Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Tom Rinaldo

(22,911 posts)
Fri Jan 4, 2019, 02:26 PM Jan 2019

Sensibilities can change radically as generations change

And once they do, they no longer are perceived as radical. I was reminded of that (and of my own youth) while watching a clip of AOC being interviewed on 60 minutes. Her generation, by and large, does not hold the political reigns in America. I suppose mine now does, but we sure as hell didn't when I was her age. I was a part of "the counter culture", and though we couldn't stop the Vietnam war on a dime we managed to change the world in ways that were lasting to the point that it's hard to remember how it used to be. The Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Movement, the Environmental Movement, the Sexual Revolution and more, all left lasting marks. The average American literally sees the world differently today largely because of the effect of generational changes.

Sometimes change happen faster than at other times, but in its early stages it very seldom is taken seriously by those in charge. But fast forward a decade or so and the world can be dramatically different none the less. I remember in the early 80's crossing over from West Berlin into East Berlin. It was a pretty damn dramatic transit. Now it is all just Germany, and it has been for decades. China once was called Nationalist China, then it was Red China, now it more or less is simply China.

AOC thinks the rich should pay their fair share. She extols the virtue of progressive taxation, and explains how the higher tax rates only cut in on dollars earned once a person is already pretty damn wealthy. The money raised could then help save our planet from severe climate change for many generations yet unborn. Divorce that view for just a second from pragmatic calculations as to what it now politically feasible. On the face of it I would say that is a pretty sane way to collectively deal with a grave pending crisis that will require a mass mobilization to even somewhat effectively counter.

It's not as if Americans have no experience in that type of thing. Study what we achieved after we entered World War II some time. Comb through the history of victory gardens and war bonds, food and gas rationing, women entering the work place in overwhelming numbers to replace men gone off to war, the virtually instant creation of a massive merchant marine fleet, the shifting of production lines from assembling private autos to assembling tanks etc. But generations now in power have grown set in their ways again, and used to reality the way reality seems to them today. Dramatic change is radical, radical is impracticable, and impracticable means it ain't gonna happen. That's without even factoring that those who most benefit from any status quo tend not to let go of that without a fight, of some kind anyway. Same as it ever was.

So AOC sounds radical, she seems impracticable, and she's not going to get her way any time soon, that's for sure. To which I say One: what she believes in makes a whole lot of sense and Two: if by any time soon you mean this session of Congress, correct, it's not going to happen. But generations of Americans below 40 have a different world view than the currently prevailing one. And if you drop that down below thirty the differences become even more stark. AOC has few if any peers in Congress. But she has tens of millions of them across America. Her voice does not represent all her peers precisely, no one voice ever does. But change is coming, and what may seem radical today can become conventional wisdom in time for a tomorrow that is rapidly approaching.

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Sensibilities can change radically as generations change (Original Post) Tom Rinaldo Jan 2019 OP
I agree. ret5hd Jan 2019 #1
Gonna quote your last paragraph...because I feel this as truth. irisblue Jan 2019 #2
While I agree in the main with this..... LisaM Jan 2019 #3
I'm 69 and take great pride in the role I played in bringing about positive changes Tom Rinaldo Jan 2019 #6
I hope to always be a warrior for positive change. LisaM Jan 2019 #7
The young seem to be True Blue American Jan 2019 #16
A conservative is a radical who got their way. marylandblue Jan 2019 #4
Never heard it put that way before. FiveGoodMen Jan 2019 #8
Good observation DFW Jan 2019 #18
👍 underpants Jan 2019 #5
Nicely done, Tom. Nitram Jan 2019 #9
Beautiffuly stated. I so concur & identify with your perspective. stuffmatters Jan 2019 #10
The Anti War Movement Achieved and is Achieving Much McKim Jan 2019 #11
Yes it did (and does) Tom Rinaldo Jan 2019 #12
thanks! Hermit-The-Prog Jan 2019 #13
I have observed that in every generation the transition to joining the workforce often brings out Nitram Jan 2019 #14
What a great discussion True Blue American Jan 2019 #15
There are quite a few films that were beloved when when I was young pecosbob Jan 2019 #17

irisblue

(32,829 posts)
2. Gonna quote your last paragraph...because I feel this as truth.
Fri Jan 4, 2019, 02:30 PM
Jan 2019

