Jun 3, 2023Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
I didn't go college until I was 48 years old, and was awarded by Ph.D. at 59. Nevertheless, I spent my life reading, pursuing ideas and ideals, listening and learning. I worked from the age of 16, was flighty, temperamental, and everything that is considered unreliable in our culture. I just spent 15 years caring for my Vietnam Veteran husband whose Parkinson's Disease (and later Lewy Body Dementia) stemmed from his war service. Where do people get their sense of what's right and wrong? I don't know. I can only speak to my life.
It’s more than that; it’s what is in your heart. I know of the deep love that you speak of in your devotion to your man. Memorial Day is past this year and we are still losing good people in the aftermath of our war. We can’t justify what humanity does to its self. Everyone of us suffers because of it.
Please accept my love and respect for you and safe journey in your future life traveling.
Oh Anita; I can identify with an awful lot of your journey and your pleading question at the end. Yet, I can't answer that question adequately, and I don't think that there's any nice tidy box for one answer that applies to all folks of any persuasion, much less those of opposite persuasion as ours. My ever thought is that we humans are ...messy. Perhaps some defining trauma or injustice done to them ? All I know is that it's great to identify with you or seem to ! Brava sister soldier !
In 1958, riding a school bus, I looked up to see we were driving past Black children, walking to their school. Further down the road, I saw their school, much in need to repair. Later the bus pulled into the driveway of my high school -- well maintained, filled with great teachers, books, and daily challenges.
I hope my comment doesn't mark me as privileged forever. I was, though, because of the color of my skin which opened many doors other children could only dream about. I haven't forgotten that bus ride. I hope I've been able to live up to the promise I made to make the world a little better through my efforts.
I can only imagine what our country "lost" because of the children who walked to school, when they should have had the same or better opportunities that I was given.
My wife came from a very poor family in rural Maine. She walked two miles in the snow to school. I know that sounds like a tall tale but it is true. They were so poor they lived in a chicken coop. Poverty is an American thing. The poor are invisible.
I visited my farmer Uncle in Geogia back in around 1960. I felt like I had gone back 100 years. My Uncle was not a bad man, but he treated the blacks who worked for him like unruly children. He yelled at them and abused them, but when they got sick he would drive 50 miles to take them to the doctor. Neither he nor my grandmother could have conceived that blacks and whites could ever be equal.
I think political leaning is a combination of things: parents/grandparents (in my case a grandmother and her family who lived through the Great Depression), upbringing, life experiences, as well as intellectual curiosity and personality type. One's social economic level born into also has to be an influence. I grew up in the 1960's and 70's, a time when the middle class was strong, few were wealthy (but wages, education accessibility and buying power were on the rise), and government had a positive image of being a benevolent Big Brother. Don't get me wrong, there were still barriers to climb, particularly with racism and equality for women (gender issues were still forbidden topics), but society was on the "up and up".
I’m 76 and lived through it as you. Yes, we had a lot of work to do with our social strata and economics, but we seemed to have a large contingent of citizens eager to delve into it — both liberal and more conservative, but seeing government as ours to work with.
Then we had Reagan with his “government is the problem” bs, and that thing about not wanting the government to show up to “help.” How obscene to turn people against the very mechanism we worked so hard to construct as a force working FOR us, instead of lording it over us. That was amazingly disingenuous of Saint Reagan, but all too successful. Ridicule is a potent convincer …
I’m hoping we can get back to Government is US, and make it moreso again….
Taxes were raised numerous times under Reagan. I made $50,000/year as a clinical instructor and was in a 50% tax bracket. He closed all the mental health hospitals and those people ended up on the streets, as they still are. A better actor and bullsh**ter than president. Trickle-down economics, what a joke!
Great points, Anne! Reagan was so damned self-righteous about everything he did. The poor have the nerve to ask for help, or maybe for just fairness? Nope, they're all driving Cadillacs, especially if they're 'black', supposedly paid for by government handouts.
I've got to think that if Jesus were around in the Reagan years, he'd have a thing or two, or a dozen, to say about reality and turning away when others are in need, don't you think?
The thing he and the GOP never wanted you to hear was, in 1982, a used Cadillac cost $100 to $250, They were gas guzzlers, but affordable for a single woman regardless of her color. That car could get her and her kids, to work, grocery shopping, or the doctor. The rest of his stupid saying was she wore a mink coat. In the 80's you could buy a mink coat at the thrift store for $25. In fact the mink coat at the thrift store was cheaper than a cloth coat. But, boy it sounded good on TV and those non-thinking members of our society ate it up.
I first worked as a nurse and unit coordinator in a pediatric psych unit. We provided very good care,,usually 3 mo inpatient with family therapy. with a consistent team of psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, teacher, art therapy, movement therapy, unit counselor, and nurse. The team met every week to discuss progress and readjust the treatment plan is needed. The same team continued on an out patient basis with individual and family therapy. We had very good results. Then Regan basically destroyed mental health care. After 72 hours, if a child was not suicidal or homocidal the could not remain inpatient. For the serious problems we saw in 5e se families, outpatient usually does not work without the 3 month period of separation and intensive care to allow for real change. Reagan made sure we all knew that the rich were the only ones that matter and that we could no longer look to our government to further the values of equality and equity. The people, in spite of our government have furthered this cause. As a young girl, I did not see myself reflected in sports, government, leadership positions of work, in medicine or church. During WWII when women ere needed for work, universal childcare was provided and the women ere great at all levels of work, then were told to return to the kitchen and child bearing. Patriarchal and paternalistic models returned because powerful men wanted to maintain control. But many Americans now see how damaging this model is to both men and women. Rigid stereotypical roles do not let with become fully human and express their full range of gifts. LGBTQ+ was illegal, now the majority of Americans realize that these are variations of what it means to be human, just like eye, hair, or skin color. Fair, safe treatment at work has always been an issue, but more used to realize that the Mr. Fiziwig style of management was superior to the Mr. Scrooge style, then more billionaires were able to influence Reagan, and the exploitive tactics of Mr. Scrooge returned and remain with us now. More workers are seeing this and demanding a return to at provide worker protections, and a collective voice. My political views have evolved as I have, and as society has. I evolved from a Christian to an atheist, a humanist. When I was small, my nighttime prayer was always, Dear God, please forgive me of my sins and make me a better person, and let me know the truth. I think the desire to know the truth, no matter how ugly, has been the guiding factor in determining my political views.
Linda, Part of the returning women to the kitchen/child bearing role, was we need those jobs for the returning heroes from WW2. Women of course readily bought into this and the print and broadcast media sold it wholesale. Father knows best, leave it to beaver and other stylized "typical" American Family crap. Women finally rebelled, they'd had a taste of freedom and self reliance during the war years and they did not want to return to the days when they were valued as much as Fido and Rover.Lin
I know. These TV examples of women, vacuuming in a dress, heels, and pearls. Always smiling and supporting your man. Sleeping n a twin bed, Happy if your cooking, cleaning, mothering, or being a wife was praised. Never being seen pregnant. It was great to see the Mary Tyler Moore show allowing women to want more, but she still had to be careful not offend any man or show anger. Being a Stepford wife was still a model to follow. Today wearing pants is never questioned unless you were Hilary Clinton running for president. Women are the majority of college grads, can aspire to any job, but only 10% lead fortune 500 companies. While both in a couple work, the woman is still doing 80% of the household chores and child rearing responsibilities. The ERA has not been added to the Constitution. We are still given the messages that we are not valued equally. I am so grateful to all the women and the men who refused to accept this lie and have fought and continue to fight for equality and equity for all.
Important background information to know — sadly, it’s not surprising to learn of the Reagan era attitude toward family well-being.
I have been an atheist just about all my life — since I was able to begin weighing the beliefs of people I knew in my teens, anyway. It just makes sense. But so does decency and compassion make sense on a crowded planet … I wish people could see that they don’t need to be told by some God that being good is the preferred path … or that what is “good” is reflected in how decent and respectful we are toward all the people on our planet.
But, be well. Let’s keep a good thought, and keep trying to hold onto a world that treats our loved ones well.
I’m with you, through and through. An atheist for as long as I’ve been able to see how many people have died for, and been killed in the name of, pick-your-poison. That said, I too was a child acolyte and hold fast to and stand strongly by, do unto others as I would have done unto me. I believe the first, a name, a blind acceptance of the (human defined) will of a great-god-on-high, or president or general or shift manager or Manson or who ever, and a corrupted version of the second, do unto others so it’s not done unto you, support all I find wrong in the world; absolute power absolutely corrupts. My “free” public education taught me our Constitution empowers a government By and For The People. And thence are formed my political beliefs. From experience and observation as a people (erson), that government is by and for me and all my (the) people. Not just for the privileged few, the high and the mighty and the wealthy, sequestered and protected in their oft ill gained retreats and hide aways and luxurious get aways, and get all ways, and get all always. The world will give you whatever you’re willing to take. What are we willing to take? Abuse and neglect, taxes and no benefits, work and no play, or the reins of a government By and For. I have no great aspirations to power. (I know I’m easily corruptible and know I wish no-one any harm, so I need no power but to keep my home warm.) But I’d sure like to raise my voice and grow some good and help erect a society that looks out for its most vulnerable, and encourages those with greater skill and wealth to help bring along the rest. I want and will work for a less corruptible infidel than me, who can and will work for ALL those around me. And that is how and why I vote and advocate and agitate.
If decency to all — in the many, many ways that such a value can be in evidence — drives your own value system, then I am happy to make common cause with ou, Michael.
Linda, wow. Your summation of "what happened to mental health care and treatment" is spot-on. Developments were regressive, ignorant and regularly kill people with episodic mental health issues, e.g. young women with eating disorders. Your illustration of formerly effective psychiatric care, "3-month inpatient with family therapy," including variety of health care professionals on team--and then safely transferring patient to outpatient care with measurable goals--it WORKED, it SAVED LIVES, consistent team approach (circle of care, one-stop intensive) for effective RESET to get past an episode of confusion and distress.
Reagan/ Thatcher era looked at blue-sky and said, "Pull yourself up. *I manage*, you can too. Send people back to their communities, and let reality deal with those (suffering fractured and frightening chaotic perception); everyone for themself, and damn those that cannot swim to safety and shore." The concept of firm, knowledgeable, intervention was thrown OUT, no option of white-flag admission of defeat (I can't manage distress and intrusive thoughts, not on my own) no quick-stop option, where a person, an adult KNOWS they are careening downhill, rollercoaster, "See me, stop me, help me." The no-system system of no-care care.
