Social Sickness

                         "Pigs in a blanket- fry 'em like bacon!'
            If that's not hate speech, what is?  Hate speech is not free speech, it's anarchy! 
           America is a dangerous place and rapidly becoming more dangerous.  Violent crimes are escalating and a sizable segment of the population, instead of walking softly and carrying a big stick, are walking as loudly as possible and carrying a Smith & Wesson.  When the police are a major target of the violent crimes, anarchy is not far away.  I'm prepared to bet a hefty sum that a police call these days has a longer response time than has been normal  in recent years and if things continue in the present manner, there may well be cases when there is no response at all.  Not good for the nation.  Until someone takes charge, conditions will deteriorate and the mental and physical health of the nation can only decline.  As long as every malcontent can walk around with a gun in his pocket, the health resources required to deal with gun violence will continue to soak up an extravagant part of the health care and the legal systems budget. 
       When I was growing up, long, long ago in a land far, far away, my mother told me while quite a little  lad, "son, if you are worried or afraid of someone or something, just go up to a policeman and tell him what you're worried about and he will see that you are safe".  And that's the way it was.  There was something pretty healthy about that.  Both mentally and physically.  The police were perceived as friend and protector and they usually were.  They didn't need a gun and the truncheon they wore on their belt rarely came out of its sheath.   My parents didn't have to worry when we kids went out for the day and the greatest danger we could imagine was being home late for supper.   
       We are all proud of the fantastic advances that have been made in individual and public health in conquering and preventing disease in recent years.  Unfortunately, during the same time anarchy has been gaining momentum in our society and resulting in more mortality and morbidity than ever.  If we don't elect leaders who have the courage and integrity to deal with this, we will deserve what we are going to get..  Social sickness may now be a greater threat than physical disease.