• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

1985 vs 2015

Was America better off in 1985, or are we better off today in 2015?

  • 1985 was better overall

    Votes: 25 50.0%

  • 2015 is better overall

    Votes: 25 50.0%
  • Total voters
    50
JANFU said:
Culturally? Geo-politically? Economically? In which era were people more optimistic about the future?
Great OP- Everyone looks at then and now in differing ways. The variety of views is wide ranging. I assume that is what you were looking for?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's exactly what I was looking for. It's interesting to hear the viewpoints of people who experienced America back in 1985, because I was just a baby at the time. It's interesting to hear from young people what their perceptions of that era are.

This thread has taken a turn to the cultural.... I'm frankly surprised, but I welcome it. I would have assumed it would turn in to an Obama vs Reagan debate off the bat. In fact, I even dropped a post in there just to see if anyone would bite.

Very interesting to see what people value the most, what they remember the most and what it is that they latch on to that makes one era better, in their opinion, than another.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
We've privatized plenty including such things as prisons, our military, even local municipalities are being sold off to the highest bidder. Things currently pushed to be privatized are our public schools, and postal service.
Click to expand...

They need to privatize public schools. That would improve things vastly.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
It has been tried in Chile. All that's been created is further social stratification.
Click to expand...

Is Chile really a good laboratory for what would happen here? Anyway, is social stratification inherently a bad thing? Seems like a necessary component of capitalism to me.
 
Peter Grimm said:
Is Chile really a good laboratory for what would happen here? Anyway, is social stratification inherently a bad thing? Seems like a necessary component of capitalism to me.
Click to expand...

Social stratification is not something we should admire.

All men and women should be of equal status, no one should be considered infeior.
 
Peter Grimm said:
Is Chile really a good laboratory for what would happen here? Anyway, is social stratification inherently a bad thing? Seems like a necessary component of capitalism to me.
Click to expand...

Why wouldn't it be? That is where privatization was first practiced. If you are looking for further stratification of our society, privatizing our schools will be a hit with you. People complain how our test scores are being brought down by the poor/disadvantaged and give lip service to wanting to change that trend but then talk about privatization that exacerbates the problem. At least you're honest. Not many people would agree with you though. In order to make our country stronger, we need to better educate everyone.
 
Unitedwestand13 said:
Social stratification is not something we should admire.

All men and women should be of equal status, no one should be considered infeior.
Click to expand...

Hmm..the implications of that are interesting.
 
Unitedwestand13 said:
Social stratification is not something we should admire.

All men and women should be of equal status, no one should be considered infeior.
Click to expand...

That's not really what I meant by social stratification. In capitalism, some people rise to the top, and some people sink to the bottom. That, in itself, isn't necessarily bad.... so long as productivity is rewarded.
 
I would say 2015 is considerably better for me, if for no other reason than I don't crap my pants several times a week now.
 
Peter Grimm said:
That's not really what I meant by social stratification. In capitalism, some people rise to the top, and some people sink to the bottom. That, in itself, isn't necessarily bad.... so long as productivity is rewarded.
Click to expand...

It's bad when people at the top decide to close off the opportunities to those below them.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
Why wouldn't it be? That is where privatization was first practiced. If you are looking for further stratification of our society, privatizing our schools will be a hit with you. People complain how our test scores are being brought down by the poor/disadvantaged and give lip service to wanting to change that trend but then talk about privatization that exacerbates the problem. At least you're honest. Not many people would agree with you though. In order to make our country stronger, we need to better educate everyone.
Click to expand...

I believe that in order to make our country stronger, we need underperformers to not hold high achievers back.

I'm not interested in forcing an education down the throats of people who don't really want it, or aren't able/willing to do something with that education.

I would rather those resources be spent giving the best possible education to our best and brightest.
 
Peter Grimm said:
Is Chile really a good laboratory for what would happen here? Anyway, is social stratification inherently a bad thing? Seems like a necessary component of capitalism to me.
Click to expand...

Didn't seem to work out so well for India, particularly if you happen to be in that bottom strata.
 
I am not American but musically it is 1985.
 
Peter Grimm said:
I believe that in order to make our country stronger, we need underperformers to not hold high achievers back.

I'm not interested in forcing an education down the throats of people who don't really want it, or aren't able/willing to do something with that education.

I would rather those resources be spent giving the best possible education to our best and brightest.
Click to expand...

While we send the rest off to private prisons.
 
Peter Grimm said:
I believe that in order to make our country stronger, we need underperformers to not hold high achievers back.

I'm not interested in forcing an education down the throats of people who don't really want it, or aren't able/willing to do something with that education.

I would rather those resources be spent giving the best possible education to our best and brightest.
Click to expand...

The strong shall not harm the weak. That is my principle.
 
The 80's seem like a badass time, to me. From an outsider's perspective. Just seemed like an era where men were men, people had more balls.

The 90's too, to a lesser extent.

The 70's seemed like a time of weakness.

Today, everyone is a pansy. Everyone is so politically correct. Just straight up kicking ass is no longer done. Seems like you need to apologize for being good at something these days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom