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 Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

OC375

(730 posts)

17. I was optimistic in the 1970's and early 1980's

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Mon Mar 9, 2026, 03:01 PM

21 hrs ago

We were all going to be pursuing brainy careers in support of whatever bold future Skylab, solar and recycling morphed into, working normal earth jobs... but pushing the world forward as one force, for the good of all.

The pamphlet was misleading, and the generation of "me" prevailed. Needless to say, I'm skeptical of even people I agree with anymore. I'm quite certain that we're only around as a species still, because the rules of very large numbers haven't gotten around to us yet..

Optimism is something to guard carefully, and to be cautious around when others are wielding it, IMHO.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

30 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Aaron Rupar: If you're roughly my age, it's wild to reflect on the optimism for the future Americans felt when Obama [View all] highplainsdem 23 hrs ago OP

I remember being elated when Carter was elected. perfessor 23 hrs ago #1

Carter barely won dsc 22 hrs ago #9

I have NEVER felt such excitement! young_at_heart 23 hrs ago #2

Always a relief... lame54 23 hrs ago #3

I'm so grateful Obama happened during my time on this planet. What great memories. Vinca 23 hrs ago #4

I'm still bewildered by 2016 newdeal2 23 hrs ago #5

It was a triumph of Conservative Media's brainwashing program maxsolomon 22 hrs ago #12

There was Russian interference. Many of us think that election was tampered with. Amaryllis 22 hrs ago #13

I'd say that Russian misinformation all over social media was tampering groundloop 21 hrs ago #15

James Comey. SergeStorms 21 hrs ago #21

I was happy then MustLoveBeagles 22 hrs ago #6

Wild isn't the word I'd use. progressoid 22 hrs ago #7

+1 leftstreet 22 hrs ago #11

Try tampered with. Russia Russia Russia. Amaryllis 22 hrs ago #14

Obama 1/09 on Bush Corruption/War Crimes displacedvermoter 4 hrs ago #27

The Age of Aquarius BidenRocks 22 hrs ago #8

If you're roughly my age BaronChocula 22 hrs ago #10

65 here and it all seems reversed to before I was born. nilram 21 hrs ago #16

I was optimistic in the 1970's and early 1980's OC375 21 hrs ago #17

I was just talking to my wife about this. In the late 60s and early 70s we were incredibly optimistic about the future. Martin68 21 hrs ago #18

Yes, we thought most folks had a common understanding of what we all valued. Didn't work out that way, though. JudyM 13 hrs ago #24

My Reflection modrepub 21 hrs ago #19

Blaming Obama for everything is a favorite DU parlor game so you're not out of line at all. BannonsLiver 22 min ago #30

And the Republican senators refused to BootinUp 21 hrs ago #20

Mitch again. BidenRocks 16 hrs ago #23

He articulated pattyloutwo 19 hrs ago #22

My optimism when Obama was elected was boundless--briefly DFW 10 hrs ago #25

Rush. Beck2 9 hrs ago #26

Obama was elected the year my daughter was born ybbor 57 min ago #28

We were hopeful because we thought there would be real, progressive change. BlueTsunami2018 36 min ago #29