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DEAR EDITOR:

Now that the midterm elections are over and many “newbies” are going to their elected positions, will we see the change they promised? Will we, as many said through their campaign slogans, “Save America?” Does America need to be saved?

Many residents have been around for some time and will talk about the “good ol’ days,” reflect on days gone by and remember when there appeared to be very little concerns; every day seemed to be a good day. Was it simply based on youth, where we were at the time?

I looked back to see what was going on during those so-called “good ol’ days” and my eyes opened a little wider at my findings. Let’s take a look back and you decide whether it was better then.

The economy:

1969-1970: Stock Market Crash

1973-1974: Stock Market Crash

1980-1982: Stock Market Crash

2000-2002: .com Crash

2007-2008: Financial Crisis

Social concern, civil rights:

(I’ll list just one for each era, starting when most readers will remember.)

1965 – Selma to Montgomery marches, March 7-25, Alabama

1965 – Watts riots, August 11-17, Los Angeles

1970 – Kent State riots / shootings, May 4, 1970, four killed

1985 – Philadelphia bombing C4 plastic explosives dropped from a helicopter killing 11, including 5 children, and the ensuing loss of a city block to fire.

1992 – LA Rodney King riots.

1999 – Michigan State University student riot.

2005 – 2005 Toledo riot, October 15.

2009 – 2009 G20 Pittsburgh summit protests, 193 arrested.

This continues into the 2020s, with social unrest, economic meltdowns, inflations, stagnation, recession and depression. It seems we’ve always dealt with economic and societal concerns, and here we are 245 years old and still trying to figure it out. I don’t believe any one person can prevent what history has shown; this is the cost of living in a democratic “free society.”

Differences will arise when you have 332 million people living together in one nation. I guess the “good ol’ days” are, as the saying goes, “in the eyes of the beholder.”

JOHN P. LESEGANICH SR.

Canfield