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They might think, "wow, you people are completely at the mercy of your employers. You are completely dependent on them for for survival, and they can fire you for any reason. And yet you people keep buying big houses on credit so that you don't feel inferior, living constantly on the brink of financial ruin. No wonder most of you people are on meds!"
Let's say a group of pioneers, during the 1800s, travelling along the California or Oregon trail enters a magical time portal that teleports them today. What do you think they would think of today?
They would probably be amazed at the medical advances that have been made, at how many children live to adulthood, how few women die in childbirth, and how few people starve to death.
I'm sure they would also be appalled at many things, but I suspect they would find the above developments nothing short of miraculous.
I agree with this completely.
In 1981 I was working at a retirement home in Lubbock, while attending law school. One of the residents I got to know (I was a driver) was a gentleman some 97 years old; he was in excellent health, and he told me of how his family came out 'west' in the 1880s, via wagon. He told me of how each person had their own special 'rock' that they would heat in front of the fire each night, then wrap the hot rock in a quilt, and then sleep hugging the warmed quilt.
Anyway, he spoke of how his mother had some 10 children, which he said was not unusual for the time, and of how he and a few other siblings were the only ones to survive childhood. He was very interested in medical science, and lauded medical advancements (such as polio, small pox, measles, etc.). He often said that he felt very fortunate to be able to witness things like the Wright Brothers through the landing on the Moon.
I suppose he is dead now. However, I bet he lived several more years.
Side note: this person reminds me of a great uncle I had, whom died at age 97 in 2003. He was also in excellent health, only dying after he left a bar at 2 in the morning, one cold January day, slipped on ice, and lay there for some hours until found. He went to the hospital, seemed to be recovering (he was in good spirits when I visited), but suddenly died while being visited by a friend. Anyway, he also thought himself very fortunate to witness all he had during life.
I always said that my ancestors of 150 and 250 years ago would have thought they'd won the lottery if they could receive welfare and other government assistance benefits that people in poverty and in lower income levels get today. I guess many immigrants( legal and illegal) today feel the same way depending on where they come from.
They came here for freedom and the chance at a better life through hard work so their children would benefit. Nobody gave them anything, except maybe land. Nowadays, too many come here just to be supported. And that includes those who are poor and the uber elite. They all want to live off the toil and sweat of others.
Let's say a group of pioneers, during the 1800s, travelling along the California or Oregon trail enters a magical time portal that teleports them today. What do you think they would think of today?
They'd think "men in the ladies room? Let's find that magical time portal so we can get the hell out of this crazy place and go back to when we came from."
The first legislation requiring separate facilities for men vs women happened in Mass, in 1887 and was limited to the workplace and grandfathered existing structures.
Think the people in the early 1800's would be far more surprised at the concept of modern plumbing than who is in the bathroom.
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