I Was There When it Really Began to Take Off

[Chasstev365]

Being in college from 1983 - 1987, I witnessed my peers decide that making money was the only thing that mattered and by embracing Reagan Conservatism, it was OK and acceptable to be completely selfish.

The scary thing is that this is a mild attitude compared to the Trump supporters of today, who not only are selfish, but have decided it's OK to be openly racist, sexist, homophobic, and xenophobic.

We got here due to St. Ronnie!

[pkdu]

1. ..and Thatcher in the UK...same pandering to the worst in human nature to get just enough votes. nt

[AnnieBW]

2. Me, too

Although, going to an all-women's college seemed to be a different experience. However, I know that a lot of the guys at our brother school were more into making money than anything else. Mostly, they were rich assholes.

[dhol82]

3. Wasn't Gordon Gekko the big hero those days?

[DURHAM D]

4. As an older student I returned to college in 1980

and was stunned at the thinking of the students 20 years younger than myself. Selfish is the perfect description.


Their theory went something like this: The pie is shrinking and I don't want just my share, I want all the shares and care not about anyone else.

Speaking of self-important and entitled...the first time I heard a student ask a Professor if something would be on the test I gasped but to my amazement the professor answered the question. The professors always answered the question. When I told people my age about this phenomena they couldn't believe me so they asked their own kids. Their kids confirmed this practice and insisted that it was only fair because they didn't need to waste time on something they would not be tested on. The parent's reaction was always general concern that their kids were not getting a good education. No shit.

[Bettie]

5. I graduated high school in 1984

and I kind of felt like the window of opportunity slammed shut on my fingers during that time.

That is when a few big changes happened. The biggest one was that was when being a basically ethical person turned from an asset to a flaw.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. THAT explains it..

I spent most of the 1980's living without tv/radio, on some land far away from most people, so missed the whole Ronnie thing.
Had no idea what the economy was doing.

Thanks for the explanation.

[Chasstev365]

7. Are you being sarcastic?

Thanks for responding to my post with the sole purpose of shitting on it!

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. No, I was not being sarcastic...

I lived on a 15 acre farm on Whidbey Island, in the Pac. NW, was in a self sufficient mode, help start the still running Farmer's market in Freeland, had a well, wood stove, had chickens, ducks, and little money. Did not have a tv or newspaper, was in a get away from it all mood.
I had spent the previous 10 years of the 70's being very politically and socially active, and I was burned out, so the offer of the land was just what I needed at the time.

I appreciate your asking for clarification, but not for you assuming my intention in my reply.

[Chasstev365]

10. You're Right; Sorry about that!

[Chasstev365]

11. It sounded like you were mocking me, but I took the wrong way

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Thank you.

Ironic that after that experience I ended up moving to Fla. and then here to Ala. for immersion in red state politics. Aaaackkk.

[Jake Stern]

8. Ironically the pandering to the hard right started by Ronnie and company

has led to the point that Reagan himself would be called a RINO and cuck by today's conservatives.

Truth be told I doubt even Dubya would stand a chance in the current Tea Party/Alt-Right infested GOP.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. But shrub DID lower the intelligence bar, so he gets some unwanted credit for our Moron -elect.

and, because of Shrub, there was such a backlash against Jeb!...which actually is a good thing.

[Jake Stern]

14. As much as I would vastly prefer a D in the White House, given the current situation

I'd rather be staring down a Bush/Kasich/Romney admin than the coming Trumpofascist one Not only do we get rebooted Fuhrer but we also get Ted Cruz on steroids in the form of Mike Pence.