In 1972 I was three years out of the Army and voting in my first stateside election. In 1968 I was stationed Germany and didn't vote in that election. I remember driving over 100 miles round trip to cast my vote for George McGovern. The times were eerily similar to today. In the words of Yogi Berra, "It's deja vu all over again". Follow me below to read why.
I know that most of the Kossacks were alive during this time but many may not remember it due to being too young or too stoned to care. I was one of the peacenik hippies that wanted to see America 'cut and run' from Vietnam. I was definitely onboard for McGovern in 1972.
George McGovern was a sophomore in college when Pearl Harbor was attacked and he dropped out of school to ultimately pilot 35 B-52 missions and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. Just like John Murtha he had honorably defended his country but felt that American was losing the Vietnam war and it was time for a unilateral withdrawal with the single stipulation that all American prisoners of war would be returned to us.
While this was one of the most important planks in the Democratic Platform it wasn't the only one. The country was divided by the war and the country was gripped by skepticism and cynicism towards the political processes in place. I personally felt that the government was run by the priviledged few who had no concern for the majority of citizens. Another one of the planks was that government must regard all citizen's basic needs and that the leaders owe us the truth.
Is any of this sounding familiar?
In 1972 the Democratic Party felt that social institutions should promote the common good for all citizens. The government and it's laws should be applied equally to all and everyone should be protected in thier homes and daily lives. Everyone should be free to speak, think, read, write, worship and live without governmental intrusion. Government is the servant of it's citizens and not the master.
One of the things I felt most strongly about was that war is a waste of human life. Additionally the financial and emotional costs are too great and should be held foremost before engaging in war.
Tax reform was needed to insure equitable distribution of income and wealth and a fair sharing of the cost of government. Loopholes needed to be closed that encouraged the exporting of American jobs by American-controlled multi-national corporations and removal of all unfair and individual tax preferences should be granted.
This was a troubled time and I was totally at odds with the 'establishment'. A lot of what was going on then is the same as what is going on now. I have many of the same feelings now that I did then. The movement was to change the direction that the country was heading in. The hope was that the idea to 'Make love, not war' would carry the day in November 1972. Unfortunately Nixon won in a landslide. McGovern didn't even carry his own home state.
Deja vu is not accurate description of today's political landscape. There are a lot of parallels today but the big difference that I see and feel is the involvement of ordinary citizens in the political process. The netroots and the internet have the capability to change the outcome. The involvement of the little guys and the emergence of people politicians can change our government. It is truly amazing to see how much has changed since 1972 and how much is really just the same.