"So AOC sounds radical, she seems impracticable, and she's not going to get her way any time soon, that's for sure. To which I say One: what she believes in makes a whole lot of sense and Two: if by any time soon you mean this session of Congress, correct, it's not going to happen. But generations of Americans below 40 have a different world view than the currently prevailing one. And if you drop that down below thirty the differences become even more stark. AOC has few if any peers in Congress. But she has tens of millions of them across America. Her voice does not represent all her peers precisely, no one voice ever does. But change is coming, and what may seem radical today can become conventional wisdom in time for a tomorrow that is rapidly approaching."



New days coming.

LisaM

(27,759 posts)
3. While I agree in the main with this.....
Fri Jan 4, 2019, 02:34 PM
Jan 2019

I do get really tired of people not giving props to the generations before them.

Don't forget that Americans essentially elected Al Gore in 2000, and with him at the helm (as we wanted), we'd have had massive environmental gains versus what actually did happen. The difference between now and the 1960s is that many of those that came before are on the same page with her, and her failure to acknowledge that really, really rankles.

Tom Rinaldo

(22,911 posts)
6. I'm 69 and take great pride in the role I played in bringing about positive changes
Fri Jan 4, 2019, 02:43 PM
Jan 2019

I don't mean to discount generations before. For example I heaped praise on generations before my own for what they did to defeat fascism and totalitarianism both before and during my own lifetime. And, like I said, we changed the world through the movements we engaged in etc. I am only saying that a world view is not as solid as it seems. Prevailing wisdom today, regardless of it's value or lack of same, may turn 180 degrees in less than a decade in significant aspects.

I say that in the face of those who judge what is pragmatically practical by measuring possible changes against the standard of what is, rather than what can be.

LisaM

(27,759 posts)
7. I hope to always be a warrior for positive change.
Fri Jan 4, 2019, 02:53 PM
Jan 2019

I'm just tired of being dismissed because everything I worked for didn't happen.

True Blue American

(17,972 posts)
16. The young seem to be
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 06:48 AM
Jan 2019

Taking up the mantle of those generations. I have never seen so many becoming involved except during the Vietnam war.

People like John Kerry and others were vilified by the right. But they were on the right side.

Now,we need someone to end these useless wars that Bush, Cheney,the MSM started.

McKim

(2,412 posts)
11. The Anti War Movement Achieved and is Achieving Much
Fri Jan 4, 2019, 07:13 PM
Jan 2019

Please people, never view the Anti War Movement as a failure. We did end the War on Vietnam and we discredited the Wars on the Middle East enough so that they are very very unpopular.
If a vote were held today US voters would vote us out of these wars on Iraq, Syria, Lybia and Elsewhere. If you have ever been a part of this movement, congratulate yourself and never say that we failed, we didn’t!!!

Tom Rinaldo

(22,911 posts)
12. Yes it did (and does)
Fri Jan 4, 2019, 07:19 PM
Jan 2019

I merely stated that we didn't stop the Vietnam War on a dime, which we didn't. Just because some fights can't be won in a matter of months, or even in a couple of years, does not make them not worth fighting

Nitram

(22,671 posts)
14. I have observed that in every generation the transition to joining the workforce often brings out
Sat Jan 5, 2019, 12:32 PM
Jan 2019

some conservative tendencies.

True Blue American

(17,972 posts)
15. What a great discussion
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 06:42 AM
Jan 2019

And I am more than ready for the change.

I see this Government as a last gasp of the dying old ways and hope to live long enough to see the massive change.

I think the fact of people losing decent Health care and the brutalization of both Congress and the Presidency has awakened people to what is happening to their values and Liberty.

pecosbob

(7,507 posts)
17. There are quite a few films that were beloved when when I was young
Sun Jan 6, 2019, 08:01 AM
Jan 2019

that now make me cringe for their overt racism and sexism, like John Ford's films. In the forties and fifties it almost seems there was a cottage industry making racist jokes in popular music. Danny Kaye was a phenomenal musician, actor and comedian...half his routines were racist or sexist gags. It doesn't take very long for our 'enlightened' world view to become a caricature of close-mindedness.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Sensibilities can change ...