General Discussion

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)

1. I wasn't alive then, but my guess...

Fri May 25, 2012, 04:48 AM

May 2012

Trying to juggle the twin agendas of ensuring that Americans were shitting themselves in fear of the "Ruskies" while trying to reassure those same Americans that we would inevitably "win" a nuclear war.

In other words, keeping the commies scary enough that Americans didn't say boo about what the US government was doing, but at the same time trying to keep Americans from thinking too hard about the consequences.

The modern equivalent would be george Dubya's approach; "Be afraid of terrorists! Be very, very afraid! but not so scared you don't go shopping y'all"

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Old timers: Was all the crap that the government put out about nuclear war in the 50s [View all] XemaSab May 2012 OP

I wasn't alive then, but my guess... Scootaloo May 2012 #1

Link inoperable outside of USA dipsydoodle May 2012 #2

The cold war was a reason to spend money on the military industrial complex liberal N proud May 2012 #3

That's right - and Ike knew it... Cooley Hurd May 2012 #4

Actually he did, in terms of spending. hifiguy May 2012 #11

This might provide some insight . . . HughBeaumont May 2012 #5

Our government was going to start that war if communism took hold in western Europe. Warren Stupidity May 2012 #6

herding sheep. CBGLuthier May 2012 #7

My parents always told me... Oilwellian May 2012 #8

They were terrified of Communism, MicaelS May 2012 #9

Fuck the drills. If a warhead is coming in, I'll be standing on the roof giving it a double-bird. HopeHoops May 2012 #10