Question for people 50+

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 31. I have never seen sustained political resistance and opposition like this towards a president before in my life that I can remember.

Is there a comparison in modern history?

Your question really should have gone to people over 60. It was like this in the 1960s, with a divided country and a lot of anger on both sides. There was more violence back then, but we are still just at the beginning. Things could get a lot worse.

Agree. Nobody has bombed the Pentagon yet this time around. No protesters have been killed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 50 with clear recollection of Nixon's resignation and the month leading up to it. Since then, I don't think I've seen a president who is as disliked as Trump seems to be.

I agree. I am also 50 and grew up in the only state that rejected Nixon. Remember it well. Nixon came in with protests against him around his inauguration. It didn't end well then and I don't think this will either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 31. I have never seen sustained political resistance and opposition like this towards a president before in my life that I can remember.

Is there a comparison in modern history?

Your question really should have gone to people over 60. It was like this in the 1960s, with a divided country and a lot of anger on both sides. There was more violence back then, but we are still just at the beginning. Things could get a lot worse.

I agree. I'm 63 and even I was too young then to directly witness the worst of the Vietnam protests. The protests were intense and violent because virtually every family was impacted by the Vietnam War as a result of the draft. People lived in fear of being called up. Unlike now, we saw ground combat every night on TV, along with the body count for the day. People knew the war was pointless, which made it much worse.

I don't think there are any parallels in the recent history of our country to the situation that we are facing today. I've never been so afraid. This truly reminds me of Germany in the 1930s. The speed with which Trump and Bannon are attempting to take over and destroy our country is astounding. Even more astounding is that the corrupt Republican Congress is allowing this to happen. I don't think that the people who voted Trump into office had the faintest idea what they were unleashing. They still don't.

I don't know what the answer is, but it will take sustained vigilance and protests all across the country to even hope to change this situation. I'd like to be able to rely on an independant press, but that has been directly threatened by the administration and weakened by the profit motive. Young people, especially, have to be willing to inform themselves much more than before, and they have to be active participants in their own destiny. This has to be done NOW, before it's too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/from-nixon-to-trump-the-parallels-between-1968-and-2016/Content?oid=5086105

I am almost 50, and so only barely remember the political divisions regarding the Vietnam War and then Richard Nixon. My MIL, who accompanied me to the Mall on Saturday, said that she participated in the 1968 Chicago protests. The article cited above theorizes that just as the civil rights, women's movement, and endless foreign wars created a traditionalists vs. progressives split that gave rise to Nixon, similar conditions existed in this election cycle.

My fear is that unlike the Nixon era, which had Nixon vs. a Democrat-controlled Congress---Trump is completely unfettered, as the GOP has shown that it is willing to overlook anything in order to keep power (and from alienating Trump's populist supporters).

Born around 67? You don't remember anything about Vietnam or Nixon.

As for Trump unfettered. He will do his best to piss off both parties from time to time. Then you have those who will politically suck up to America through Trump. For instance, the Democrat proposal of a 1 Trillion Dollar infrastructure plan.

That said, as much as I dislike the man, he will be better at working deals than Obama.

I'm not the person you're responding to, but I was born in 1967 and yes I do remember lots about Nixon. I also remember something about Vietnam. How is it you think we can't remember 1974?

Because you were in 2nd grade in 74?

You remember reruns and docs made well after the fact. There was no CNN, Fox etc. and cable was rare. Much of the news was gathered through newspapers and magazines with 30 minutes of national news in the evening. Not to mention an understanding of government and what was really happening. When you were six did you understand the ramifications of the Saturday Night Massacre?

What is your problem? I watched Nixon resign live on TV and discussed it with my parents. I still have the Washington Post with the headlines. No, sorry I did not understand the full ramifications of the Saturday Night Massacre but I understood what a cover up was.

"yes I do remember lots about Nixon"

That's my problem. As one that lived through that time as an adult you have no clue to the whole of what unraveled through Watergate. I could understand it if you were 17 but not 5, 6 or 7.

Those of us who lived through three assignations, Vietnam, Watergate, racism, the riots....well...you just had to be there, and be aware, to fully understand. No way would I try to equate to something I 'knew' about when I was a child and what my parents did.

