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That's a hot take you've got there, and probably going to get downvoted to oblivion, but I'm curious about some of these points: > community networking functio

That's a hot take you've got there, and probably going to get downvoted to oblivion, but I'm curious about some of these points: > community networking functions, allowing for local problem solving and support that is somewhat extinct now What are you referring to in particular? Community booster orgs? The PTA? > Did we gain women's freedom at the cost of strong and good families? Were families really that better off? I think back to the 50's and all I see is things like alcoholism, racism, parochialism, and insularity. I also see a world in the aftermath of WW2, where all other global-scale economies were devastated, save for the US, and could afford to pay husbands fantastic wages while mom stayed home and ran the house; those salaries aren't a reality now.

bdamm 7y ago
> Community booster orgs? The PTA? Yes, yes, and.. social networks. You know, the kind where people call each other and make plans like play dates and canning sessions. These days that seems to be only available to the upper middle class. All of it is still here, but weaker, less pervasive, and unavailable to many. > Were families really that better off? You're absolutely correct, and to answer that requires better and more data than I even know how to look at. The 50's is maybe not even the best time to evaluate since the suburban boom was creating some of these problems for the first time, too. How many families were really doing well, vs how many families were struggling? Perhaps the data would show that in fact it's better for families that women can choose either (or even in exceptional cases, both) paths. The good news is that this subject is not as taboo as I'd feared, the comment is not being obliterated. > alcoholism There is no evidence I can find that shows we are any better off now than we were in the 50's with regards to alcoholism. In fact, according to [1] and [2], we appear to be in a low point of per-capital consumption, similar to a low that occurred in the late 1950's. [1] https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/30-38.htm https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/30-38.htm [2] https://vinepair.com/articles/americas-consumption-beer-wine-spirits-since/ https://vinepair.com/articles/americas-consumption-beer-wine...
jimbokun 7y ago
> I think back to the 50's and all I see is things like alcoholism, racism, parochialism, and insularity. Good thing none of those exist any more!

bdamm 7y ago

> Community booster orgs? The PTA? Yes, yes, and.. social networks. You know, the kind where people call each other and make plans like play dates and canning sessions. These days that seems to be only available to the upper middle class. All of it is still here, but weaker, less pervasive, and unavailable to many. > Were families really that better off? You're absolutely correct, and to answer that requires better and more data than I even know how to look at. The 50's is maybe not even the best time to evaluate since the suburban boom was creating some of these problems for the first time, too. How many families were really doing well, vs how many families were struggling? Perhaps the data would show that in fact it's better for families that women can choose either (or even in exceptional cases, both) paths. The good news is that this subject is not as taboo as I'd feared, the comment is not being obliterated. > alcoholism There is no evidence I can find that shows we are any better off now than we were in the 50's with regards to alcoholism. In fact, according to [1] and [2], we appear to be in a low point of per-capital consumption, similar to a low that occurred in the late 1950's. [1] https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/30-38.htm https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-1/30-38.htm [2] https://vinepair.com/articles/americas-consumption-beer-wine-spirits-since/ https://vinepair.com/articles/americas-consumption-beer-wine...

jimbokun 7y ago

> I think back to the 50's and all I see is things like alcoholism, racism, parochialism, and insularity. Good thing none of those exist any more!