I think the era from 1956 through 1965. We had won WWII. Korea was over. Brown vs. Board of Ed had been decided and the civil rights movement was at its peak and we were yet to be drowning in Vietnam.
6
For my family and me it was 2015. I remember the day the Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage and that was a day or so after their ruling on Obamacare. It was the week when my children; a student, contract workers knew that they would keep/get health insurance. Prior to Obamacare they didn't have or couldn't afford health insurance. The ruling on gay marriage finally acknowledged that people are free to marry the people they love no matter whom that is. My sister and her partner of 10 years are able to enjoy the benefits of marriage that were not available to them prior to that ruling. I believe that the outcome of both of these court decisions allow individuals the freedom to live fuller lives. Being able to purchase affordable insurance allows a person freedom to realize their dreams of owning their own business, work part-time, or whatever without being tied to a job simply for the health insurance.
6
I suspect Trump is referring the last half of the 40's. [1946-49].
We had just won WWII. GI's we're going to college for free under Va benefits.
We had the atomic bomb when no one else did -
the most powerful nation on Earth.
Incomes taxes were indexed to 90% which the rich paid.
The economy was booming because of the shortages of the war and there was a lot of pent-up demand. Everything was made in the U.S.A. by Union workers.
Zenith, RCA, Admiral, Dumont, couldn't make TV's fast enough for about $100. The suburbs were born with LEVITTIWN.
When you went to the doctor the bill was sent to the company you worked for and you never heard about it again. No insurance to deal with.
Cars were in high demand since none had been built since 1941.
some example prices:
Car: $1,550, Gasoline: 26 cents/gal House: $13,500, Bread: 14 cents/loaf, Milk: 86 cents/gal, Postage Stamp: 3 cents, Stock Market: 177,
Average Annual Salary: $3,600, Minimum Wage: 40 cents per hour
We had just won WWII. GI's we're going to college for free under Va benefits.
We had the atomic bomb when no one else did -
the most powerful nation on Earth.
Incomes taxes were indexed to 90% which the rich paid.
The economy was booming because of the shortages of the war and there was a lot of pent-up demand. Everything was made in the U.S.A. by Union workers.
Zenith, RCA, Admiral, Dumont, couldn't make TV's fast enough for about $100. The suburbs were born with LEVITTIWN.
When you went to the doctor the bill was sent to the company you worked for and you never heard about it again. No insurance to deal with.
Cars were in high demand since none had been built since 1941.
some example prices:
Car: $1,550, Gasoline: 26 cents/gal House: $13,500, Bread: 14 cents/loaf, Milk: 86 cents/gal, Postage Stamp: 3 cents, Stock Market: 177,
Average Annual Salary: $3,600, Minimum Wage: 40 cents per hour
6
On the basis of the Case-Shiller 20 city house price index prices started to rise in 1997 and continued to rise right through the 2001 recession until flattening out in 2006.
For many Americans (myself included) America was great when they could afford to buy a house in a good neighborhood (characterized by the usual measures) within a reasonable commute distance from work. This cease to exist circa 2000-2003 in many metro areas. Families earning less than $70000 (well below medium household income at that time) were increasingly priced out of the market - this was especially true for those who did in rising markets.
For all intents and purposes the American dream disappeared for young people, first time home buyers or those for what ever reason moved from a non-inflated to inflated housing market after the housing price bubble.
It's all about those who were disenfranchised because of the housing price bubble.
For many Americans (myself included) America was great when they could afford to buy a house in a good neighborhood (characterized by the usual measures) within a reasonable commute distance from work. This cease to exist circa 2000-2003 in many metro areas. Families earning less than $70000 (well below medium household income at that time) were increasingly priced out of the market - this was especially true for those who did in rising markets.
For all intents and purposes the American dream disappeared for young people, first time home buyers or those for what ever reason moved from a non-inflated to inflated housing market after the housing price bubble.
It's all about those who were disenfranchised because of the housing price bubble.
2
1946. Enough said.
2
If you were, like Jefferson, Washington, etc, a rich white owner of black slaves, then the antebellum years of America probably had a great appeal.
If you were one of the slaves, particularly a slave who worked from dawn to dusk in the fields, or had an especially cruel master or mistress, America would have been hell on earth.
If you were one of the slaves, particularly a slave who worked from dawn to dusk in the fields, or had an especially cruel master or mistress, America would have been hell on earth.
4
2004. Sox bust The Curse.
4
America was greater when there wasn't such a gap between rich and poor. A country is never at its "greatest" because there's always room for improvement in any country (unless the country in question is Utopia), but the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots is moving this country in the wrong direction.
7
1945. We were the only country that had The Bomb.
2
We have had our ups and downs for several hundred years but I cannot think of a better year than 2008. With a coalition of whites and minorities, we elected a man created by the union of a Black man and a White woman to be President of our Country. As an 84 year old white male I am proud to have been part of the coalition that elected President Obama both times. Yes, there have been great events in our history but the symbolism of that election has made us great in the eyes of the World. From this, I believe the best is yet to come.
11
The last year before the income tax (1912), which was used to finance the country's past century of bloated military spending and foreign interventions. The world was largely at peace, neither Communism for Fascism existed yet, and the country's possibilities seemed limitless.
9
The KKK was also at the peak of its popularity.
4
Silliness!
The most any year garners in most of the graphs is about 8%, by often more like 4%.
You definitely blew it! This is a clear case where some artful histogram with well chosen binning would have conveyed the patterns better.
For example, group the results by decades-- or, by presidential terms-- say, the Reagan years and the Clinton years-- and you'd start to get more meaningful results.
Another far more enlightening data presentation would have been a "nostalgia" estimate-- taking into account respondents age and how many years back they picked? I.e., not a specific year, but do people routinely pick a year or years from 10 or 20 years earlier -- or, from their teens, their 30s, etc.
Look forward to seeing s repeat of the column but with histograms by decades, terms, and years earlier!
The most any year garners in most of the graphs is about 8%, by often more like 4%.
You definitely blew it! This is a clear case where some artful histogram with well chosen binning would have conveyed the patterns better.
For example, group the results by decades-- or, by presidential terms-- say, the Reagan years and the Clinton years-- and you'd start to get more meaningful results.
Another far more enlightening data presentation would have been a "nostalgia" estimate-- taking into account respondents age and how many years back they picked? I.e., not a specific year, but do people routinely pick a year or years from 10 or 20 years earlier -- or, from their teens, their 30s, etc.
Look forward to seeing s repeat of the column but with histograms by decades, terms, and years earlier!
11
1776 doesn't count?
6
In the late 60s, early 70s, when we led the world in manned space exploration. We learned that humankind could, in fact, reach for the stars. Then, we threw it all away. Maybe, some day during my lifetime, there will be humans on Mars, but they could have been there for almost 40 years, and we would think of ourselves much differently today if we had actual evidence that we had a different destiny that was way beyond life here on earth.
We need to remember that, at the end of the 19th Century, the British could justly claim that the sun never set on their empire. After being on the victorious side of two world wars in the first half of the 20th Century, the British soon lost their empire and are now a mere shadow of their former self. When you stop striving and become mired down in short term issues at the expense of long term progress, you lose the future. We are about to do that.
We are worrying about people not having enough when most of us today, even the poorest in this country, live far better than people generally lived even 100 years ago. We should be building our future not wallowing in our present. We will always have people who have less than others, but we will all be better off if we keep moving forward aggressively towards an ultimate destiny, which we know now could be colonization of the universe. So, it is not just American greatness, but human greatness that needs to be addressed. American should lead this effort.
We need to remember that, at the end of the 19th Century, the British could justly claim that the sun never set on their empire. After being on the victorious side of two world wars in the first half of the 20th Century, the British soon lost their empire and are now a mere shadow of their former self. When you stop striving and become mired down in short term issues at the expense of long term progress, you lose the future. We are about to do that.
