Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Cresent City Kid

(1,621 posts)
25. Somewhat similar story here
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 10:41 AM
Jun 2014

I was just starting college to study computer science at a time when the field was taking off. Pell grants dried up and I had to work at Pizza Hut, not as a temp job to keep me going through college, but as the only source of income for then and into the foreseeable future. I managed to learn the printing trade and make more than minimum wage, but missed out on being a programmer and making a middle class living.

The Reagan "recovery" was a lot of expansion of personal credit card debt and the businesses that expanded the most were fast food places. The rich benefited the most but the middle class received enough to get them voting to keep the gop on top. Basically, they "fixed" the economy by reducing the number of people they were fixing it for. Being poor in the 80's became a life sentence.

The difference between then and now is that now they are feeding on the middle class that got a pass in the 80's.

we figured repukes would trash the country Skittles Jun 2014 #1
I have been saying Democrat Party since 1950 and so have many other good democrats. You need jwirr Jun 2014 #35
uh huh Skittles Jun 2014 #39
"Democrat Party"? Spider Jerusalem Jun 2014 #2
a sure sign of someone who only listens to rightwing assholes Skittles Jun 2014 #3
This message was self-deleted by its author Journeyman Jun 2014 #4
"Doesn't remember the 1984 election" isn't "obviously young", considering that was 30 years ago. Spider Jerusalem Jun 2014 #5
Democrats lost three Presidential elections in a row. It looked bad for a while. stevenleser Jun 2014 #6
We had already watched Richard Nixon carry 49 states in 1972 over George McGovern. pnwmom Jun 2014 #7
We found that many 'Democratic' voters were actualy Republican who voted for Reagan and Nixon Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #18
to be more accurate both parties were not bent on ideology before rayguns klyon Jun 2014 #22
Not really. pnwmom Jun 2014 #27
Reaching out to Middle is not the same as selling soul to Wall St and Big Business Armstead Jun 2014 #19
ouch Puzzledtraveller Jun 2014 #20
What pundits WERE saying was that the Republicans had an "electoral lock" on the Presidency... brooklynite Jun 2014 #8
It was a tough time. bobGandolf Jun 2014 #9
yes, and the Reagan years THOROUGHLY fucked up Amerca Skittles Jun 2014 #10
The Reagan years are still f'ing up America. n/t FSogol Jun 2014 #29
No kidding! bobGandolf Jun 2014 #11
It sucked. We couldn't believe anyone still believed in that old fraud Warpy Jun 2014 #12
I was just over 30 then… Even then I knew Reagan's dementia was being covered up... MrMickeysMom Jun 2014 #43
I lived outside of the US in 1984 and it looked very strange from a distance. Kablooie Jun 2014 #13
Two words penndragon69 Jun 2014 #14
Yup '84 was bad but started in '81 rickyhall Jun 2014 #15
Somewhat similar story here Cresent City Kid Jun 2014 #25
The Democrats still had control of the House, I think deutsey Jun 2014 #16
It was a lot like watching the emerald city turn into rust. HereSince1628 Jun 2014 #17
You should change "must have been" to "was" pinboy3niner Jun 2014 #21
That was when I knew the lessons of Vietnam were forgotten. bemildred Jun 2014 #23
It was disappointing, but not surprising. ladyVet Jun 2014 #24
The election BEFORE that one was worse. Greybnk48 Jun 2014 #26
So true! Peacetrain Jun 2014 #28
Why didn't you get to vote? Jenoch Jun 2014 #31
I think that election was more about image than issues. dawg Jun 2014 #30
My favorite 1984 election story: gas prices. ieoeja Jun 2014 #32
The talk in the media was that the Dems were mostly done nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #33
What do you mean, "What MUST it HAVE BEEN like....?" It was only 30, not 300, years ago! WinkyDink Jun 2014 #34
one of the darkest days G_j Jun 2014 #36
I voted for Mondale. I hated Reagan. RebelOne Jun 2014 #37
I am still shaking my head that so many people bought... 3catwoman3 Jun 2014 #38
it was the first time I realized there were so many stupid, easily fooled Americans Skittles Jun 2014 #40
Many of whom are still with us... 3catwoman3 Jun 2014 #42
Or 1972 or 1980 WI_DEM Jun 2014 #41
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»What must it have been li...»Reply #25