Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why does the 1970s get painted as such a bad decade?
BBC ^ | 4/16/12 | BBC

Posted on 02/05/2024 3:40:25 PM PST by DallasBiff

Of all post-war decades, the 1970s has undoubtedly had the worst press, but the truth is that most ordinary families in 1970s Britain were better off than ever, writes historian Dominic Sandbrook.

The 1950s are symbolised by the television and the washing machine, which transformed the lives of so many families.

We misremember the 1960s as the decade of the Mini, which was actually invented in 1959, the mini-skirt, which surprisingly few women actually wore, and the Pill, which most women never took. We remember the 1980s as the decade of gigantic hair, shoulder-pads, the Filofax and the home computer.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: 1970s; 70s; history; islamofascism; islamofascists; jimmycarter; muchbettermusic; music; oilembargo; opec; opecembargo; opecoilembargo
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181 next last
To: DallasBiff
Because it was awful. For us, the disgraceful abandonment of our allies in South Vietnam and Iran (thanks, Democrats), a coup d'etat of an elected president (thanks again, MF's), Carter/hyper-inflation and interest rates/"malaise" (need I repeat myself?). To top it off, several of the most bitter cold winters on record. The 80's were like a burst of warm sunshine.
21 posted on 02/05/2024 3:52:51 PM PST by katana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

Britain blew it when the Tories chose Ted Heath over Enoch Powell.


22 posted on 02/05/2024 3:53:53 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cgbg

High unemployment, high interest rates, high inflation.

Just like today without the high unemployment but I think they skew the numbers now.

I was 10 to 20 years old that decade. As a teen I didn’t care. I had a job at a local grocery store, small town in Ark., a car, a hot girlfriend, good movies and music.


23 posted on 02/05/2024 3:54:45 PM PST by Fledermaus (Is it me, or all of a sudden have the buried trolls come out on FR like cicadas? It's all noise.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff
It wasn't all bad...


24 posted on 02/05/2024 3:55:02 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

We misremember the 1960s as the decade of the Mini, which was actually invented in 1959 …
Wow, so much for the IQ level at the BBC.

The Mini (originally sold as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor) might have originally been sold in 1959 (prototype dates to 1957), but that year saw only 8,000 cars bought; sales were much greater during the 1960s decade.
25 posted on 02/05/2024 3:55:28 PM PST by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

This is why the '70s were bad.

26 posted on 02/05/2024 3:56:20 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

The 60s ran from about 1963 -1973, the 70s seemed bland and the left was taking a wrecking ball to America.

Reagan had been on steady march to the presidency since at least 1964.

Reagan became California Governor in 1967 ran for presidential nomination in 1968, California Governor again in 1970, just barely missed the GOP nomination after midnite in 1976, and took the presidency in 1980, the 1984 election was the first that all the boomers were old enough to vote for president.


27 posted on 02/05/2024 3:56:57 PM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff
Because they upped the amount you had to pay into SS from three to twelve and a half percent?

Because interest rates were 20%?

Because we had gas lines, price controls and a Hate America First President?

28 posted on 02/05/2024 3:57:30 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear ( In a quaint alleyway, they graciously signaled for a vehicle on the main road to lead the way. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff
Why was it a bad decade? I blame these people. And the clothes they wore.

 

Brady Bunch Clothes - Blogs & Forums

29 posted on 02/05/2024 3:57:51 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (A truth that’s told with bad intent, Beats all the lies you can invent ~ Wm. Blake)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ansel12
the left was taking a wrecking ball to America.

No difference from the '20s, starting with George Floyd riots.

30 posted on 02/05/2024 3:57:59 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Mears
Mini skirts were in early 60's. I know, I was there!😎

Flying used to be fun too!


31 posted on 02/05/2024 4:00:17 PM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Just as the left’s replacement immigration started in the 1840s,


32 posted on 02/05/2024 4:01:11 PM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

Jimmah Cawtuh, gas lines, disco, and shag carpeting.


33 posted on 02/05/2024 4:01:22 PM PST by bigbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

Wasn’t a better decade to grow up in. Really.


34 posted on 02/05/2024 4:01:39 PM PST by blackdog ((Z28.310) Be careful what you say. Your refrigerator may be listening & reporting you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

The song You Light Up My Life. There’s one reason.


35 posted on 02/05/2024 4:03:23 PM PST by cotton1706
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff
One of my fav old pics I took of The Pacific Mall, Santa Cruz, 1972. Hare Krishnas

scan0136

36 posted on 02/05/2024 4:04:34 PM PST by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

It all started with that damn Tiki in Hawaii.


37 posted on 02/05/2024 4:04:53 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

Getting drafted and killed kinda sucked.


38 posted on 02/05/2024 4:05:49 PM PST by hardspunned (Former DC GOP globalist stooge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Nixon gave us EPA, OSHA, and banned DDT among outrages.


39 posted on 02/05/2024 4:06:59 PM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

In the 70s the previous two decades of rapid growth of real median income came to a halt due to inflation. Social mobility nearly stopped. Unemployment reached postwar highs.

Underneath everything, its all economics.


40 posted on 02/05/2024 4:08:11 PM PST by buwaya (Strategic imperatives )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson