After the recent elections, my reflections brought me to the conclusion that many voters have forgotten, never learned or dismissed the historical lessons from America’s past. This is important for two reasons: 1) each of us is individually and collectively shaped by the times in which we were born, and 2) history often repeats itself. If we look at the current world affairs and compare it to the past, we could be in for very hard times if we don’t pay attention to clues from our past.
Many voters may not have been born yet or were never taught twentieth century American history When I was in school, current events and even the 20th century history was rarely taught; I took 20th Century history in college. It seemed we always ran out of the school year when it came to learning the events that shaped the twentieth century. We Boomers and the Greatest Generation lived through and remember times of war and protests for civil rights including some tough times that we don’t want to see repeated! History seems to repeat itself, especially when we don’t pay attention!
Therefore, I feel a brief history lesson is needed for the younger generations and those who have forgotten or never learned. Perhaps this will give insight as to what can happen again in our current political climate which has similarities to things that happened a century ago! We must be vigilant and correct those problems that could drastically affect our future. Please feel free to do more research and reading on your own as this is a very brief lesson!
This is the first time the Republicans have controlled all three branches in many years. Have we forgotten the disasters that scenario created? Granted many things need improvement but we have basically just recovered from the 2007 melt down and unemployment has gone down and the stock market up! More people have purchased homes with lower interest rates. When I bought my first home in 1979 my interest rate was above 10%; now they are around 3%. From a Big Picture clip, “When George W. Bush became president in 2001, it marked the first time in 70 years that conservative Republicans controlled all three branches of government. By the time Bush left office, we were all reminded why. The financial crisis and resulting global economic meltdown Bush left us with were eerily reminiscent of the Great Depression, but there was also 9/11, the Iraq War and Katrina—a multifaceted record of spectacular failure so stunning that it should have disqualified conservative Republicans from holding power for at least another seven decades.” Also, we lived through the lies of Nixon and Watergate; this new President lied 78% of the time when just running for office and appears to be continuing that bad habit.
After the Civil War, America expanded quickly and enjoyed a time of great prosperity. Yet, in the Gilded Age, coined by Mark Twain, spanning 1920-30’s there were serious social problems, financial corporations and politicians were corrupt and the wealthy lived high on the hog! It is 2017 where presently the top 1% earns more than the rest of the 90% and millionaires are seated in all three branches. We have the millionaire cabinet IF they are all approved. How can they speak for the rest of us when they can’t relate to our economic situations? Why should they care about health care costs or retirement when they are set for life with money? Making sense?
By 1920, almost 100 years ago, America had become a world power yet was not militarily strong. We were at peace and less involved in foreign affairs preferring to concentrate on our own prosperity. We even lent money to Europe for WW1 expecting it to be repaid even though most countries were not able to do so. Congress denied President Wilson’s wish to join the new League of Nations in 1919; and the Senate rejected a proposal in 1930 to join the World Court. Relations with Mexico were poor and almost ended up in an armed conflict. As Europe faced the rise of fascism and war, and the Soviet Union grew more powerful, and Latin American became more independent, the US was learning about that with power came responsibility. The US and Russia remain the most powerful countries, and now Russia is interfering in our elections. Can that be a good thing? Power grabbing sound familiar?
Most of our parents were part of ‘the greatest generation’ which was a term popularized by Tom Brokaw in his 1998 book by the same title. It is used to describe those who grew up during the great depression and fought in WW2. Brokaw wrote, “it is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced.” He argued that these men and women fought not for fame and recognition, but because it was the “right thing to do.” There were many reasons for the depression including drops in demand and credit, economic policies, overproduction with under consumption, and disruptions of trade. Ultimately, over 13 million people were unemployed by 1932. The stock market crash of 1929 played a big role in the crisis! If you ever wondered why older people save every scrap and tin, it is because they survived hard times when nothing could be wasted. We came very close to another depression in 2007 and it could still happen if banking institutions are allowed to continue their trading practices! Again, familiar and we recently had the great recession! We really don’t want to repeat those times!
