Posted on 05/01/2011 1:47:31 PM PDT by ransomnote
And did the post-WWII prosperity that lasted into the 1970s rely very heavily on the narrowness of women’s roles? (My conclusive answer: Yes, and no.)
Jim Manzi begins to identify with some elements in Paul Krugman’s nostalgia for the blessings of suburbia; Megan McArdle reminds us that the subjection of women underlay a lot of the good times.
I’d point out that the freedom enjoyed by kids before all their time was overly structured may have had to do with the fact that they were considered human beings in the fifties, sixties, and seventies, rather than fragile glass figurines that had to be packed in polystyrene peanuts. Or, alternately, as blank slates upon which Important Things Had To Be Written by Designated Culture-Transmitters right away, before it was too late!
Here’s Megan, who begins by quoting Manzi:
The safety and freedom that Krugman describe are rare now even for the wealthiest Americans – by age 9, I would typically leave the house on a Saturday morning on my bike, tell my parents I was “going out to play,” and not return until dinner; at age 10, would go down to the ocean to swim with friends without supervision all day; and at age 11 would play flashlight tag across dozens of yards for hours after dark. And the sense of equality was real, too. Some people definitely had bigger houses and more things than others, but our lives were remarkably similar. We all went to the same schools together, played on the same teams together, and watched the same TV shows. The idea of having, or being, “help” seemed like something from old movies about another time.
(Excerpt) Read more at littlemissattila.com ...
I grew up poor and don’t like to blow money if I don’t need to.
Well I grew up reading Von Mises and Milton Friedman.
My parents never spent their money, and now I spend every dime I earn.
I received an excellent education.
Also I was EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT. Nobody had to explain to me that if you spend more than you earn you run out of money.
My childhood covered the 50’s and some of the 60’s. My Mom read Ayn Rand {from the Library}, Dad was in Community theatre & despised “tail-gunner Joe” and Then-Senator Nixon.
I came out Libertarian {Heinlein fringe}, Tea Party and Freeper.
Go Figure!
Someone here once posted a list of self-contradictions by Paul Krugman. Maybe it is time to repost it.
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.