No one cares, quota-style health care, "If we cannot help you within 72 hours," go home and do it yourself, DIY mental health care, as illiterate modern "patient-centered care" model. Those knew, they know, but, legislation that says any patient can refuse treatment at any time (and a confused person's fear of the process of treatment are protected by confidentiality-over-safety, and they die)--and the sense that psychiatry is mean and cruel, where an onlooker sees a person struggling against care AND against their own confusion--and mistakenly believes that free-will is a higher value, even if illness is in control as a person fears separation from their disordered thoughts.
Your awesome assessment explains it all--Lack of political will to care for those that need properly educated, experienced, resourced treatment. Lives are thrown out on the street, meaningful lives, creative, intelligent, young women (eating disorders for one), as if anyone can decide to be well and not ill. Try that with cancer.
Truly the pendulum swung, just as you say, from Fezziwig to Scrooge, management style, social values, the rich as the only ones with value, and do not LOOK for equity from government. Self-admiring, the pendulum is not due to swing back unless someone powerful is affected, infected, under the spell of (a family member with) mental health problems, heading for or from tragedy themself. Mental health care as a place to dump money on the heads of authorities that do not understand except for a perception of equality ("See? Those can do it--just make up your mind to be well, and not problematic.")
I have been told "good mental health care was institutional, seemed cruel, where struggling people felt sad, hopeless, dependent (symptoms), and efficient effective episodic institutional care is NOT coming back." That leaves society ignorant and rudderless, with no idea treatment supported by resources WORKS. Cost in humans and on streets as immense. Wasted-spending on individuals who gather what they can--for the highest social aspiration: accumulation of wealth! A crime, a sin, and dopey-ass think tanks can't remember that a system of health care, including mental health care, works when resourced. Their personal guess is that care costs a lot of money, too much, and doesn't work, so, objective is to strangle the concept of social supports, as if those have proven ineffective. Result is too many victims, all victims. The lunatics running the asylum, political bureaucracy is well-resourced themselves but their knee-jerk (funded) decisions are starving services. Society's goals are the goals of uninformed individuals or advisors that are in it for the short-term and for themselves. The tide is too strong. A kinder gentler society needs leadership with clear vision to get the big things done.
You lived it, post-war when resources were low but will was high, then Reagan Thatcher era (blinkered by privilege) threw it away. Possibility of functioning mental health system is real and some people try to revive it, though are prevented by ignorance informed by eyes and ears that say, "Stop hurting people, let them do what "they" want," not able to see illness, mistaking their personal perception for reality, the sickest of all.
I completely agree. I hope we have the time and the political talent to make it so … The ilk that is challenging our constitutional republic {and trying to ditch democracy completely} have been hard at work at it for quite some time. May we have the time and skill to keep and continue to improve the actual republic we have had.
I grew up in Detroit in the 50s and 60s. Roman Catholic grade school, son of an auto worker. JFK -- obviously -- was an early hero, as was Walter Reuther. We lived for a few years on Miller Road, and famous overpass at the Rouge plant was just 2-3 miles away by bike.
On Thursdays, we'd often go into Canada to buy fresh perch from Lake Erie -- for Friday dinner -- from the thriving fishing industry on the lake. And then witnessing dead fish on the shores so massive in quantity, that you could not set one foot down without stepping on one. (And the smell.).
I well recall the brutal murders of Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner in June of '64. Followed in early '65 with the death of Detroiter, Viola Liuzzo. I was one of few allowed out during curfew during the civil unrest in Detroit in 1967 -- delivering the early morning paper, The Detroit Free Press. National Guard driving down Warren Avenue with buildings on fire a few miles away.
And then I left home to join the Navy. My second ship was involved in the evacuation of Saigon in April of 75. I was stationed in and lived in Japan for a number of years. Became somewhat obsessed in learning about "quality" as well as the language. I admired Jimmy Carter a lot, and utterly had no use for the vapid Ronald Reagan.
Thanks to the work of civil rights workers and Mr. Carter, we came to live in Georgia nearly 40 years ago -- helping to turn it more blue. I'm still involved in that today.
Reading through others' wonderful posts brought a flood of more memories, but the one thing I wanted to add relates to "liberal Republicans" -- currently extinct. Back in the 60s, our governor was George Romney (R) -- Mitt's father. Prior to campaign of 1968, he made a statement about Americans being "brainwashed" about Vietnam -- that sunk him right there.
My political values came mainly from my education and life experiences. I'm a Latino and a gay man. Only one party is looking out for my best interests and those of others. But I think that's exactly the crux of the difference between liberals and rightwingers; we give a shit about other people.
Jun 3, 2023·edited Jun 3, 2023Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about what shaped you, your values and how your values have influenced the career decisions about learning and the career path you have made for yourselves.
Reflecting on these seminal matters is helpful as we take the next step: asking ourselves if we are living our values? We’re human. The answer to that question is likely “Uh. . . guess not, really.”
I grew up in a Country Club neighborhood peopled by MD’s, business leaders, stock brokers and the like. I was completely unaware of the term “white privilege”, though there were no people of color in my community.
My father was, like yours Bob, a liberal Republican. He believed it a sin to be prejudiced. Accordingly, he enforced his values for “helping the least of those among us” and NEVER uttering racial slurs or doing anything to be unfair - in any way, to anyone.
