Illegal Is Legal, Immoral Is Moral

The moral norm in American society has shifted, and not for the better.

E. Jeffrey Ludwig | May 24, 2026

The moral norm in American society has shifted during the years from 1910 to the present, but especially during the past 50 years.  The link between being a “good citizen” and a “moral person” has atrophied, and we find ourselves in a decline, where so-called “good citizens” are regularly engaged in behaviors that in earlier decades were considered immoral or illegal.  Bad behavior is now “not so bad,” and crimes are often believed to be merely “adjustment problems.”  This shift in cultural values and norms has divided the population to the point where the more moral people tend to be older and deem younger generations less than moral.

On this writer’s block, there are two houses that have LGBTQ flags on poles in their yards.  Another “gay” couple has the flag outside in June, the official month for “appreciation” of those relationships.  The flag announces for all to see the victory of Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, where the SCOTUS legitimized homosexual “marriage” nationwide as constitutional.  The Court reached this decision even though plebiscites by 30 states had previously voted against attempting to redefine marriage — even including California, on two occasions.

A young man who lives on my block is in his twenties and conversed with me the other day while smoking a joint that was as big as a small blunt.  His eyes were glazed and his expression tired, which he attributed to the “joint.”  At the same time, he was sociable and even engaging as he related a recent video production where he had been employed.  For him, being high and having a conversation with a neighbor was a completely normal activity.  The thought that anyone might........

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