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csziggy

(34,189 posts)

21. And another

Sun Apr 6, 2014, 07:48 PM

Apr 2014

Some of us were just stoned but burned out on politics and cynical about how useful being active was.

The first Presidential election I was able to vote in was in 1972. I knew Nixon was a crook and was appalled that he got such a large percentage of the vote. Then when it was proven that he had stolen the election, I was turned off by politics and didn't think it was worth the effort to be active or even vote.

The man who is my husband convinced me to vote in 1976 - his brother worked on Jimmy Carter's campaign. Over the years I have become increasingly more active but never really lost my cynicism.

To this day I am still convinced that any person who wants to run for office is a megalomaniac and should be disqualified from holding office.

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I've been kind of curious about something. Here's a little poll for people over 60. [View all] Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 OP

We considered ourselves "freaks" more than hippies. hobbit709 Apr 2014 #1

I think we called ourselves "heads" at the time. Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #5

When I started doing acid it was still legal. hobbit709 Apr 2014 #7

I loved acid. Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #17

Yes that myth .. that LSD messed up your chromosomes .. didn't pan out. But my older sister > YOHABLO Apr 2014 #53

I didn't consider myself a hippie at the time, Raksha Apr 2014 #56

Combo frazzled Apr 2014 #2

Good point Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #4

Same here HockeyMom Apr 2014 #11

Frightened GOPee Apr 2014 #49

What were you afraid of? nt TBF Apr 2014 #62

I wasn't politically active at that time but JFK was the first Prez I voted for. lpbk2713 Apr 2014 #3

There was no counterculture until I was 25 or so and I already had 2 kids tularetom Apr 2014 #6

I was very conventional when young. SheilaT Apr 2014 #8

Same here. Raksha Apr 2014 #58

An old high school friend said she considered me the original beatnik NV Whino Apr 2014 #9

My mother *was* a Beatnik REP Apr 2014 #24

I was the first two Warpy Apr 2014 #10

I got pretty normal, too, Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #12

I was a member of Moral Rearmament (Up With People/Sing Out) RoverSuswade Apr 2014 #13

I thought Goldwater was scary as hell, Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #14

Far out, man. idendoit Apr 2014 #15

You need another category malaise Apr 2014 #16

Hmm, that's kind of long to put into a category. Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #18

It is long malaise Apr 2014 #19

And another csziggy Apr 2014 #21

I'm pretty cynical, too. Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #23

never a part of the counterculture - yet still antiwar and green DrDan Apr 2014 #20

Hippie newfie11 Apr 2014 #22

Well, one year I was smoking dope and had hair down to my ass. The next ... 11 Bravo Apr 2014 #25

I'm glad you made it back. Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #26

Been there done that.. Bandit Apr 2014 #65

I'll Be 59 In November... I Wanted To Go To Woodstock, But My Parents Wouldn't Let Me... WillyT Apr 2014 #27

Yes, of course. Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #28

Everytime I Go To S.F. - I Visit Haight Ashbury To Bath In It... WillyT Apr 2014 #30

Here is your proof. I was a certified Hippy. (photo see red arrow) Walk away Apr 2014 #29

Oh, that's great! Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #32

That is Homestead in New Your State... Walk away Apr 2014 #35

What a great picture! Raksha Apr 2014 #59

Politicized Hippie SteveG Apr 2014 #31

There was one in San Francisco that same day, I think. Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #34

As I remember being young, we did not think of ourselves as being in ANY category. enough Apr 2014 #33

Aging Hippie otohara Apr 2014 #36

Combo: Pot, democratic, some protests, border hippie, getting through tough RKP5637 Apr 2014 #37

At that age pipi_k Apr 2014 #38

Whatever happened to communes? moondust Apr 2014 #39

As an old communard myself, I've wondered about that too. dougolat Apr 2014 #54

People's Park alumnus, cross-country hitch hiker, Richard Brautigan, Kahlil Gibran, Kerouak, Jimi, NBachers Apr 2014 #40

Do you have one of those rent controlled places. Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #42

Yes, I'm fortunate in that respect- my "Starter apartment" moved up in value quicker than I did. NBachers Apr 2014 #50

Real hippies were few and far between. Most kids were only playing the role .. kwassa Apr 2014 #41

I chose to be voluntarily destitute for a while, Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #48

Almost nobody I knew in the 60s would admit to being a hippie starroute Apr 2014 #43

I think there was a difference between East Coast and West Ciast Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #46

That's very likely starroute Apr 2014 #47

No "nerd" category? eallen Apr 2014 #44

God, I just can't keep up with all the categories Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #45

I'm not 60 but i wanted to answer for my favorite uncle OriginalGeek Apr 2014 #51

Great thread. Very nostalgiac. cilla4progress Apr 2014 #52

A radical veteran on the GI bill in college and working. Tierra_y_Libertad Apr 2014 #55

I was very conventional. In our area one had to be that way. madfloridian Apr 2014 #57

How about Artiste? flamingdem Apr 2014 #60

I was a lefty and fairly counterculture, but without the sex and drugs. tblue37 Apr 2014 #61

I had plenty of sex, smoked lots of OldHippieChick Apr 2014 #63

a typical young person in college, embarking on career Ino Apr 2014 #64

Of course. Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #67

My number one takeaway from this exercise? Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #66

I think this is appropriate. Enthusiast Apr 2014 #68

Combo, but of 2 and 3 OKNancy Apr 2014 #69

I like that. :) Blue_In_AK Apr 2014 #70