Is America Now A Valueless State?

BY LOUIE OVERSTREET

A case can certainly be made that America no longer adheres to a time-honored consistent set of values. Sadly, our present values are those exhibited by, with notable exceptions, too many selfish, greedy, unethical, and immoral political leaders. 

They certainly don’t match up with the four simple and easy values that Myrtha “Mommie Myrthie” Crawford-Overstreet and Pervis “Ebbie” Overstreet instilled in me growing up. 

My mom insisted on me being a kind person, and I was to help others when I was able to do so. My dad expected me to keep my word and be on time. Otherwise, as the baby of the family, I was able to get away with things just short of crimes against humanity and blame my two older brothers — Pervis Rudolph (Rudy) and Willie James (Lump Lump) — for my misdeeds. 

For starters, we have a POTUS who has broken at least seven — if not eight — of the Ten Commandments yet enjoys support from a considerable majority of evangelical Christians. 

And for good measure, here are four of the 28 American precepts (I learned about in junior high school. If you don’t recognize them nowadays, I can’t blame you): 

• A free people can’t survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong. 
• A Constitution should protect the people from the frailties of their rulers. 
• The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical. 
• Only limited and carefully defined powers should be delegated to government, all others being retained by the people. 

For those of you who enjoy seeking value by engaging in games of chance, here are two sure things on which you can bet. 

1. If you are among the tired, the poor, and huddled masses, you are going to remain a part of this group for at least another 44 months. 

2. If you know people who are holding their breath waiting for Harriet Tubman to replace Andrew Jackson on the twenty-dollar bill, bet on the fact that you will be attending their funerals.