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TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)

13. Eisenhower...

Mon Jan 13, 2014, 12:09 PM

Jan 2014

I remember the shock we were all in when Sputnik went up.

Eisenhower didn't seem terribly inspirational at the time, but he pushed a program that got my high school, along with thousands of others, three brand new science labs, funding for science teachers, and a bunch of other things. And mine was a conservative, very religious, Lutheran high school. Imagine what some others got.

Then Kennedy came along and talked of a future of lunar colonies, boundless energy, and marvelous invention. The New Frontier was the US leading the world in peace as it had in war. Johnson, even Nixon, pushed it along.

But then came Reagan, and it all came crashing down. Excellence had no benefit, only cheapness was worth going for and mediocrity was acceptable.

And here we are today.

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Highlight:

USA Today had an article on how boomers are dropping out of the job market. [View all] leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 OP

What is meant by "baby boomer"? If it is the 1940 and 1950 year group then maybe some are retiring, lostincalifornia Jan 2014 #1

1946-1964 is considered the Boom n/t PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #8

As one, I think the OP means the job market dropped us out. not by choice. robinlynne Jan 2014 #21

No question about it the job market dropped out on a lot of people. That is why social security is lostincalifornia Jan 2014 #26

Not just preserve.... daleanime Jan 2014 #31

It's been a HUGE problem for ten years or more... Bennyboy Jan 2014 #2

This scenario times, literally, a couple million. Le Taz Hot Jan 2014 #3

It's pretty impossible to sue for age discrimination now. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #4

and hope PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #10

My friend does have some money coming from her mother's estate. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #15

I'm glad I don't have kids PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #22

Elizabeth Warren's trying to address these issues. nt MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 #5

She is? leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #12

Her story is very similar to mine. Tell her to hang in there -- I know what she's going through. nt Buns_of_Fire Jan 2014 #6

Gotta love those upbeat articles KurtNYC Jan 2014 #7

Eisenhower... TreasonousBastard Jan 2014 #13

The only people I know PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #9

My sister is a psychologist at a well-known clinic in the midwest. stopbush Jan 2014 #34

That sucks PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #38

Forcing people who saved to spend their savings IS the plan. L0oniX Jan 2014 #11

^^^ This ^^^ dickthegrouch Jan 2014 #28

I already have the best homeless food lines picked out. L0oniX Jan 2014 #32

Exactly - Saw this toon this morning: n2doc Jan 2014 #30

USA Today is not news, it is propaganda. Coyotl Jan 2014 #14

Because it's out there this morning. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #16

What "the other guys" are spewing out is only as important as the audience share the spewing has. Coyotl Jan 2014 #19

This is the Bible belt. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #20

Doom and Gloom is a reality in this economy for many people seveneyes Jan 2014 #23

I was talking about employment with a friend of mine in his mid 40s yesterday Fumesucker Jan 2014 #17

Most of the people about 45 or older can't even get an interview. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #18

Yeah, that was one of the things I told him Fumesucker Jan 2014 #24

Boomers aren't really dropping out of the workforce meow2u3 Jan 2014 #25

Yes. That's it in a nutshell. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #27

here is a article on the machine. littlewolf Jan 2014 #29

And all those wages not being paid will not be spent to buy goods and services in the tblue37 Jan 2014 #33

A lot of us are retiring too. B Calm Jan 2014 #35

The answer from Republicans is these people are losers looking for a handout.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2014 #36

There is a certain amount of disconnect Yo_Mama Jan 2014 #37