I think you are underestimating the effect the events had on impressionable children. I do remember the Saturday Night Massacre. My parents discussed it. They admired Elliot Rivhardson for being a man of integrity and principal. That mattered to my parents. The Watergate Hearings were televised. They were on in my house. We started keeping the news on during dinner. The Boston Globe had both a morning and evening edition--we got both. I understood that Nixon was a crook. Halide man, Erhlichman, G. Gordon Liddy, Dean, Butterfield, etc. at a very young age I learned that you can't trust the government. Years later when Iran-Contra happened I wasn't surprised. What is happening now is really serious and sadly we don't seem to have men (or women) of integtity like Elliot Richardson on the Republican side of the House and Senate. They have the power now and they need to put their own interests aside for the sake of the Republic. Democrats need to do the same but they need some patriotic Republicans that put country before themselves and they don't appear to exist right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 50 with clear recollection of Nixon's resignation and the month leading up to it. Since then, I don't think I've seen a president who is as disliked as Trump seems to be.

I agree. I am also 50 and grew up in the only state that rejected Nixon. Remember it well. Nixon came in with protests against him around his inauguration. It didn't end well then and I don't think this will either.

I'm 50 and barely remember any of that. I guess I grew up in a bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am only 37. So, I have not seen much more than you have. However, I remember there was a lot of opposition with Bush. People were really upset because Gore won the popular vote. It was a similar situation. However, this time it is much worse.

While I can't compare to the Vietnam era since I was not born, it's ridiculous to compare the current sentiment to Bush II. Yes, there was a demonstration to oppose the Iraq War, but that was a much more predictable thing. A women's march around the country and world with millions of people on the day after the Inauguration?! That really is unprecedented in the last 30-40 years. I mean, scientists are now organizing a march. We never do stuff like that.

I have no idea what the next 4-8 years will bring, other than revolting acquiescence from both sides in Congress, but it'll sure be interesting.

I guarantee that is social media had been around when Bush was elected, there would have been marches and protests similar to today.
Social media has allowed people to organize more easily.
And, I would agree that the protests of the 60’s were much more violent than those today.

[Anonymous]

I'm 52 and remember Watergate taking up all our TV time. I remember gas lines and Reagan who was particularly hated overseas in Europe as well as among Dems here. Nothing at all like what's going on now. We are witnessing the destruction of our democratic institutions with this megalomaniacal despot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/from-nixon-to-trump-the-parallels-between-1968-and-2016/Content?oid=5086105

I am almost 50, and so only barely remember the political divisions regarding the Vietnam War and then Richard Nixon. My MIL, who accompanied me to the Mall on Saturday, said that she participated in the 1968 Chicago protests. The article cited above theorizes that just as the civil rights, women's movement, and endless foreign wars created a traditionalists vs. progressives split that gave rise to Nixon, similar conditions existed in this election cycle.

My fear is that unlike the Nixon era, which had Nixon vs. a Democrat-controlled Congress---Trump is completely unfettered, as the GOP has shown that it is willing to overlook anything in order to keep power (and from alienating Trump's populist supporters).

Born around 67? You don't remember anything about Vietnam or Nixon.

As for Trump unfettered. He will do his best to piss off both parties from time to time. Then you have those who will politically suck up to America through Trump. For instance, the Democrat proposal of a 1 Trillion Dollar infrastructure plan.

That said, as much as I dislike the man, he will be better at working deals than Obama.

I'm not the person you're responding to, but I was born in 1967 and yes I do remember lots about Nixon. I also remember something about Vietnam. How is it you think we can't remember 1974?

Because you were in 2nd grade in 74?

You remember reruns and docs made well after the fact. There was no CNN, Fox etc. and cable was rare. Much of the news was gathered through newspapers and magazines with 30 minutes of national news in the evening. Not to mention an understanding of government and what was really happening. When you were six did you understand the ramifications of the Saturday Night Massacre?

What is your problem? I watched Nixon resign live on TV and discussed it with my parents. I still have the Washington Post with the headlines. No, sorry I did not understand the full ramifications of the Saturday Night Massacre but I understood what a cover up was.

"yes I do remember lots about Nixon"

That's my problem. As one that lived through that time as an adult you have no clue to the whole of what unraveled through Watergate. I could understand it if you were 17 but not 5, 6 or 7.

Those of us who lived through three assignations, Vietnam, Watergate, racism, the riots....well...you just had to be there, and be aware, to fully understand. No way would I try to equate to something I 'knew' about when I was a child and what my parents did.