Two “out of body” experiences I recall that served as my true political awakening to what I truly valued:
1. Meeting JFK when I was 10 and he was on the campaign trail. I liked him very much as a man but could have cared less about his politics or why he was in our community. When I watched on TV live coverage of his assassination I learned that being President is dangerous, especially in Texas. (It still is.) I physically ached and curled up on my bed in the fetal position.
2. When a man, his wife and two kids came to our front door with empty pillow cases begging for food. My mother ushered them into the house, fed them (they were very hungry) and opened all her kitchen cabinets and our Amana freeezer. She invited our guests to take whatever they wanted. When it was obvious they needed more pillow cases, she brought them so they could fill them. She also gave them my Dad’s old WWII Army duffle bag with shoulder strap so they could put several pillow cases filled with food into the duffle. Last, she went to her purse and gave them money. The family thanked her profusely. We walked with them and watched them as they left our home and street. When they were out of sight, my mother had me sit with her on the front steps as she cried. Eventually she composed herself and told me “Never forget this day Tim. There but by the grace of God go we. Always help the poor and less fortunate you meet in life.”
I grew up in Dayton, Ohio with significant racial tension. Joined the military straight out of high school. At least back in those days, the military was conservative. After living in many different countries and marrying a foreign national, I began to see that America the Great, wasn't. Over the years, I've been exposed to more and more cultures and people. I'm firmly on what the US calls the radical left, the rest of the world calls slightly left.
During 40 years teaching science at a CA community college I met thousands of students from a variety of socio-economic levels: from wealthy to homeless, native to immigrant, citizens to (possibly) illegal. I saw life from many angles and came to understand and accept the challenges students/people face as they work toward a better life. While my first presidential vote was cast for Goldwater (!) I soon perceived that my views were more in-tuned with the Democrats
I grew up in the Bay Area, mostly Berkeley. I was in high school in the early60's and CAL Berkeley in the mid and late 60's. My dad taught at CAL so my political views came from my parents and my environment. I read the SF Chronicle and Art Hoppe political cartoons. When I visited relatives in Indianapolis back in the late 60's and some cousins made some disparaging remarks about blacks, I was surprised they said it out loud and were not embarrassed! That's when I realized I lived in an unique world and other people had totally different views. These last few years bring back the same feeling watching the Republicans trying to destroy democracy and the rule of law.
When I grew up the Eichmann trail was broadcast in the afternoon when I came home from school, and the civil rights movement images were in the paper and Life magazine. And the March on Washington was aired live. Just by showing all of this I knew which side was the right one, the one for fairness and justice and what cruelty was, though I never experienced attacks myself. Then seeing the Vietnam War on tv and being afraid of being drafted, and when I did go for my physical, seeing that just about all the white boys had some kind of deferment while there was a line of Black boys lined up scowling at us as we got dressed to leave while they were being processed. I wasn’t political, but I knew what was fair and right and I want to be on the side of what is right. It is so crystal clear to me that these plus the woman’s movement, gay rights, and everything else that is for equality and justice is the good side and I now know it is all political.
So I would answer I became political and progressive because I am an empathetic person.
So did mine, though my early experiences also included the civil rights movement, but it kept developing. Life, reading, and political experience, especially of our helplessness--our lack of political agency--before the increasingly frightening calamity of climate change and environmental collapse, have made me an anarchist. I still work hard at getting honest people of reason and insight (we don't have a real left in the US) elected to state and municipal offices, and where there's someone great to support, to the House. But I've spent years studying climate change, and the only political concept I can seriously imagine helping humanity through our transition to another planetary climate (if some of us make it) is anarchism. I.e., real democracy.
A great deal from Mom [she is now 99 years old and still left of center …], but as much from living and paying attention, and using logic, science, the arts and humanities, history, and meeting human beings in the world to form a cogent set if ideas about “how things work” and what we need to do to make them work well for ourselves and especially for people we love {who might be more vulnerable than we are}.
Jun 3, 2023Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
Listening to Heather, I was so inspired, and I wonder how many Americans get the kind of education she had. What a gift! I just wish we sent fewer young people to business school and a lot more to public policy school. My own daughter has an MSW and works in a social service agency where she is the only one at her level with a social work degree. The rest have MBAs, and she can't afford to hire social workers with anything more than a bachelor's degree, because the pay is so low. It feels counterproductive to me.
Jun 3, 2023Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
Late life experiences for me. I was quite non-partisan for much of my 68 years... until the Obama presidency. Now I am staunchly Democrat. No nix that, I am a Progressive. Democratic Socialist maybe.
May I say that, in my opinion, this world needs more Robert Reichs and Heather Lofthouses. A lot more.
My mother used to say:
Dems: tax the rich, feed the poor.
REpubs: tax the poor, feed the rich....
She is deceased but still right!!
It's 130,000% WORSE now that trump enabled the obsolete Gop to OPENLY break the law WITHOUT any reprocussions.
Democrats: How can I help, sir?
Rethuglicans: What's in for me, sucker?
When I was 9yrs old,my grandpa told me Republicans are for the rich.
Smart man!
I didn't go college until I was 48 years old, and was awarded by Ph.D. at 59. Nevertheless, I spent my life reading, pursuing ideas and ideals, listening and learning. I worked from the age of 16, was flighty, temperamental, and everything that is considered unreliable in our culture. I just spent 15 years caring for my Vietnam Veteran husband whose Parkinson's Disease (and later Lewy Body Dementia) stemmed from his war service. Where do people get their sense of what's right and wrong? I don't know. I can only speak to my life.
Great answer, and deepest sympathies on the travails of your husband.
Brava to you for attending college relatively late in life, and for being a good partner.
It’s more than that; it’s what is in your heart. I know of the deep love that you speak of in your devotion to your man. Memorial Day is past this year and we are still losing good people in the aftermath of our war. We can’t justify what humanity does to its self. Everyone of us suffers because of it.
Please accept my love and respect for you and safe journey in your future life traveling.
I finished my doctorate at 55. Like you Anita, I love learning.
Very impressive!
Oh Anita; I can identify with an awful lot of your journey and your pleading question at the end. Yet, I can't answer that question adequately, and I don't think that there's any nice tidy box for one answer that applies to all folks of any persuasion, much less those of opposite persuasion as ours. My ever thought is that we humans are ...messy. Perhaps some defining trauma or injustice done to them ? All I know is that it's great to identify with you or seem to ! Brava sister soldier !
In 1958, riding a school bus, I looked up to see we were driving past Black children, walking to their school. Further down the road, I saw their school, much in need to repair. Later the bus pulled into the driveway of my high school -- well maintained, filled with great teachers, books, and daily challenges.
I hope my comment doesn't mark me as privileged forever. I was, though, because of the color of my skin which opened many doors other children could only dream about. I haven't forgotten that bus ride. I hope I've been able to live up to the promise I made to make the world a little better through my efforts.
I can only imagine what our country "lost" because of the children who walked to school, when they should have had the same or better opportunities that I was given.
My wife came from a very poor family in rural Maine. She walked two miles in the snow to school. I know that sounds like a tall tale but it is true. They were so poor they lived in a chicken coop. Poverty is an American thing. The poor are invisible.
That is so true.
I visited my farmer Uncle in Geogia back in around 1960. I felt like I had gone back 100 years. My Uncle was not a bad man, but he treated the blacks who worked for him like unruly children. He yelled at them and abused them, but when they got sick he would drive 50 miles to take them to the doctor. Neither he nor my grandmother could have conceived that blacks and whites could ever be equal.
Thank you for a beautiful heart and eyes that care!
I think political leaning is a combination of things: parents/grandparents (in my case a grandmother and her family who lived through the Great Depression), upbringing, life experiences, as well as intellectual curiosity and personality type. One's social economic level born into also has to be an influence. I grew up in the 1960's and 70's, a time when the middle class was strong, few were wealthy (but wages, education accessibility and buying power were on the rise), and government had a positive image of being a benevolent Big Brother. Don't get me wrong, there were still barriers to climb, particularly with racism and equality for women (gender issues were still forbidden topics), but society was on the "up and up".
I’m 76 and lived through it as you. Yes, we had a lot of work to do with our social strata and economics, but we seemed to have a large contingent of citizens eager to delve into it — both liberal and more conservative, but seeing government as ours to work with.
Then we had Reagan with his “government is the problem” bs, and that thing about not wanting the government to show up to “help.” How obscene to turn people against the very mechanism we worked so hard to construct as a force working FOR us, instead of lording it over us. That was amazingly disingenuous of Saint Reagan, but all too successful. Ridicule is a potent convincer …
I’m hoping we can get back to Government is US, and make it moreso again….
Taxes were raised numerous times under Reagan. I made $50,000/year as a clinical instructor and was in a 50% tax bracket. He closed all the mental health hospitals and those people ended up on the streets, as they still are. A better actor and bullsh**ter than president. Trickle-down economics, what a joke!
Great points, Anne! Reagan was so damned self-righteous about everything he did. The poor have the nerve to ask for help, or maybe for just fairness? Nope, they're all driving Cadillacs, especially if they're 'black', supposedly paid for by government handouts.
I've got to think that if Jesus were around in the Reagan years, he'd have a thing or two, or a dozen, to say about reality and turning away when others are in need, don't you think?
The thing he and the GOP never wanted you to hear was, in 1982, a used Cadillac cost $100 to $250, They were gas guzzlers, but affordable for a single woman regardless of her color. That car could get her and her kids, to work, grocery shopping, or the doctor. The rest of his stupid saying was she wore a mink coat. In the 80's you could buy a mink coat at the thrift store for $25. In fact the mink coat at the thrift store was cheaper than a cloth coat. But, boy it sounded good on TV and those non-thinking members of our society ate it up.
It's part of our celebrity/wealthy obsession.
remember the "1000 points of light?" should be a meme -- total joke
So agree with you, Anne! It was a very sad and comletely misunderstood time in our country. And sadly, we are still suffering from it.
