“I have always been in a minority, and didn’t know until recently that it was a handicap. When I didn’t complete my schoolwork, my teachers said I was dumb or lazy or both and used a club on the seat of my pants.

“I have always voted and accepted the results as the normal working of the democratic process, until the anarchists, Communists, crooked politicians, do-gooders and chronic meddlers figured out a way to circumvent it.

“I never had any trouble with busing. We walked, and just naturally attended the closest school.

“I didn’t have any trouble with the draft. I registered one week and enlisted the next.

“I have seen some hard times in a lifetime, but never had any complaint about welfare. When I got hungry I took my pitchfork or shucking peg and walked until I found a job. It is only recently that I learned that the government should have fed me.

“I have always been poor, and blamed it on my inability to handle money. My teachers never told me that it was society’s fault.

“I haven’t had much trouble with the law. I did get intoxicated one time and tried to beat a policeman. This was about 50 years ago. Now the cop is either dead or retired, so I can’t get him fired for brutality. And I’m afraid I’ve waited too long to sue the city.

“Don’t you think I should sue the U.S. government for having given me such a bad education?” – J. W., Chino Valley, Ariz.

Not really, J. W. Yours was the kind of education that made the country great. Seriously, readers, I’ve reprinted this letter in full because it illustrates how far down the hill we’ve gone in just one lifetime.

This is an article I have saved for many years and I just found it the other day. It seems more approiate to me today than ever. If the author is still around I hope he is enjoying life as it is today.