Nuclear power was seen as the be all and end all then. It vanquishes all your enemies at once plus it makes for a perfect society. I know the phrase isn’t an exact reference to nuclear power per se. But it does seem an awfully big coincidence. 

A Nuclear Family  - ‘The family is a social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. It contains adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, own or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults’.  George Murdoch .  

It’s an appropriation of scientific language, referring to the nucleus of a cell as opposed to nuclear energy. But somehow it still really gets my goat, it was that blind belief in science that has got society in the mess it is now. Sure we have tons of gadgets and can even pay to hang around in space for a while, but the place is a mess, and god knows who will clear it up.

No matter what size or make-up of your family, if it is happy, you are a rarity. Divorce rates continue to climb, marriages decline, the world is becoming a singles bar, no make that a single  parent bar. Work first, life later. The ethics of the fifties were seriously damaged by the wave of rebellion and revolt of the 1960’s (god bless them all). Since then it’s been money all the way. For a perfect life you have to pay for it. Don’t expect ma, pa to come running, they will more than likely be off having yet another second chance with god knows who.

Life is short, the life of the family even shorter, appreciate it, whatever shape and size it comes in.

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