I first worked as a nurse and unit coordinator in a pediatric psych unit. We provided very good care,,usually 3 mo inpatient with family therapy. with a consistent team of psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, teacher, art therapy, movement therapy, unit counselor, and nurse. The team met every week to discuss progress and readjust the treatment plan is needed. The same team continued on an out patient basis with individual and family therapy. We had very good results. Then Regan basically destroyed mental health care. After 72 hours, if a child was not suicidal or homocidal the could not remain inpatient. For the serious problems we saw in 5e se families, outpatient usually does not work without the 3 month period of separation and intensive care to allow for real change. Reagan made sure we all knew that the rich were the only ones that matter and that we could no longer look to our government to further the values of equality and equity. The people, in spite of our government have furthered this cause. As a young girl, I did not see myself reflected in sports, government, leadership positions of work, in medicine or church. During WWII when women ere needed for work, universal childcare was provided and the women ere great at all levels of work, then were told to return to the kitchen and child bearing. Patriarchal and paternalistic models returned because powerful men wanted to maintain control. But many Americans now see how damaging this model is to both men and women. Rigid stereotypical roles do not let with become fully human and express their full range of gifts. LGBTQ+ was illegal, now the majority of Americans realize that these are variations of what it means to be human, just like eye, hair, or skin color. Fair, safe treatment at work has always been an issue, but more used to realize that the Mr. Fiziwig style of management was superior to the Mr. Scrooge style, then more billionaires were able to influence Reagan, and the exploitive tactics of Mr. Scrooge returned and remain with us now. More workers are seeing this and demanding a return to at provide worker protections, and a collective voice. My political views have evolved as I have, and as society has. I evolved from a Christian to an atheist, a humanist. When I was small, my nighttime prayer was always, Dear God, please forgive me of my sins and make me a better person, and let me know the truth. I think the desire to know the truth, no matter how ugly, has been the guiding factor in determining my political views.
.
Linda, Part of the returning women to the kitchen/child bearing role, was we need those jobs for the returning heroes from WW2. Women of course readily bought into this and the print and broadcast media sold it wholesale. Father knows best, leave it to beaver and other stylized "typical" American Family crap. Women finally rebelled, they'd had a taste of freedom and self reliance during the war years and they did not want to return to the days when they were valued as much as Fido and Rover.Lin
I know. These TV examples of women, vacuuming in a dress, heels, and pearls. Always smiling and supporting your man. Sleeping n a twin bed, Happy if your cooking, cleaning, mothering, or being a wife was praised. Never being seen pregnant. It was great to see the Mary Tyler Moore show allowing women to want more, but she still had to be careful not offend any man or show anger. Being a Stepford wife was still a model to follow. Today wearing pants is never questioned unless you were Hilary Clinton running for president. Women are the majority of college grads, can aspire to any job, but only 10% lead fortune 500 companies. While both in a couple work, the woman is still doing 80% of the household chores and child rearing responsibilities. The ERA has not been added to the Constitution. We are still given the messages that we are not valued equally. I am so grateful to all the women and the men who refused to accept this lie and have fought and continue to fight for equality and equity for all.
Me too!
Important background information to know — sadly, it’s not surprising to learn of the Reagan era attitude toward family well-being.
I have been an atheist just about all my life — since I was able to begin weighing the beliefs of people I knew in my teens, anyway. It just makes sense. But so does decency and compassion make sense on a crowded planet … I wish people could see that they don’t need to be told by some God that being good is the preferred path … or that what is “good” is reflected in how decent and respectful we are toward all the people on our planet.
But, be well. Let’s keep a good thought, and keep trying to hold onto a world that treats our loved ones well.
I’m with you, through and through. An atheist for as long as I’ve been able to see how many people have died for, and been killed in the name of, pick-your-poison. That said, I too was a child acolyte and hold fast to and stand strongly by, do unto others as I would have done unto me. I believe the first, a name, a blind acceptance of the (human defined) will of a great-god-on-high, or president or general or shift manager or Manson or who ever, and a corrupted version of the second, do unto others so it’s not done unto you, support all I find wrong in the world; absolute power absolutely corrupts. My “free” public education taught me our Constitution empowers a government By and For The People. And thence are formed my political beliefs. From experience and observation as a people (erson), that government is by and for me and all my (the) people. Not just for the privileged few, the high and the mighty and the wealthy, sequestered and protected in their oft ill gained retreats and hide aways and luxurious get aways, and get all ways, and get all always. The world will give you whatever you’re willing to take. What are we willing to take? Abuse and neglect, taxes and no benefits, work and no play, or the reins of a government By and For. I have no great aspirations to power. (I know I’m easily corruptible and know I wish no-one any harm, so I need no power but to keep my home warm.) But I’d sure like to raise my voice and grow some good and help erect a society that looks out for its most vulnerable, and encourages those with greater skill and wealth to help bring along the rest. I want and will work for a less corruptible infidel than me, who can and will work for ALL those around me. And that is how and why I vote and advocate and agitate.
If decency to all — in the many, many ways that such a value can be in evidence — drives your own value system, then I am happy to make common cause with ou, Michael.
Linda, wow. Your summation of "what happened to mental health care and treatment" is spot-on. Developments were regressive, ignorant and regularly kill people with episodic mental health issues, e.g. young women with eating disorders. Your illustration of formerly effective psychiatric care, "3-month inpatient with family therapy," including variety of health care professionals on team--and then safely transferring patient to outpatient care with measurable goals--it WORKED, it SAVED LIVES, consistent team approach (circle of care, one-stop intensive) for effective RESET to get past an episode of confusion and distress.
Reagan/ Thatcher era looked at blue-sky and said, "Pull yourself up. *I manage*, you can too. Send people back to their communities, and let reality deal with those (suffering fractured and frightening chaotic perception); everyone for themself, and damn those that cannot swim to safety and shore." The concept of firm, knowledgeable, intervention was thrown OUT, no option of white-flag admission of defeat (I can't manage distress and intrusive thoughts, not on my own) no quick-stop option, where a person, an adult KNOWS they are careening downhill, rollercoaster, "See me, stop me, help me." The no-system system of no-care care.
