“Sometimes the old ways are best,” Moneypenny tells Bond in Casino Royale, as she proceeds to shave him with an old-school straight razor. As I ponder the world as it is today, recalling how it was in my childhood, I’m forced to agree.
When I was much younger, the success of products in the marketplace was achieved by creating and successfully marketing a superior product. Monopolies were illegal.
As I look around today, I see that the success of products in the marketplace is achieved by dominance in the marketplace – by reducing competition through acquisition. One’s product rises to the top because competing products are eliminated, marginalized, or annexed under one’s own brand. Having the better product is no longer important.
When I was much younger, my recollection is that opposing candidates were distinguished by the quality of their ideas.
As I look around today, I see that high political office is obtained today via demonization of opponents; suppression of votes for one’s opponents; overt misrepresentation of their positions; systematic dissembling regarding one’s own positions; the bombardment of media, financed by interests far afield of one’s constituency. Ideas no longer seem to be required.
When I was much younger, Christian values were disseminated into the culture by way of personal witness – that is, people who were not Christians were won over to Christ, one by one, through the godly example of Christians. “One heart at a time,” I think, was the slogan.
As I look around today, I see that the dissemination of Christian values into the nation’s culture is achieved through political dominance, whereby those values are to be legislated into law – that Christian values will be imposed upon the US by a Christian government, whether those who aren’t Christians (or those who are, but are not draconian) like it or not. No need to bother with personal witness anymore.
When I consider the quality of today’s market offerings, politics, and Christianity, I have to say – I'm with Moneypenny.
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