Okay, so who or what do YOU want to pin the blame on? Dr. Spock?

 

Let me guess: The Pill, Women's Lib and Abortion, eh? If women were so happy slaving over the hot stove, how come when they got their first opportunity, they fled their kitchens in droves in search of better education, better economic independence and just a better life all around? Divorce skyrocketed because they were damn sick and tired of being servants and 2nd class citizens.

If only we'd kept them barefoot, pregnant and chained to the stove, isn't that right, tenguy?

-S-

 

Library cards. You guys should never have let us get library cards. *shaking my head sadly*

 

Those damn dirty hippies.

-S-

 

You're suggesting that a plastic helmet and a nylon strap contributed to the destruction of the 'traditional family'?

How are scrambled brains preferable to fried? You're brain damaged either way.

-S-

 

*flashing the peace sign* Peace, love, dope!

 

No it's not what I 'm saying, the bike helmets and car restraints are valid implements to protect from injury.

But, you brought them up as examples of how the era of the 50's was so very bad, without acknowledging the dangers today are much, much worse.

It would be interesting to see a study on the differences between those children harmed by accidents on bikes yesterday to those permanently damaged by drugs today.

 

The late 60's and 70's were not the Utopian environment, this is were the wheels came off the tracks.

 

The difference is that they CHOOSE to do drugs. Like it or not, those choices exist in a free society. Would you prefer a police state?

 

No, this is where young people realized that they didn't have to drive in the same ruts as their parents and grandparents. There's nothing wrong with that. And to one extent or another, it's been true of every successive generation.

 

See, I told you. It was those damn dirty hippies. And Women's Lib, the Pill and abortion. Basically the same shit conservatives have been bitching about since Kennedy was elected. I guess someone should have invented flame retardant under garments.

-S-

 

I chose these two because they are the ones that I can most directly relate to. Without really thinking about it, I can name three friends of mine that only became my friends after a fist fight. Sometimes, yes, violence is the answer. As for Scenario 4, I'm a rather well built 6'4 290lb man, and I can say without shame or embaressment that I still carry a healthy fear of my mother. Now, she never went as far as whipping me with a belt, but she damn sure smacked me around a bit if I did something wrong, and guess what! After that, I generally didn't do it again. I remember a year back or so, watching Dr. Phil with my (ex)wife as a young boy got into a heated exchange with his mother and then slapped her across the face, and all the mother did was looked dumbfounded, and I started to laugh, when my ex asked me why I said, "Because, if that had been me and my mom, she would have KO'd me on the spot," and honestly, that is one of the greatest gifts my mother ever gave me.

 

Oh my tiny little mother ruled us with love, but if you palyed up you were in big trouble.
If I had hit my mother I doubt I would have walked for a week.

 

Conversely, my mom and dad never laid a hand on me, and look how great I turned out!

I never even got into any fist fights....so I guess I missed out on a lot of great friendships.

 

I think I remember two or three spanking in my whole life, and they weren't that bad...I never should have told my brother that there wasn't a Santa Claus...
I never spanked my daughter, and she's a wonderful girl...

 

Good for you, sweetie...I'm sure she'll thank you for that later on.

 

Nope, but they can not choose if they don't want to wear a helmet or a seat belt.

 

Since this is 2010, the way to go would be to shoot Whitey, so as to not be confronted again with our concience...

I also have it on good authority that there were indeed highschools in 1958 and 1960, but not in 1959, so the proposed differences are based on myth...

 

During the 1950's one third of the work force belonged to labor unions. Now it is less than 20%. During the 1950's the top tax rate never got below 91%. From 1950-1959 there was broadly based economic growth that benefited practically everyone.

Those were the days.