No one cares, quota-style health care, "If we cannot help you within 72 hours," go home and do it yourself, DIY mental health care, as illiterate modern "patient-centered care" model. Those knew, they know, but, legislation that says any patient can refuse treatment at any time (and a confused person's fear of the process of treatment are protected by confidentiality-over-safety, and they die)--and the sense that psychiatry is mean and cruel, where an onlooker sees a person struggling against care AND against their own confusion--and mistakenly believes that free-will is a higher value, even if illness is in control as a person fears separation from their disordered thoughts.
Your awesome assessment explains it all--Lack of political will to care for those that need properly educated, experienced, resourced treatment. Lives are thrown out on the street, meaningful lives, creative, intelligent, young women (eating disorders for one), as if anyone can decide to be well and not ill. Try that with cancer.
Truly the pendulum swung, just as you say, from Fezziwig to Scrooge, management style, social values, the rich as the only ones with value, and do not LOOK for equity from government. Self-admiring, the pendulum is not due to swing back unless someone powerful is affected, infected, under the spell of (a family member with) mental health problems, heading for or from tragedy themself. Mental health care as a place to dump money on the heads of authorities that do not understand except for a perception of equality ("See? Those can do it--just make up your mind to be well, and not problematic.")
I have been told "good mental health care was institutional, seemed cruel, where struggling people felt sad, hopeless, dependent (symptoms), and efficient effective episodic institutional care is NOT coming back." That leaves society ignorant and rudderless, with no idea treatment supported by resources WORKS. Cost in humans and on streets as immense. Wasted-spending on individuals who gather what they can--for the highest social aspiration: accumulation of wealth! A crime, a sin, and dopey-ass think tanks can't remember that a system of health care, including mental health care, works when resourced. Their personal guess is that care costs a lot of money, too much, and doesn't work, so, objective is to strangle the concept of social supports, as if those have proven ineffective. Result is too many victims, all victims. The lunatics running the asylum, political bureaucracy is well-resourced themselves but their knee-jerk (funded) decisions are starving services. Society's goals are the goals of uninformed individuals or advisors that are in it for the short-term and for themselves. The tide is too strong. A kinder gentler society needs leadership with clear vision to get the big things done.
You lived it, post-war when resources were low but will was high, then Reagan Thatcher era (blinkered by privilege) threw it away. Possibility of functioning mental health system is real and some people try to revive it, though are prevented by ignorance informed by eyes and ears that say, "Stop hurting people, let them do what "they" want," not able to see illness, mistaking their personal perception for reality, the sickest of all.
We could tell who the enemy is!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atgO5xdMU8w
Agree
I completely agree. I hope we have the time and the political talent to make it so … The ilk that is challenging our constitutional republic {and trying to ditch democracy completely} have been hard at work at it for quite some time. May we have the time and skill to keep and continue to improve the actual republic we have had.
I grew up in Detroit in the 50s and 60s. Roman Catholic grade school, son of an auto worker. JFK -- obviously -- was an early hero, as was Walter Reuther. We lived for a few years on Miller Road, and famous overpass at the Rouge plant was just 2-3 miles away by bike.
On Thursdays, we'd often go into Canada to buy fresh perch from Lake Erie -- for Friday dinner -- from the thriving fishing industry on the lake. And then witnessing dead fish on the shores so massive in quantity, that you could not set one foot down without stepping on one. (And the smell.).
I well recall the brutal murders of Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner in June of '64. Followed in early '65 with the death of Detroiter, Viola Liuzzo. I was one of few allowed out during curfew during the civil unrest in Detroit in 1967 -- delivering the early morning paper, The Detroit Free Press. National Guard driving down Warren Avenue with buildings on fire a few miles away.
And then I left home to join the Navy. My second ship was involved in the evacuation of Saigon in April of 75. I was stationed in and lived in Japan for a number of years. Became somewhat obsessed in learning about "quality" as well as the language. I admired Jimmy Carter a lot, and utterly had no use for the vapid Ronald Reagan.
Thanks to the work of civil rights workers and Mr. Carter, we came to live in Georgia nearly 40 years ago -- helping to turn it more blue. I'm still involved in that today.
Reading through others' wonderful posts brought a flood of more memories, but the one thing I wanted to add relates to "liberal Republicans" -- currently extinct. Back in the 60s, our governor was George Romney (R) -- Mitt's father. Prior to campaign of 1968, he made a statement about Americans being "brainwashed" about Vietnam -- that sunk him right there.
My political values came mainly from my education and life experiences. I'm a Latino and a gay man. Only one party is looking out for my best interests and those of others. But I think that's exactly the crux of the difference between liberals and rightwingers; we give a shit about other people.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about what shaped you, your values and how your values have influenced the career decisions about learning and the career path you have made for yourselves.
Reflecting on these seminal matters is helpful as we take the next step: asking ourselves if we are living our values? We’re human. The answer to that question is likely “Uh. . . guess not, really.”
I grew up in a Country Club neighborhood peopled by MD’s, business leaders, stock brokers and the like. I was completely unaware of the term “white privilege”, though there were no people of color in my community.
