The '60s revolution was about personal "liberation." Recreational sex? "Make love, not war." Drugs? "Whatever turns you on." Teachers, parents and police? "Challenge authority."
The '60s also launched the War on Poverty. Though well-intentioned, it created incentives for self-destructive behavior such as out-of-wedlock childbearing and welfare dependence. Its mantra was that the poor are victims without responsibilities, whose behavior has nothing to do with their plight.
7.18.2005
Our own Santorum.
Last week, Sen. Rick Santorum opined that "it's no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm" of clergy sexual abuse. Rick, meet Katherine. The conservative Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten is blaming gang crime on "the debilitating attitudes of the '60s," which were brought to us by liberal "intellectuals, lawyers, and entertainment executives" (!). In a column where she offers no indication that she's discussed poverty with actual poor people, gang members, or victims, she pinpoints the real problems—welfare and sexual freedom:
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And just in case you're still unsure that Sen. Santorum's a raving right-wing lunatic, here's his definition of child molestation.
I had the very same thought about the connection between Kersten and Santorum's apparent thought process.
I mentioned this in my letter to the Strib which they published today.
TalkLeft, which linked to this post, has an interesting comment thread on the topic...
The letter Anonymous mentions above:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/563/5513158-2.html
Economy has changed
Blaming liberal attitudes that grew out of the '60s for problems with gang violence is a sentiment that Sen. Rick Santorum would surely love.
Rather than blame amorphous cultural forces that, among other things, helped end the war in Vietnam and supported the civil rights movement, we should look at some other things that have also changed since the '60s.
A college education has become so expensive and financial aid grants so small (in favor of loans) that it isn't even a realistic option for many poor students.
The massive loss of manufacturing jobs to outsourcing has left a gaping hole in inner cities. Poorer students who finish high school have few options to earn a living wage.
For all of us, real wages adjusted for inflation have been stagnant since the '70s, and the inequality between the rich and poor continues to grow.
While there is no excuse for gang violence, wishing for a return to the 1950s doesn't solve the underlying economic reasons for poverty and hopelessness that are the breeding ground for gangs.
Chris McGreevy, Minneapolis.
Thanks, Chris.
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