Thank you for this piece, Patricia. Especially anchoring it in historical examples i.e. Gilded Age and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (I'm sure you knew future and first female cabinet member Francis Perkins had a hand in investigating the incident with the NY industrial commission...). Problem I see is many people are too self-absorbed in 'the today' or their own lives, understandably. But it comes at a high price. For example, I have taken to deliver our local Comox Valley, BC weekly, tyo get to know our neighbourhood. But still am amazed that, while it does a poor job in covering local news (there's always one or two stories that are important to learn about), many people don't want to read this free paper. I remember reading a quote by Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson years ago in his second run for president in 1956 against Eisenhower that the challenge for liberals/Democrats in the future as more Americans become secure (self-absorbed?) in their lives, the less they will remember where these policies and programs came from in attaining a better life, everything from schooling, the right to belong to a labour union, health and safety, Social Security, etc. I'm sure you will agree that many voters voted against their interests in 2016, 2020, and 2024 largely because they feel they are falling behind economically, a candidate by way of DJT (I refuse to spell out his last name during his second term in office) exploited this voter frustration with his infamous 'I alone can fix it' statement, and a combination of ignorance (like understanding how tariffs work) and 'throw the bums out' attitude. This is where we are in 2025.
I had a particular point here. Greed has been the unofficial policy for so many for so long in this country that the end result is that too many of us cannot see any difference between the two parties. It’s all about the bank accounts, or the likes, or the power to influence; and not much in the thinking of how can we make things better, more equitable, fairer? I knew a barrier had been broken when, some years ago, I saw a published comment of someone who planned to teach her children to be greedy. And so we continue to this day.
Because they're young.
Back in 1975, kids said that Gerald Ford was the best president we ever had.
Even then, being a history nut, I looked at them funny.
I never said that in my 20s.
I'm talking about 15-year-olds.
Thank you for this piece, Patricia. Especially anchoring it in historical examples i.e. Gilded Age and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire (I'm sure you knew future and first female cabinet member Francis Perkins had a hand in investigating the incident with the NY industrial commission...). Problem I see is many people are too self-absorbed in 'the today' or their own lives, understandably. But it comes at a high price. For example, I have taken to deliver our local Comox Valley, BC weekly, tyo get to know our neighbourhood. But still am amazed that, while it does a poor job in covering local news (there's always one or two stories that are important to learn about), many people don't want to read this free paper. I remember reading a quote by Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson years ago in his second run for president in 1956 against Eisenhower that the challenge for liberals/Democrats in the future as more Americans become secure (self-absorbed?) in their lives, the less they will remember where these policies and programs came from in attaining a better life, everything from schooling, the right to belong to a labour union, health and safety, Social Security, etc. I'm sure you will agree that many voters voted against their interests in 2016, 2020, and 2024 largely because they feel they are falling behind economically, a candidate by way of DJT (I refuse to spell out his last name during his second term in office) exploited this voter frustration with his infamous 'I alone can fix it' statement, and a combination of ignorance (like understanding how tariffs work) and 'throw the bums out' attitude. This is where we are in 2025.
Yes. There is much from that era that was buried by later history.
I had a particular point here. Greed has been the unofficial policy for so many for so long in this country that the end result is that too many of us cannot see any difference between the two parties. It’s all about the bank accounts, or the likes, or the power to influence; and not much in the thinking of how can we make things better, more equitable, fairer? I knew a barrier had been broken when, some years ago, I saw a published comment of someone who planned to teach her children to be greedy. And so we continue to this day.