The four good Rocky movies (skip Rocky V, please) had a common plot element. Out of low or high self-esteem, the boxer isn't doing what he is called to do: train hard and have the "eye of the tiger." Revived midway through the movie by his wife's love or a friend's death, he gets in shape and eventually wins.
The nation of Israel had a similar problem of forgetfulness throughout the Bible. Nehemiah (chapter nine) is one of many books that notes how God performed miracles, but then "our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their necks." Stephen said the same thing in Acts (chapter seven), and those who could not handle the truth stoned him. Only the work of the Holy Spirit could revive Israel's Rockys.
And what about us? Right after the 9-11 disaster, Americans of all persuasions knew we were in a war. Now, 31 months later, much is forgotten. Democrats and some Republicans bloviate about the Patriot Act, as if we were not in wartime. In the same breath, we hear complaints that the Bush administration is guilty for underestimating the terrorist threat before 9-11 and overestimating it ever since.
The current welfare reform gridlock represents another case of misplaced memory. I spent 20 months on leave from my teaching responsibilities in 1995-1996, commuting to Washington and pushing for legislation that did not follow the laws of political entropy. Opportunity knocked: Members of Congress were desperate for some way to stop the upward march of welfare dependency
Semi-miraculously, a strong welfare reform measure made it through both houses. Bill Clinton, seeking re-election, signed the bill. Groups like the Urban Institute and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities wailed. Marian Wright Edelman of the Children's Defense Fund was typical in her prediction that welfare reform "will hurt and impoverish millions of American children."
Eight years later, even those with short memories should be able to remember the stats: Welfare rolls down over 60 percent since 1996, and not rising during recession. A 20 percent decline in poverty among children of single moms, and a greater decline in black child poverty. A 50 percent improvement in the employment rate for poor single moms. Almost every study shows great improvement.