I think you are underestimating the effect the events had on impressionable children. I do remember the Saturday Night Massacre. My parents discussed it. They admired Elliot Rivhardson for being a man of integrity and principal. That mattered to my parents. The Watergate Hearings were televised. They were on in my house. We started keeping the news on during dinner. The Boston Globe had both a morning and evening edition--we got both. I understood that Nixon was a crook. Halide man, Erhlichman, G. Gordon Liddy, Dean, Butterfield, etc. at a very young age I learned that you can't trust the government. Years later when Iran-Contra happened I wasn't surprised. What is happening now is really serious and sadly we don't seem to have men (or women) of integtity like Elliot Richardson on the Republican side of the House and Senate. They have the power now and they need to put their own interests aside for the sake of the Republic. Democrats need to do the same but they need some patriotic Republicans that put country before themselves and they don't appear to exist right now.

You remember that night but then you go on to describe your parent's experience which is exactly what I was saying. There is a vast difference between.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There hasn't been and you have to thank the Dems for this disaster.

When Reagan was elected the media went crazy also.

Not just media... Reagan and the ACT UP years for AIDS treatment and gay rights. Die-ins, protests, plays and books, new AIDS organizations, community self-organized, lawsuits filed....

And look where we are today - basically AIDS research has resulted in the ability to manage the illness long term. Gay marriage is a right. I take hope from this history and apply it to out current situation.

i've been thinking a lot about what Gloria Steinem said at the March -- read it for hope -- https://www.google.com/amp/www.elle.com/culture/news/amp42331/gloria-steinem-womens-march-speech/?client=safari

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/from-nixon-to-trump-the-parallels-between-1968-and-2016/Content?oid=5086105

I am almost 50, and so only barely remember the political divisions regarding the Vietnam War and then Richard Nixon. My MIL, who accompanied me to the Mall on Saturday, said that she participated in the 1968 Chicago protests. The article cited above theorizes that just as the civil rights, women's movement, and endless foreign wars created a traditionalists vs. progressives split that gave rise to Nixon, similar conditions existed in this election cycle.

My fear is that unlike the Nixon era, which had Nixon vs. a Democrat-controlled Congress---Trump is completely unfettered, as the GOP has shown that it is willing to overlook anything in order to keep power (and from alienating Trump's populist supporters).

Born around 67? You don't remember anything about Vietnam or Nixon.

As for Trump unfettered. He will do his best to piss off both parties from time to time. Then you have those who will politically suck up to America through Trump. For instance, the Democrat proposal of a 1 Trillion Dollar infrastructure plan.

That said, as much as I dislike the man, he will be better at working deals than Obama.

NP here who was born in 1967 and I absolutely remember going to anti-war marches, seeing pictures of the war in magazines and newspapers and on the news. And I totally remember not just the 1972 election (my mom volunteered for McGovern and took us along with her; she kept us home the day after the election as a day of mourning), but the day Nixon had to resign - it was one of the most joyful days of my parents' life. We were on vacation and from our hotel room watched him get on the helicopter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 50 with clear recollection of Nixon's resignation and the month leading up to it. Since then, I don't think I've seen a president who is as disliked as Trump seems to be.

I agree. I am also 50 and grew up in the only state that rejected Nixon. Remember it well. Nixon came in with protests against him around his inauguration. It didn't end well then and I don't think this will either.

I'm 50 and barely remember any of that. I guess I grew up in a bubble.

Or with non-political parents. If they didn't take you to political rallies and talk about politics every night at dinner and watch the news every day and put up signs in their yards and volunteer for campaigns, maybe you wouldn't have known much about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 31. I have never seen sustained political resistance and opposition like this towards a president before in my life that I can remember.

Is there a comparison in modern history?

Opposition to the Vietnam War. And it worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am 54 and have very clear memories about Vietnam war protests, MLK assassination, RFK assassination. Just thought that was life in some ways.

I'm almost 51 and have no memory whatsoever of Vietnam war protests or MLK's or RFK's assassinations. I was not a politically aware kid. I don't even remember knowing anything about Nixon's resignation, and I was 8 when it happened.

I do remember sitting in my mother's car, waiting in line for gas; must have been during the '73 gas shortage.

My first real political memories are of the hostage crisis under Carter.

[Anonymous]

No, there as never been opposition like this to the election of a president. We also never had Fox or other propaganda sites to poison the minds of the under-educated before either. Up until Reagan, we had a Fairness Doctrine in delivering or giving opinions on the news (the counter point had to be started immediately after the opinion was given).

[Anonymous]

OP: start reading here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Left

Notice some of the names listed:

Tom Hayden (d. Oct. 2016) - former husband of Jane Fonda.

William Ayers - a domestic terrorist leader of the "Weather Underground" who, upon acquittal said "guilty as sin, free as a bird!" - his girlfriend died when a bomb they were working on exploded in their NYC basement. He also ghost-wrote president Obama's book.

These leaders came out of the 1960s/70s and were far more radical than today.