To hell in a hand basket, or are we?

[Poison Tree]

I often hear about the moral decline of America. Oh the wailing and gnashing of teeth christians have over this. It's a sure sign of the fast approaching end of the world, or so I'm told.
So, what did I happen to read today?
First, Today's teenagers are the best-behaved generation on record teen birth rate and abortions: down. Teens having unprotected sex: down. Teen use of drugs and alcohol: down. Teens exercising: up.
Secondly, the murder rate continues 20 years of decline.  Non-fatal firearms crimes down enormously since early 90s.

Two more pieces of evidence to add to my usual response to the moral decline argument (which is to ask which moral high point they want to return to; institutionalized segregation, half the population unable to vote due to their gender or when almost 13% of the population was owned as slaves).

[Hydra009]

First, Today's teenagers are the best-behaved generation on record teen birth rate and abortions: down. Teens having unprotected sex: down. Teen use of drugs and alcohol: down. Teens exercising: up.

Maybe they figured out the true meaning of YOLO.  :P

[aitm]

I would suggest that this is only the 3rd or 4th (edit: in truth probably closer to 2nd or 3rd)full generation mostly world wide that has had full access and opportunity to education and some countries have still to have one generation to have total access. I would also surmise that we can only get better IF we can continue to educate. The only thing religion cannot overcome is knowledge. Getting that information into the minds of "third" worlders is another issue.

[stromboli]

Awhile back I posted a thread on here that showed a very strong link between lead in the environment and the crime rate.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/07/AR2007070701073.html

The act of removing lead from paint and from gasoline has a strong correlation with crime.

[AllPurposeAtheist]

Well there's only one solution to this problem and that's to build more,  MANY MORE private for profit prisons and start making more shit illegal and make sure every kid has a loaded gun to kill their friends and family members. Not only that but begin an unrelenting campaign to get across the message that life is completely fucked up and it's never going to be better no matter what you do or think and for God's sake STOP educating the little fuckers.
We all know nothing says moral decay like good behavior and lower church attendance. And besides, you're the first generation that can start looking at naked people soon as you learn to use computers without having to steal Playboys.

[Poison Tree]

And besides, you're the first generation that can start looking at naked people soon as you learn to use computers without having to steal Playboys.

Hum, that is an interesting point. I can see the headline now: "young males too busy with internet porn to join gangs, do drugs"

[AllPurposeAtheist]

Hum, that is an interesting point. I can see the headline now: "young males too busy with internet porn to join gangs, do drugs"

Because gangs, guns & drugs save lives. Porn leads to soul death. God said so.

[the_antithesis]

By moral decline, they mean that homosexuals are not stoned to death or set on fire anymore.

[Poison Tree]

By moral decline, they mean that homosexuals are not stoned to death or set on fire anymore.

And abortions happen and non-christians have rights. But mostly the gays

[GSOgymrat]

People who think that times are bad now have no knowledge of history.

[Solitary]

Or still wet behind the ears.  Solitary