For one thing, the original punk rock was one of many passing genres that emerged in the late '70s as a backlash against the insincere, corporate formulaic music that was dominant at that time [Disco mostly, but also there were some cash-driven rock bands as well].
We also called it New Wave or New Muzik, whatever. I know, I was there listening to the Ramones, Iggy & the Stooges, Generation X, Television, Talking Heads, Devo, etc.
For the most part, the cultural side of this movement was apolitical -- really was more sure of what it was AGAINST than what it was for. That is, necessarily a transitional stage. Eventually one must step up to the plate and offer cogent analysis leading to solutions [see the website in my tagline].
The political evolution that is described was certainly the case for me personally. I saw even in those days that the Left were not the 'Progressives' they purported themselves to be.
Many of my contemporaries saw them as Medievalist reactionaries who harbor a fundamental disdain for the general population. They are elitists who believe that a cadre of Philosopher Kings should be more equal than others, running a benign tyranny for our own good.
I was deeply impressed by Ronald Reagan's rhetoric and, although he seemed to have little chance of winning [the media was extremely hostile], I voted for him in 1980 at age 21.
This was the beginning of the time when college students were tending to be to the right of their professors. The hippies -- a decade our senior -- were baffled at why we were not going to carry the torch, continuing America's 'progress' toward National Socialism.
A classic representation of their perspective of my generation was the TV show 'Family Ties.' There we had the conniving, greedy Alex Keaton and his airhead sister Mallory. Offering a hopeful 'alternative' [Leftist bromides] was the younger sister [played by Tina Youthers].
Perhaps the author is using the punk rock appelation today, because youngsters now are actually thinking much as we did 20 years ago -- even their music is sounding similar [much more positive and optomistic than the dreary 90s grunge drivel].
Further, today's youngsters are more patriotic than their 30-something elders.
Their reaction to that bafflement was, and continues to be, rage. And they grow ever more baffled at people who, rather than being intimidated by that righteous rage, just turn away, like the author of this piece.
I saw a pole the other day organized by age bracket. It's true. 18-25. YES!
writ good. bravo.
These bands were for the most part nihilistic and or drug-addled (eg: Iggy - "Now I wanna be your dog.", "Fun - I'm gonna get stoned and run around") - hardly embodiments of conservative sensibilities. Television, however, especially Marquee Moon, was great art!
RAMONES
"I'm Against It"
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
I don't like politics
I don't like communists
I don't like games and fun
I don't like anyone
And I'm against...
I don't like Jesus freaks
I don't like circus geeks
I don't like summer and spring
I don't like anything
I don't like sex and drugs
I don't like waterbugs
I don't care about poverty
All I care about is me
And I'm against...
I don't like playing ping pong
I don't like the Viet Cong
I don't like Burger King
I don't like anything
And I'm against...
Well I'm against it
I'm against it
[ www.azlyrics.com ]