Boomers are those born between 1946-1964 and there are a lot of us including me! Those returning after WW2 wanted to start families and recover from the depression and war. Even though women pitched in with jobs during the war, most returned to their homes to rear their children when the men returned. In most households, the man worked and used their family’s single car. Mothers rarely worked and many married right from high school and didn’t attend college. Those women who were more educated were frequently teachers or nurses. Children walked to school, played outdoors and enjoyed recess. Mothers often greeted their husbands after work and their children; the evening meal was often a time of sharing at the dinner table. Unions were stronger than ever and the middle class enjoyed much growth and prosperity ! Now unions are declining and wages can’t keep up with inflation. Since the new administration does not favor unions, but plans to reduce taxes on the richest and raise them on the poorest, it is not likely that the middle and lower classes will improve very soon.
While there are many good and nostalgic memories of the 50’s, other factors were not so good including racism and sexism. The 60’s were tough years which included assassinations and peace protests for the war in Viet Nam, but also fights for justice and civil rights that were hard-fought! Many of us lived through those sad and difficult years and participated in sit-ins and riots. Revolutions are not new. They began back in the 1700’s to chart the course of the United States. It would be sad to see us have to fight again for rights that have already been gained, but if we don’t learn from the past and make progress, it could be necessary to take to the streets gain. Many are participating in rallies, and becoming involved which is what the founding fathers intended; citizen involvement in a democracy.
After WW2, there was great military and political tension between the two world powers: the Soviet Union and the U.S. (plus allies). It has been coined the Cold War. Russia was not our friend and many of us remember our ‘duck and cover’ drills where we huddled under our school desks (like that would really help in a nuclear war). I even wanted to learn Russian to help with negotiations when I was about 10 years old. It rubs me the wrong way when I hear people praising Russia and Putin. Apparently, these past lessons have been lost. If you are one who thinks Russia is our friend, please do some research. I am not saying we can’t work to get along better, but Putin wants nothing more than to expand his territory, and the US would be a big prize! They are interfering because they have ties to this administration and wanted them in power. This is very dangerous! You may want to study communism too; it is very different from some of the socialist programs that we enjoy like libraries, common roads and emergency services, Social Security and Medicare! Please don’t take for granted the services and rights that were fought for in the 50-60’s!
Then there are the continual wars. In my lifetime, I can hardly remember a time when we weren’t fighting some war. We have lost millions of vital young men and women! https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf The Korean War of 1950-53, and Kim Jung Un is now in power wishing to start something. The Viet Nam war began in 1955 lasting until 1975! It affected many Boomers who served or protested the war. Then there was the Iraq war which lasted from 2003-2011. I protested that one and cried the day it began. War continues in Afghanistan and with ISIS. What will come next with someone who is a hawk and wants more nuclear power and is unsteady at the helm? When will we give peace a chance?
Let me be clear, I am not saying that the Democratic party is perfect or has all the solutions, or any party for that matter. We need to gather good ideas from both parties and get to work to improve our infrastructure, water, schools, and much more. The Democrats have become an elite group of educated professionals. Many of them also take money from Wall Street and do not always represent the lower and middle classes. It is hard to find a party now who represents the working class and labor unions any more. A third and even fourth party is needed but isn’t gaining the traction it needs. Bernie Sanders came the closest to being a candidate for the people, yet those with party power failed to recognize the climate of the masses. Since Obama was elected there has been a movement for change, and the establishment leaders are not providing that. The momentum continues! We each must become educated on the issues and be part of a participatory government as our duty as citizens!
My hopes by writing this piece is that you will think about the past and how it may affect our future and repeat itself. We must reawaken to the power of the middle class and labor unions if our democracy is to continue. When they thrived, we thrive! We must be involved if we want to maintain our republic; we cannot remain silent. We are meant to be the checks and balances. A democracy is about the people speaking up, not plutocrats ruling. My favorite new saying “Unass the couch.” Get involved, get educated on issues and call or write your representatives. As Morgan Carroll states, “if you don’t participate, we hand our democracy over to paid special interest groups who, without your input, get their way most of the time. If you fold, they win by default.”