My father was, like yours Bob, a liberal Republican. He believed it a sin to be prejudiced. Accordingly, he enforced his values for “helping the least of those among us” and NEVER uttering racial slurs or doing anything to be unfair - in any way, to anyone.
Two “out of body” experiences I recall that served as my true political awakening to what I truly valued:
1. Meeting JFK when I was 10 and he was on the campaign trail. I liked him very much as a man but could have cared less about his politics or why he was in our community. When I watched on TV live coverage of his assassination I learned that being President is dangerous, especially in Texas. (It still is.) I physically ached and curled up on my bed in the fetal position.
2. When a man, his wife and two kids came to our front door with empty pillow cases begging for food. My mother ushered them into the house, fed them (they were very hungry) and opened all her kitchen cabinets and our Amana freeezer. She invited our guests to take whatever they wanted. When it was obvious they needed more pillow cases, she brought them so they could fill them. She also gave them my Dad’s old WWII Army duffle bag with shoulder strap so they could put several pillow cases filled with food into the duffle. Last, she went to her purse and gave them money. The family thanked her profusely. We walked with them and watched them as they left our home and street. When they were out of sight, my mother had me sit with her on the front steps as she cried. Eventually she composed herself and told me “Never forget this day Tim. There but by the grace of God go we. Always help the poor and less fortunate you meet in life.”
I grew up in Dayton, Ohio with significant racial tension. Joined the military straight out of high school. At least back in those days, the military was conservative. After living in many different countries and marrying a foreign national, I began to see that America the Great, wasn't. Over the years, I've been exposed to more and more cultures and people. I'm firmly on what the US calls the radical left, the rest of the world calls slightly left.
Welcome to the "extreme radical leftist" club! Ha! Proud member.
During 40 years teaching science at a CA community college I met thousands of students from a variety of socio-economic levels: from wealthy to homeless, native to immigrant, citizens to (possibly) illegal. I saw life from many angles and came to understand and accept the challenges students/people face as they work toward a better life. While my first presidential vote was cast for Goldwater (!) I soon perceived that my views were more in-tuned with the Democrats
I ♥️ that you were open to examining your perception. It’s the key to living a Progressive life.
I grew up in the Bay Area, mostly Berkeley. I was in high school in the early60's and CAL Berkeley in the mid and late 60's. My dad taught at CAL so my political views came from my parents and my environment. I read the SF Chronicle and Art Hoppe political cartoons. When I visited relatives in Indianapolis back in the late 60's and some cousins made some disparaging remarks about blacks, I was surprised they said it out loud and were not embarrassed! That's when I realized I lived in an unique world and other people had totally different views. These last few years bring back the same feeling watching the Republicans trying to destroy democracy and the rule of law.
My political views come from my OVERALL life’s experiences.
Despite the false aphorism, old dogs can learn new tricks, too.
When I grew up the Eichmann trail was broadcast in the afternoon when I came home from school, and the civil rights movement images were in the paper and Life magazine. And the March on Washington was aired live. Just by showing all of this I knew which side was the right one, the one for fairness and justice and what cruelty was, though I never experienced attacks myself. Then seeing the Vietnam War on tv and being afraid of being drafted, and when I did go for my physical, seeing that just about all the white boys had some kind of deferment while there was a line of Black boys lined up scowling at us as we got dressed to leave while they were being processed. I wasn’t political, but I knew what was fair and right and I want to be on the side of what is right. It is so crystal clear to me that these plus the woman’s movement, gay rights, and everything else that is for equality and justice is the good side and I now know it is all political.
So I would answer I became political and progressive because I am an empathetic person.
My involvement in protesting the Vietnam War started me on a liberal path.
True of me as well. There's nothing like the threat of your government trying to get you killed to make you question the political status quo.
So did mine, though my early experiences also included the civil rights movement, but it kept developing. Life, reading, and political experience, especially of our helplessness--our lack of political agency--before the increasingly frightening calamity of climate change and environmental collapse, have made me an anarchist. I still work hard at getting honest people of reason and insight (we don't have a real left in the US) elected to state and municipal offices, and where there's someone great to support, to the House. But I've spent years studying climate change, and the only political concept I can seriously imagine helping humanity through our transition to another planetary climate (if some of us make it) is anarchism. I.e., real democracy.
Got values from “All of the above” in the list.
A great deal from Mom [she is now 99 years old and still left of center …], but as much from living and paying attention, and using logic, science, the arts and humanities, history, and meeting human beings in the world to form a cogent set if ideas about “how things work” and what we need to do to make them work well for ourselves and especially for people we love {who might be more vulnerable than we are}.
Excellent response, Pat Goudey O'Brien! I certainly agree with you 100%.
Thanks. I hope we have the time and skills to get through to people.
Be well!
Listening to Heather, I was so inspired, and I wonder how many Americans get the kind of education she had. What a gift! I just wish we sent fewer young people to business school and a lot more to public policy school. My own daughter has an MSW and works in a social service agency where she is the only one at her level with a social work degree. The rest have MBAs, and she can't afford to hire social workers with anything more than a bachelor's degree, because the pay is so low. It feels counterproductive to me.
Late life experiences for me. I was quite non-partisan for much of my 68 years... until the Obama presidency. Now I am staunchly Democrat. No nix that, I am a Progressive. Democratic Socialist maybe.
May I say that, in my opinion, this world needs more Robert Reichs and Heather Lofthouses. A lot more.