Well if it helps, in the States, there’s been a distinct, right-wing plan to tear down the existing FDR-style democracy and replace it with a hierarchical Christian Nationalist government since the days of Nixon, roughly ~1968. So we’ve had ~57yrs of this toxic, stinking cloud choking the USA, slowly worsening things and preying on blowhards and fools as a voting base to thrive. All aided of course by the progression of late stage capitalism, which tends to act as a tyrant, no matter whatever else is going on.
So… you’re not wrong, if it relates to that stuff.
Unfortunately and tragically, the trend doesn’t seem to have been spotted until far too late in the game, and now we’re collectively staring down the barrel of… whatever terrible weapon of destruction this is.
It’s also relative to your experience. The better days of the 50s and 60s before the mentioned decline wasn’t all that create for all groups in the US. And I say that as a descendant of the group that is pictured as experiencing this optimal period of time (white, middle class, suburbia). Underneath this wholesome prosperity was still class struggles, racism, and injustice.
But… we were doing better than before, and that’s something. It could have continued to spread to others. The 70s were definitely a turning point where we took the worse path and left many potentials behind.
Agree and agree. And social conformity was a hell of an obnoxious boss for just about anyone, during those more prosperous years. (anyone remember the “Mister Bumble” educational videos?)
I have a working theory that when people talk about ‘America being great,’ what they’re mostly longing for is a ~40yr stretch, from approximately the mid-1930’s to the last vestiges of such, around the mid-1970’s. I.e. when there was a healthy, social safety net, Americans were seen as ‘heroes’ by much of the world, and there was a post-war economic boom.
Well if it helps, in the States, there’s been a distinct, right-wing plan to tear down the existing FDR-style democracy and replace it with a hierarchical Christian Nationalist government since the days of Nixon, roughly ~1968. So we’ve had ~57yrs of this toxic, stinking cloud choking the USA, slowly worsening things and preying on blowhards and fools as a voting base to thrive. All aided of course by the progression of late stage capitalism, which tends to act as a tyrant, no matter whatever else is going on.
So… you’re not wrong, if it relates to that stuff.
Unfortunately and tragically, the trend doesn’t seem to have been spotted until far too late in the game, and now we’re collectively staring down the barrel of… whatever terrible weapon of destruction this is.
It’s also relative to your experience. The better days of the 50s and 60s before the mentioned decline wasn’t all that create for all groups in the US. And I say that as a descendant of the group that is pictured as experiencing this optimal period of time (white, middle class, suburbia). Underneath this wholesome prosperity was still class struggles, racism, and injustice.
But… we were doing better than before, and that’s something. It could have continued to spread to others. The 70s were definitely a turning point where we took the worse path and left many potentials behind.
Agree and agree. And social conformity was a hell of an obnoxious boss for just about anyone, during those more prosperous years. (anyone remember the “Mister Bumble” educational videos?)
I have a working theory that when people talk about ‘America being great,’ what they’re mostly longing for is a ~40yr stretch, from approximately the mid-1930’s to the last vestiges of such, around the mid-1970’s. I.e. when there was a healthy, social safety net, Americans were seen as ‘heroes’ by much of the world, and there was a post-war economic boom.