Why arent people protesting like they did in the 60s and 70s??

Question

Back in the 60s and 70s when the government and big buisness took advantage of us the people took to the streets in protest. Well things are worse now than they were back then and we are standing by letting it happen. We are letting the government lie to us and we have let big buisness turn us into modern day slaves! Big Buisness has busted almost all of the unions and pays wages that fall well below the poverty line. Min wage in 1970 is equal earning 30,000 a year in todays money! Our government messes up an unjustified war and now wants to pull out leaving an even bigger mess. Yet no mass protests. We all just sit around and try to pretend like nothings wrong. So when are we going to try stop this maddness? Are we really going to wait until its to late?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

The youth that led the protest movement of the 60s and 70s were raised with the values of the 40s and 50s--they were instilled with the notion that nothing comes easy...whether it be overcoming economic hardship, bringing down fascism, or the struggle for civil rights, the only way to accomplish anything is to actually DO something about it.

Unfortunately, as passionate as they were, those youths failed to instill the same ethic in their children. In rejecting their parent's culture, they rejected the good and the bad.

That generation believed they were better than the wars of a less enlightened past....they also thought they could re-write the cultural ethic based on what felt good.

As the next generations grew up in unprecented prosperity, today's entitlement culture was assured. They don't look at the 60s as a time when people worked for change...they see it as a time when people demanded it and got it.

Just as war became something that "other people" did in the post-draft era, activism has become something for other people to take care of on this generations behalf.

Also, if you look at popular culture in the 90s, you'll see a marked increase in the value of cynicism. "Getting involved" was no longer in fashion...instead, those who wanted to appear "in the know" painted themselves as aloof spectators and commentators. In doing so the 'Seinfeld' generation has branded politics as something altogether too "dirty" for them to involve themselves and activism as a waste of their precious time.

Sadly, this is the legacy of the two "boomer" Presidents. 9/11 didn't seem to snap our culture out of its self-absorbed comfort zone.....either did Katrina or (so far) the collapse of our once invincible economy...

Who among the remnants of the "protest culture" of the 60s and 70s, I wonder, will have the courage to step forward and say "maybe we weren't right about everything. Maybe we can learn from those past 'less enlightened' generations."

Whoever it is that attempts to restore the American work ethic better hurry....I fear we are not too far removed from the day that someone hires a day-worker out of the Home Depot parking lot to go out and shake his fist in righteous anger on his/her behalf.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

good answer but it still dosent make me feel good about the future

Answer 2

No one would know if they were because the press doesn't like to cover protests anymore.

Answer 3

The Mexicans did last year. The blacks did a few years before. Whites? Well... they're too busy living their lives and can't get their act together.

Answer 4

Telecommunications Act

Answer 5

I have asked myself that one so many times myself. I guess it comes down to plain old apathy! People rather sit home on their duffs, drink beer, play on the computer, watch those ridiculous "reality shows".

There are lots of people who do question the state of the world but not as many as there used to be. Unfortunately, an awful lot of people are not interested in asking the hard questions or digging for the truth. If it isn't hand-fed to them they don't get it - probably why the world is in such a mess.

Answer 6

Different types of people, different generation. Some people, like Cindy Sheehan tried and was basically ridiculed. Protesting doesn't have the same effect as it used to, and is often seen in a bad light.

Answer 7

Because we have been brainwashed into being a selfish society and as long as it doesn't effect our family no one cares. My brother was in Iraq so I naturally was against the war and I had a idiotic friend who was pro war, pro Bush until his close cousin had to go and died and now he has changed his views.

Answer 8

It's because people realize that not much ever changes, and, just like back then, today's youth will just grow up to be the same miserable people that are in charge now.

Answer 9

The people who were protesting in the 60's are running big businesses today. The sold out to the "man" they hated so much back then.
Why do folks keeping voting the incumbents back into office who are doing such a poor job?

Answer 10

people were a lot tougher then. they believe and stood up for something. nowadays, the younger generation is such wimps that they lack courage. guys dont even have enough balls to stand up against their girlfriends. the ladies are too worried about their nails..

Answer 11

Because revolution is on the internet and within the mainstream media, not in the limited sphere of the streets? There are many people protesting, just not in the antiquated way of gathering in the street for a few hours to get the mainstream media's attention for a few minutes. There are also those fighting from within by getting law degrees or getting involved in politics. People who can affect change don't repeat history, they learn and evolve from it.

Answer 12

Because it's immature and childish? Throwing a fit in public is not the way to effectively change the system. Protests are for the lazy and uneducated. They are a quick fix, feel good, one time event that accomplishes nothing. Getting involved in a meaningful way requires actual work, dedication, and commitment. Three things liberals are unaccustomed to doing.

Answer 13

Simple, that means there would have to be some kind of organization and people seem to be too busy; also the main reason APATHY. And Big Brother is definitely watching-Homeland Security-aka Gestapo. Money makes the world go round to them. Besides look what happened back then with the National Guard and Kent State, not to mention the 68 Democratic convention. They have better weapons now, and way too much surveillance equipment. And to take it to an extreme, just look at Gitmo. BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID.

Source(s):

Old Hippie

Answer 14

there are protests all the time.

Answer 15

The reason for that is that those protesters are all grown up... And their tradition was just not passed on to the youths of to-days world.... And that is the simple truth.... Another thing is that our government nip things in the bud... A lot earlier then they did back in the 60's and 70's.... As well as having greater control of the colleges by make certain form of protesting illegal.................

Answer 16

There are laws against petitioning and rioting. If you are someone that is participating in a march or riot, you can lawfully be arrested because the government has broken down the freedom of speech rights.