Ted Nugent on the "Summer of Drugs"

Ted Nugent is one of the greatest all time rock musicians; in recent years he has become one of the most eloquent statesman in America on the topics of personal liberty and personal responsibility.

Ted's latest essay, this one for the Wall Street Journal, takes to task romantic notions of the Summer of Love (not to be confused with this Summer of Love) that took place some 40 years ago. Short of the civil rights movement and some great music, Nugent finds absolutely nothing of value from the decade of the 1960s and successfully traces many of our current ills to the half-baked notions developed by the so-called "counter-culture." Indeed, the 60s was the petri dish for the malignant narcissism that is rampant today.

Nugent - who has never gone in for alcohol and drugs - said the following of his experience amongst the "tuned-on, tuned-in and dropped-out" generation:

I literally had to step over stoned, drooling fans, band mates, concert promoters and staff to pursue my musical American Dream throughout the 1960s and 1970s. I flushed more dope and cocaine down backstage toilets than I care to remember. In utter frustration I was even forced to punch my way through violent dopers on occasion. So much for peace and love. The DEA should make me an honorary officer.

Nugent connects rising rates of divorce, high school drop outs, drug use, abortion, sexual diseases and crime as well as "the exponential expansion of government and taxes" to the "if it feels good, do it" lifestyle of the 1960s and "hippies who thought utopia could be found in joints and intentional disconnect."

When our leaders exercise some personal responsibility in their own lives and hold especially young people to higher standards rather than endeavoring to garner them self-esteem, we may eventually get back on track.