Originally Posted by pocketkangaroo

I don't think any of the "values" you stated have changed. Maybe people are more vocal about it which makes conservatives uncomfortable, but they were still happening.

Reduced Sexual Inhibitions - Sex was more prominent in the earlier part of our country's history. Sex workers ruled the streets and it was a huge business. Brothels were legal and commonplace in many communities. Slave owners routinely raped their slaves with no consequences. There were little to no age restrictions on sex or marriage and you'd often have 12 year old girls thrust into marriages with older men. If those are the "traditional values" that we've lost, I'm glad. Over the past decades, we've seen sex education in schools rise, contraceptives become prominent (they used to be illegal in "traditional" times), and age of consent laws raised. Prostitution is illegal just about everywhere as well as having sex with underage girls/boys. I don't see how our country has gone backwards in regards to sex.

Drugs - I don't think it has changed much. Opium based drugs have always been prominent in US culture. Maybe it is considered more accepted, but there has always been an element in society. Lets also not forget that it was a "conservative administration" that helped spread crack throughout the country (read up on Iran-Contra). I also don't get how conservatives are the ones boasting about freedom all the time yet are so concerned about giving the freedom to a person to do what he wants with his own body.

Marriage - If you're trying to point out higher divorce rates, you have to look at how a "traditional marriage" worked. Women weren't even allowed to have credit in a marriage until the 70's, they weren't allowed to vote a little farther back and property was impossible to come by. They were also given little to no rights in court and would be left without their children and any income after divorce. Men could beat and rape their wives with no consequences. Women couldn't use contraceptives till the 70's (yes it was illegal), and also against the law for interracial marriages to exist. You weren't allowed to file for a divorce unless you could prove that your husband/wife commited a sin or crime. I actually think marriage has come a long way from the "traditional" times.

Disrespect of Religion - I don't think this is disrespect, it's just a factor of less and less people being religious. Those with religious affiliation is dropping at staggering rates as people become educated on science, evolution, etc. I think it's ignorant to say the country is worse because people don't believe in Jesus. Many people want a separation between Church and State so that their kids aren't taught bullshit like Creationism in school.

Gay agenda - I don't really get what this "agenda" is. Is it to be treated like every other human being in this country? To get the same rights others have? The only thing I've noticed over the years are that gay people are more comfortable with being open about their sexuality. I don't see how that's a bad thing.

I am just having a hard time seeing how any of these issues have really changed much. Maybe they are talked about more openly, but they've always been apart of this country. Things like marriage and sex have come a long way over the years in my opinion.

I don't know what kind of "traditional values" you feel are missing. These "ultra-liberals" ended slavery, segregation, and sedition acts. They gave rights of voting and property ownership to blacks and women. It seems to me that "traditional values" would be having white men control every aspect of the country. I think this country has come a long way over the years. We have equal rights for all genders, races, and social classes. If that is what is considered an "ultra-liberal" idea, I guess I'm in that boat.