Cal Thomas: It’s a New Year but Nothing’s New — Except for the Decline in Good Journalism and Real Leaders

People often speak of “a” new year as turning the page Or forgetting the past and starting over. At the start of a new year, I like to look back a century ago to see what has changed and what hasn’t.

In 1923, America had finally recovered from the Spanish fluThis disease caused the deaths of approximately 675,000 Americans and 50 million around the world. If we learned anything from that plague, it wasn’t enough to have protected the 1.08 million Americans who have died from COVID-19 (through November, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

The greatest political event in 1923 was Warren Harding’s death, which elevated Calvin Coolidge as president. The centenary of his inauguration will be observed in several ways this year, but it is worth noting that virtually every economic principle Coolidge held (smaller government, reduced spending — he left office with a budget surplus and a smaller budget than when he entered) has been thrown over to our national detriment and disgrace.

This Coolidge quote about government is one of my favorites: “If we give the best that is in us to our private affairs we shall have little need of government aid.” This attitude would be a great one today.

In the early 1920s, Rowell’s Directory calculated that there were more than 20,000 newspapers published in the United States, including dailies, weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies. In 2018, the United States had 1,279 daily papers. In 2020, one-third of the large US newspapers were laid off. This is more than 2019! Over eight out of 10 Americans get their newspapers now. “news” Digital devices, including social media. The decline in quality journalism may be due to our lack of leadership.

100 years ago, the USSR began to exist. An estimated 61 million people were killed by the time it collapsed. Joseph Stalin said to be responsible For 43 Million.

After the end of World War I ended, the last American troops fled Germany. However, they would return to Germany 19 years later. In 1923, Fascism had already been on the rise in Germany.

Here’s a personal favorite: It became legal in 1923 for American women to wear trousers. You won’t believe it.

Harry Houdini escaped from a straitjacket and hung upside down. Our upside-down politics and economy must have a modern analogy.

The Disney brothers founded their cartoon studio. Washington was not the only Mickey Mouse business.

The Senate released its first report on Teapot Dome, a scandal that was infamously known as Teapot Dome. There would be more scandals as they always do when too many politicians have too much power. Who needs term limits?

Coolidge, President, delivered the first radio broadcast speech on December 19, 1923. The first transatlantic radio broadcast occurred at the end the same month.

There were still conflicts and labor strikes. Although air travel has become easier and more accessible, safety remains a concern.

One thing is clear when you look back 100 years. Leaders and events are subject to change, but human nature remains the same. King Solomon wisely observed this thousands of years back. “There is nothing new under the sun.” He was echoed in France by the following French saying: “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.” English is the familiar translation.

Happy New Year!

Cal Thomas’ latest book is “America’s Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States.”

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