I'm OK, You're 'Who cares'

Steve Salerno has an insightful column in the National review as it relates to the self-esteem movement. It's probably a little late to be asking these questions about the long-term ramifications of this approach, but it will eventually show itself to have created more problems for those that enthusiastically embrace it than the problems it fixes. As Salerno queries:

"One wonders how a nation comprising 295 million individuals, each vowing not to let anyone take away his dreams, could arrive at a true sense of collective purpose, especially with humility now in such short supply."

We, as typical Americans, tend to overdo everything. Therefore, the immutable Law of Unintended Consequences will surely have it's natural impact on this practice. Further, because Newton's Third Law (for every action there is a equal and opposite reaction), this too will pass. But, since we are Americans (see above), we will probably over react and exaggerate this natural reaction making it far greater - and potentially more negative - than it otherwise would be.

As our less 'enlightened' ancestors advised: "Everything in moderation"! But nah! That's so yesterday. Besides, where's the money in that?!