How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
This kind of summarized a lot of other statements: "Mr. President, we are confronted with a moral and a spiritual crisis." (16)
Evidence for Carter's belief that it's not just him, that Americans sense a deeper moral crisis as well.
Quote #2
We've always believed in something called progress. We've always had a faith that the days of our children would be better than our own. (29)
Ah, the good ol' days, when everything cost a nickel and the future was stretched out before us like a long, perfect summer vacation. But did those good ol' days actually exist?
Quote #3
We always believed that we were part of a great movement of humanity itself called democracy, involved in the search for freedom, and that belief has always strengthened us in our purpose. (30)
Here we see an appeal to history, an appeal to what was—and what might be again.
Quote #4
For the first time in the history of our country a majority of our people believe that the next 5 years will be worse than the past 5 years. (32)
Carter cites some big time evidence for what he feels are a lack of trust in the tried and true principles of hard work, bright futures and the American way.
Quote #5
Two-thirds of our people do not even vote. The productivity of American workers is actually dropping, and the willingness of Americans to save for the future has fallen below that of all other people in the Western world. (32)
Like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, Carter throws some punches toward the American people and what he considers a declining moral landscape.