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NativePortlander1970 Here babe, you can go on down the list and go number by number as to why it's wrong. Logically and not nostalgic thanks.
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NativePortlander1970 More about what you said since I realized I only hit on one point but I should address it all because why not?
1. Affordable Housing & Wages
It’s true that in past decades (especially the mid-20th century), someone earning minimum wage could afford a modest apartment.
But that was because
the minimum wage had more purchasing power relative to the cost of living. Over time, wages didn’t keep up with inflation, and housing shortages have driven up rents.
It wasn’t just “making America great” that kept things affordable—it was strong labor unions, government investments in housing, and economic policies that prevented extreme wealth inequality.
2. Crime & "Activist Judges"
Crime was actually higher in past decades than it is now, especially in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The idea that crime was low and always prosecuted is misleading.
Activist judges” is a buzzword, judges have always interpreted laws differently based on the Constitution, precedent, and changing social norms. Courts didn’t suddenly become biased in recent years; legal interpretations have always evolved.
3. Manufacturing & Jobs
The U.S. did have a stronger manufacturing base in the mid-20th century. But jobs started disappearing due to automation, outsourcing, and globalization, not just political decisions
Even
conservative economists acknowledge that free trade agreements and corporate interests contributed to this decline.4. Kids & Social Norms
Yes, kids used to play outside more, but that had less to do with politics and more to do with changes in culture, urban planning, and increased parental fear (often fueled by sensational media coverage of rare crimes).
The idea that teachers “kept their sexuality to themselves” is coded language for recent culture war debates. But teachers have always had personal lives, and LGBTQ+ people have existed throughout history—what’s changed is visibility, not reality.5. Guns & School Shootings
Public schools did teach gun safety in some areas, but that was also in a time when fewer people had access to high-powered firearms.Mass shootings, particularly in schools, have increased significantly in recent decades due to a combination of factors: increased firearm availability, social alienation, media influence, and political radicalization.
The U.S. has always had guns, but it didn’t always have this frequency of mass shootings—that’s the real issue.
6. “Only ONE Ethnicity” & Tribalism
America has always been diverse, and the idea that we used to only see one ethnicity as "American" ignores history.
The U.S. had segregation, discrimination, and laws that specifically targeted certain racial and ethnic groups.
Tribalism didn’t suddenly start in the ‘90s. Political division has existed since the country was founded, from duels in the 1800s to McCarthyism in the 1950s. Reagan and Tip O’Neill may have cooperated, but that doesn’t mean politics were peaceful—Reagan’s era also saw extreme partisanship and social conflicts.The past had some advantages, but it also had serious flaws—racial segregation, suppressed wages, and a lack of rights for many people. Instead of longing for an idealized past, it’s more useful to analyze what actually worked and what didn’t.
