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In reply to the discussion: Lyndon Baines Johnson - Good President or Bad President [View all]morningglory
(2,336 posts)I got an advanced degree from a good school, and have had many interesting jobs and paid many, many taxes proudly in my 42 year work life. I came from a very poor family in a rural area. I have 5 older brothers and was the first person in my entire family line to graduate from high school. My mother went to the 5th grade then came down with malaria. My father walked 8 miles to school through blizzards with his biscuit in a syrup bucket, bare-footed as a yard dog (in Florida, just kidding, no snow, but he was lucky to have a biscuit). I would be working at the car wash--a life of abject misery without LBJ. My cousin retired from the car wash. Worked for minimum wage her entire grown up life. I am very sorry he got 50,000 fine people killed in VN, not to mention a lot of VN people. I protested against the war. Maybe Nixon was responsible for some of them. It was a horrible thing. When I graduated from high school, my brother told me that he was in the bank (he was a service tech for NCR) and one of the bank officers told him they needed someone to work there. He called me and told me. I got dressed up in my best Sunday clothes. Presented myself. He asked me who my father was. I told him my wonderful, intelligent father's name. He said "I don't know him. Where does he work?" I said "the paper mill." He said "Thank you. If we need anyone we will give you a call." I got the frikken message--that no business in N. Florida hires rural people, only the children of the owner of the Ford Dealer or dentist-- and left skidmarks getting the hell out of this North Florida county. I worked as a technical instructor, IT, all kinds of jobs. Learned a lot. I met a terrific husband in college and have had a great life, unlike the 50k people who died for our country. Just wanted you to know the great society thing helped a lot of people. I have 2 fabulous, intelligent, talented sons who are good fathers and taking it forward.