Looking Back 40 Years

Do you ever think back to how things used to be? It's interesting how things change as far as our families, our jobs, and our country.

 This week's pictures remind me of 40 years ago. It was the 1970s. There was a lot of expansion in agriculture. Machinery, grain bins, and livestock facilities were selling strong. Frankie couldn't sell Harvestor silos fast enough.

 Farm land prices rose from $350-$500/acre to $2400-$3000/acre during this decade. Interest rates were 7-10% and Farm Credit and banks were encouraging farmers to borrow.

 In 1974 I was a senior in high school and this was my valentine. Looking at myself 40 years ago I'm not sure what Jan saw in me.:-) I was boring, goofy looking, and shy. Must have been Divine intervention.

I started being a part time hired man for Walter in 1971 for $2/hour. When Walter died in November of 1973 I rented the 200 acres. I'm obliged to Walter's son, my Dad, and my Lord for giving me the chance to farm on my own. 

Remember the cold war and the arms race. We were constantly being told how many missiles were pointed at our country. Russia was promising their citizens the government would care for their needs and was depriving them of their freedoms. Communism and socialism was our countries biggest threat.

In 1974 our national debt was a half a trillion dollars. 40 years later it is now 36 times that.

In 1974 our country had a president resign and some of his staff go to jail for cover up and lying. It happens all the time today and when it is exposed our leaders cry partisan politics. For the first time in 40 years we now have a president that promises executive order for anything that doesn't go his way.

We have a few things that have gotten backwards over the last four decades. For instance when we travel out of the country we're told to guard our passports with our life since it's the only way we can get back home. At the same time illegal immigration is encouraged and subsidized.

Today I have to show ID to cash a check at my own bank. Yet we are told it's discrimination if we ask for ID when we vote for who runs our country.

School children in this country are required to have a permission slip from parents to take an aspirin but don't need one to have an abortion.

A little boy can get expelled from school for kissing a little girl. However having sexual exploration or diversity classes in grade school is now acceptable.

Hardworking folks give 1/3 to 1/2 of their income to the government in all kinds of taxes. At the same time the government encourages people not to work by offering food stamps, health care, subsidized housing, and 99 weeks of unemployment checks.

Is it just me or does it also seem a little backwards that during TV coverage of the Olympics our commentators trash Russia for sticking up for traditional marriage?

Lets look forward 40 years. It's 2054. Will our grandkids have had the same opportunities and freedoms we have been so blessed with? I think we have two choices. We can continue to watch and wonder what's happening. Or we can humble ourselves as a country, get on our knees, and ask God to heal our land.