Not in terms of policy, perhaps, but in terms of outlook and spirit. That progress would happen was never in question- only how long it would take. Backsliding into Nazi shit was not a possibility. American democrats today routinely say things that would have gotten republicans crucified in the 90s.
To everyone ready to tell me how much worse things were in the 90s- yes, I know- I was a foreigner living in the US during more than half of that decade.
The difference is that the promise of America was still alive then and even those of us who weren’t in the “in group” knew a better world was right around the corner- that shit is dead and buried now.
There was perhaps a naivete around social progress then because economic needs were better met across the board (not for everyone, but on average). The presumption was that social progress would be linear. I was young then so I didn’t know that economic hardship could undo social progress with a snap of the fingers.
The US in the 90s was 500% more woke than today.
Not in terms of policy, perhaps, but in terms of outlook and spirit. That progress would happen was never in question- only how long it would take. Backsliding into Nazi shit was not a possibility. American democrats today routinely say things that would have gotten republicans crucified in the 90s.
To everyone ready to tell me how much worse things were in the 90s- yes, I know- I was a foreigner living in the US during more than half of that decade.
The difference is that the promise of America was still alive then and even those of us who weren’t in the “in group” knew a better world was right around the corner- that shit is dead and buried now.
Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends really demonstrated this very nicely I think.
When he met the Nazis church and guys living off the grid waiting for the new world order it was a warning if what to come.
There was perhaps a naivete around social progress then because economic needs were better met across the board (not for everyone, but on average). The presumption was that social progress would be linear. I was young then so I didn’t know that economic hardship could undo social progress with a snap of the fingers.
yeah, the question wasn’t if, it was when. now it’s back to if.