opalapril:
re >>Well, sir, I knew the '70s and this is no 70s.<<
While I agree that the 70's was a lousy decade, (particularly when compared to today), there are a number of inaccuracies of your historical recount:
* For the first time in its history the U.S. lost a war -- not only lost, but was driven away in a last, panicky, humiliating flight
The majority of US troops were pulled out of Vietnam in 1972, well before the fall in 75. In 73 the communists massed troops and tanks for a final offensive. US airpower decimated their ranks and stopped the offensive in it's tracks.
It wasn't until 75 when the communists could once again launch a major offensive, which they did. By this time the democratic controlled congress had passed a law prohibiting the use of US airpower in Vietnam. The South Vietnamese folded like a cheap tent and the few remaining Americans left in the country escaped by whatever means available including helicopters from the roof of the embassy in Saigon. I was opposed to the war, and yes we lost the war, but your characterization is revisionist and out of context.
We eventually installed in the White House the only man ever to become president without having run for one second for any national office.
Gerald Ford was a congressman from Michigan and to the extent that he was involved in passing laws that affected the whole nation he was elected to a "national office". Had Agnew not been replaced, succession would select the speaker of the house, (the same house Ford came from), to replace Nixon.
The educated class of Biafra and a number of other African proto-nations was virtually wiped out by horrendous slaughters that no one in the West except Kurt Vonnegut and a handful of others noticed.
I remember reading about the civil war in Biafra in the 60's. It was in my elementary school's "weekly reader", so apparently Kurt Vonnegut wasn't the only author to notice.
The U.S.S.R. and U.S. chronically threatened each other with imminent nuclear destruction; American forces were scrambled hundreds of times -- and at least twice that I know of came within a couple of minutes of W.W. III
This was true since the 50's and certainly wasn't isolated to the 70's. However, there are unconfirmed reports that during the 72 Arab Israeli war we may have been in the process of going to war. None other than Alexander, (I'm in charge here), Haig may have, in fact, countermanded an order and prevented WWIII.
Minimum wage was around $2.25/hr
I will take your word for it. However, if that was the rate, wouldn't it be significantly higher than today's rate on an inflation-adjusted basis?
There were compensations... the music, the sex, the literature, the drugs
The literature I'll pass on, but with regards to sex, isn't this about the time scientists believe the aids epidemic, (which is doing far more damage to the aforementioned African countries), got it's start? Also, the drugs probably aren't one of the decades more socially-beneficial outputs.
Many people thought Betty Davis still looked pretty good (she didn't) I wasn't one of them. However, Jane Pauley still looks pretty good to me.
You did forget to add that Soviet expansionism in the third world was at a high water mark. (Virtually all of Southern Africa, Central America and Afghanistan).
I agree with your conclusion but things weren't quite as bad as you painted them for the whole decade. That was a hell of a hockey game in Lake Placid wasn't it?
Regards,
Greg |
