America rose above other nations with the help of major institutions like government, corporations, public education and churches.

Government promoted rule by consensual laws rather than by fickle autocrats. The economy operated under a principle of free contractual relations and ownership of the product of one’s labor. Education agencies carried out a mandatory civics education program for young people. Churches modeled their teachings on the conduct and instruction of great moral leaders and asked their people to emulate that conduct.

Today, each of those great agencies has taken large strides backward and therefore so has our nation. Government no longer enforces the traditional laws of the land. Business entities operate on a principle of false advertising and sketchy financing. Education has lost sight of the curriculum necessary to help young people become good citizens. Churches are mired in social, sexual, financial and political controversies that make them less than good models for human behavior.

Our society has become unsafe, unhealthy and scammy in many aspects of its existence. Our leaders don’t seem to understand this, and if they do, don’t seem to care about fixing it.

Kimball Shinkoskey

Woods Cross, Utah