1968

NEWSWEEK (2007) 11/19

42-63

NEWSWEEK spends over 20 pages on the year, 1968. It is almost the 40^th anniversary and thus the magazine spends the time, to tell over forty percent of the population what that year was like.

First, a civil war almost occurred along racial lines and street boundaries. One could see in most cities light glows from the flames in the ghetto. However, it did not happen, probably because most of the population who was white was safely situated in suburbs miles from the flames.

Second, universities were also taken over by student radicals, but again, the administration called in the National Guard and police and the students were taken to prison.

Third, politically, the Democratic Party was filled with strife between those who opposed the Vietnam War and the racial policies enforced at the time. The riots were short and the Chicago convention nominated an individual who was previously Vice President and had been a Liberal most of his career. Hubert Humphrey made a gallant effort, but lost by a few votes to Richard Nixon. However, third party candidate George Wallace also got a sizable vote. In the end, 1968 was the end of the dominance of the Democratic Party since 1932.

The Democratic Party lost the south in 1964 when they supported civil rights for minorities. In 1968, they lost Southern and Eastern Europeans or the White Ethnic vote to Nixon or Wallace. After 73’ abortion was legalized even more voters headed to the Republican Party.

Since that time most Democratic candidates lost overwhelmingly. Two southern Democrats were in office (Carter & Clinton) but for the most part did not have much power. Both were moderates.

Fourth, numerous powerful people with large followings were killed or had to resign from office. Within a 6 week period, both Dr. Martin King was killed as was Senator Robert Kennedy. Further, President Lyndon Johnson declared that he would not run for another term.

Fifth, a large movement emerged for a short period in the late 60’s through the early 70’s. Roughly, there were 3 groups. The first were Maoists who were violent and tried to overthrow the country. The second was the New Left. They wanted to move most power to the local level and nationalize it.  The third was the hippie movement that just wanted to drop out gets a day job periodically to live and escape to a rural area. These folks were the most likely to use mind numbing or mind expanding drugs. . Many others were followers who favored social democratic socialism of such countries as the Scandinavian countries. The academic name is the welfare state. At the time, there were few homeless individuals and most folks had well paying jobs with benefits in 1968.

Sixth, from 1968 onward, the Republican Party was taken over by conservatives as opposed to moderates. Evangelical Christians along with Market fundamentalists and Social Conservatives became increasingly powerful up to the time of this writing. Their power increasingly heightens under President Ronald Reagan. At the time of this writing, this coalition appears a bit frazzled, but it is a guess that they will probably remain in power. The presidents during this time period were Presidents Nixon, Ford, Bush, and Bush. Together, they represent 28 years in office.

Seventh, this was the year when culture wars were increased and they remain today. 1968 was the year of the Black Swan a catastrophic wild card that makes a tipping point in history.

America was most impacted by the year 1968. The boomers are now beginning to retire and the Silent Generation and the Greatest Generation are now moving on into ages. 1968 will be remembered as turbulent year.

THE WEEK (2007) 11/23

12/ Applebaum Dictatorships know that it is extremely wise to attract intellectuals, movie stars and others to their side. Both Stalin and Hitler were extremely talented at attracting important people in business and the arts from democracies to dictatorships.

They are called “useful idiots” who are given “the Queens tour” of the country. They then go back home and advertise what a great system that is in place. There are too many names to mention, but it is a long list from the right to the left in the USA. At the moment, Venezuela is under Chavez, bells and whistles should go off when the Literati and the bourgeoisie find a country in which the leader can not be ousted by the ballot.

12/Berry It is not yet clear, but it appears that the church (Roman Catholic) is promoting a Bishop to Cardinal who in the past protected predatory priests. This in the long run if true will cause the collapse or the downsizing of the church. Priests must be celibate or the laws must be changed so that priest can marry. However, even if that happens, children must be protected.

19/ Health & Science.

There is a correlation between breast feeding and higher IQ’s. / The opposite sex is attracted to the other when that person first smiles and makes eye contact. This would sully the findings of certain facial characters of people with symmetrical faces. / A girl with 8 limbs survived surgery of the removal of 4 limbs, / there appears to be a number of solar systems that appear to be “only” light years away/ too much caffeine can be problems with those who have high blood pressure.

14/ OTHER countries fear that the weak dollar will spread through out the world. America is so large and so powerful that its dollar is at the edge of tipping into

a crisis. How will that affect other countries economies that in the globalization becomes

so integrated with those of the Yanks? Newspapers quoted came from Iran, China, Estonia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

THE ECONOMIST (2007) 11/10

THE ECONOMIST/ 35/ likes what Mayor Bloomberg is doing in New York City. Make all the cities school charter schools. Allow for diversity and continue to test. Those schools that do well get bonuses, those that do not are closed down or completely revamped.  

39/ hunting in the USA continues to decline. Youth who would be growing into hunting are now choosing the mall or the internet.

49/ There is a growing number of unemployed servicemen or ex-servicemen. China is trying various strategies to keep the unemployed happy.

THE ECONOMIST spends a vast number of middle pages discussing that China and India are not as powerful as once thought.