lots of checks and balances.

Note: You could have thrown in the institution of marriage; back up 150 years and there were a lot less divorces. Was that better or worse?

It was a struggle, but I've managed to finally put a smile on your face.

Thanks, Ed.

you won't be thriving for much longer . Not if you make UNDER 120,000 YOur going to be hit big time in addition to death panels. No hip replacement for you. Too Old!! Say bye to healthcare. I say let the libs be first in line for socialized medicine right next to the illegals and I'll keep my health insurance (as Obama said I could to begin with haha) the country is turning socialist and you don't even know it yet. unbelievable how naive people are. Hope you don't have grandkids!!

The replies have been interesting and varied. Yes we need to return to the belief of a intangible belief and to a government that doesnt govern with the regulations of today. Our government should take care of the world affairs and the states take care of its people. The removal of pride in your country is slowly getting drained from the citizens of this country. And now the attempt to abolish the last thing worth believing in will destroy The United States of America. No I'm not talking about living as it was 150 years ago just stop causing enemies as we have done in the past. Conservative I am you can't spend 10 dollars when you only have 5 coming in we all know that. Remember the old song The eve of destruction thats us .

Richie: Gotta admit - that was classic :)

I have 11 grandkids and one great grandkid. I am proud that they will one day learn in history that Obama helped reform health care in America and is considered one of the great POTUS's.;)

Did you identify what the last thing worth believing was?

Ddoug: I got your first post. We do not have the freedoms Americans once had but these freedoms have been taken away from us a slice at a time so that now the younger generation has absolutely no idea they even existed.
It is dangerous because given a popular but manipulative leader with excellent speaking abilities and without even a hint he could strip Americans of all legal rights without a shot being fired, Hilter comes to mind.
We have lost our desire to be individuals. Even those so alled recalcitranst act not individually but as groups. Add to that apathy, entitlement mentalities and education indoctrinations which has been occuring in our schools and universities for some time and were lambs to slaughter.

so I want to assert my right to have children pray in school and pledge alligance to the flag etc etc and I don't want to hear that same old crap about what religious prayer should children recite because there is a common denominator and euphorians know it.