Best of Times Worst of Times

[O Really]

So over in the Baseball thread, I used the term "good ol' days" - in that context saying the 1930's weren't. But what could legit be called that? Most people tend to pick the years of their childhood because, well, they were kids and had a limited kid's perspective. Or sometimes they go for the post-war 50's, as if everybody lived in Mayberry and ignoring a huge amount of social injustice.

Tossed on the table for your consideration, I'd vote for the Clinton years. No wars to speak of, good expanding economy, big strides in science and technology, and improvements in many social areas. Focusing only on politics, there were some errors, but looking at American life as a whole, it was very good.

I may have personally enjoyed the 60's but clearly it was a time of overall turmoil, war, and conflict.

70's don't get many votes with the stagflation, gas lines, and especially with people wearing those huge collars, plaid wide bottom pants and platform shoes.

Life gets too hard for most everybody but the very wealthy if you get much earlier than the 30's, despite a lot of fun being had in the 20's if you were in the right places and groups.

Discussion?/Votes?

[Vrede too]

... 70's don't get many votes with the stagflation, gas lines, and especially with people wearing those huge collars, plaid wide bottom pants and platform shoes....

I was never a fashionista and being in high school/college I was somewhat insulated from economic woes. There was some political upheaval, but we peaceniks finally won the war and people really started caring about the environment and women's lib. Also, I liked the readily available drugs, relatively lax enforcement (for Whites), legal booze at 18, and pre-HIV sexual freedom. Then came Reagan.

[billy.pilgrim]

While true about the Clinton years, his win was largely due to insane guy Perot, something the gop never forgot, as their impeachment efforts proved.


The late 70s had a chance, but multiple backlashes from purely republican Shah and opec insanity was dumped on Carter which gave way to reagan, newt and finally our new Taliban Supreme Court.

[O Really]

Sure the Repugs gunned for him for 8 years, but it was mostly static over a time of relative peace/prosperity/progress.

[billy.pilgrim]

Sure the Repugs gunned for him for 8 years, but it was mostly static over a time of relative peace/prosperity/progress.

He remained calm and put country over party (too much done to please the repugs - repeal of Glass-Steagall was really stupid) I like Bill.

[neoplacebo]

So over in the Baseball thread, I used the term "good ol' days" - in that context saying the 1930's weren't. But what could legit be called that? Most people tend to pick the years of their childhood because, well, they were kids and had a limited kid's perspective. Or sometimes they go for the post-war 50's, as if everybody lived in Mayberry and ignoring a huge amount of social injustice.

Tossed on the table for your consideration, I'd vote for the Clinton years. No wars to speak of, good expanding economy, big strides in science and technology, and improvements in many social areas. Focusing only on politics, there were some errors, but looking at American life as a whole, it was very good.

I may have personally enjoyed the 60's but clearly it was a time of overall turmoil, war, and conflict.

70's don't get many votes with the stagflation, gas lines, and especially with people wearing those huge collars, plaid wide bottom pants and platform shoes.

Life gets too hard for most everybody but the very wealthy if you get much earlier than the 30's, despite a lot of fun being had in the 20's if you were in the right places and groups.

Discussion?/Votes?

The worst of times is right now and I suspect they will get more worse. The best of times were, as you note, back when limited perspective and limited knowledge limited youthful horizons. I suppose it only goes to show that ignorance is bliss and the more ignorant you are, the more intense the bliss.

[O Really]

I suppose it only goes to show that ignorance is bliss and the more ignorant you are, the more intense the bliss.

Ah, a very clear and concise explanation of Trumpists.

[Vrede too]

... I suppose it only goes to show that ignorance is bliss and the more ignorant you are, the more intense the bliss.

Ah, a very clear and concise explanation of Trumpists.

They are uber-ignorant, but they seem more angry and victimized than blissful. Either the adage is wrong or they are a special kind of ignorant.

[O Really]

... I suppose it only goes to show that ignorance is bliss and the more ignorant you are, the more intense the bliss.

Ah, a very clear and concise explanation of Trumpists.

They are uber-ignorant, but they seem more angry and victimized than blissful. Either the adage is wrong or they are a special kind of ignorant.

Yeah, I was thinking about them being happy/blissful about Trump as their cult leader. But sure, they mimic Trump's anger and self-victimization.

I agree with neoplacebo, however, that the worst times of America ever are indeed now.

[neoplacebo]

... I suppose it only goes to show that ignorance is bliss and the more ignorant you are, the more intense the bliss.

Ah, a very clear and concise explanation of Trumpists.

They are uber-ignorant, but they seem more angry and victimized than blissful. Either the adage is wrong or they are a special kind of ignorant.

Yeah, but they WANT to be angry victims. And from that the bliss manifests. It must be thought of as a sort of perpetual motion machine that runs on ignorance, misdirected anger, and imaginary victimhood with each quality working to intensify the others. And it all makes right now the worst of times for us and the best of times for them.