We are worrying about people not having enough when most of us today, even the poorest in this country, live far better than people generally lived even 100 years ago. We should be building our future not wallowing in our present. We will always have people who have less than others, but we will all be better off if we keep moving forward aggressively towards an ultimate destiny, which we know now could be colonization of the universe. So, it is not just American greatness, but human greatness that needs to be addressed. American should lead this effort.
8
The postwar period from 1945 to 1960. After WW@, America had over half the world's industrial capacity. We made our own steel, refined our own oil, and exported everything from toasters to television sets to automobiles all over the world. It was an unprecedented era of economic growth and prosperity. Americans held jobs nearly all their lives, almost all households had two parents, and there were affordable mortgages for returning servicemen. There were no food stamps, Medicaid payments, or rent supplements -- the poor were taken care of by charities and churches -- yet no one starved or froze to death because they were homeless. Even in an era of regrettable segregation, blacks had a higher rate of employment and home ownership and much lower rates of illegitimacy, crime, and incarceration than they have since.
9
Ah yes, the 1950s, when the marginal tax rate on the wealthy was 70%, there were strong labor unions and strong support for them, and college was largely free, paid by wealthy taxpayers thanks to the GI Bill. The 1950s, when massive taxes paid for massive infrastructure (like our highway system) -- all jobs created by the government, paid for by the wealthy. No one was shipping jobs overseas, the wealthy paid their fair share of taxes, and the minimum wage was enough to support a family.
I'd like that era back, too. That's why I'm voting for Bernie Sanders.
I'd like that era back, too. That's why I'm voting for Bernie Sanders.
11
In '73 we passed Roe v. Wade, got rid of Nixon, ended the draft and made at stab at really confronting our own imperialism. By '82 we'd given up the dream, succumbed to greed and ignorance and elected Reagan. It's gotta' be somewhere in there.
4
And what about differences of opinion by race and/or ethnic differences? I bet most African Americans or Latinos did not picked the 1950's ir 1960's as great years. 2000 was the beginning of a new decade and a promise that went sour when the attacks happened. Nostalgia is a tricky perspective on history.
7
In 1969, humanity reached beyond itself and journeyed to another world.
That journey was engineered, led and accomplished by Americans. I can think of no prouder moment in this country's history when our ingenuity, persistence and hard work paid off so well.
Since then, we've been in slow decline. Our schools don't graduate anyone remotely capable of such work. Our corporations, that once promised cradle to grave security, treat employees like slaves and "surplus" them at their convenience. The civil rights movement has degenerated into a shakedown.
Personally I dislike Trump, but I can certainly identify with the anger that's fueled his campaign. Unfortunately, those days are gone forever.
That journey was engineered, led and accomplished by Americans. I can think of no prouder moment in this country's history when our ingenuity, persistence and hard work paid off so well.
Since then, we've been in slow decline. Our schools don't graduate anyone remotely capable of such work. Our corporations, that once promised cradle to grave security, treat employees like slaves and "surplus" them at their convenience. The civil rights movement has degenerated into a shakedown.
Personally I dislike Trump, but I can certainly identify with the anger that's fueled his campaign. Unfortunately, those days are gone forever.
7
Life has always stunk.
4
Janet Swanborn, you sound like you live life to the fullest!
5
I would say the year 2000 was the last time America was great. In the 90s the Cold war had ended and unemployment was so low employers were begging for workers. But after 2000 the effects of China's admittance into the WTO and NAFTA trade disasters were just beginning to effect the middle and working classes. I see 9/11 as a symbol of America's decline and the beginning of the end of the optimism around the American Dream. This country will never be the same.
3
"More than 2 percent of Trump’s supporters picked 2015, when Mr. Trump’s campaign began."
It's ok to say that 2 percent of respondents didn't understand the question.
It's ok to say that 2 percent of respondents didn't understand the question.
4
April 20, 2016
this article fails to account for the fact that most Democrats are younger and most Republicans are much older. it's obvious why each group picked their year.
1996. I still had all my hair.
3
America was great before Obama became president. He promoted free hand outs rather than creating jobs, he put more constraints in rules and regulations so there aren't any capitalists or free economy, enterprises moving out of country for tax reasons. We cannot even compete with a single country Ireland where many companies moved there for tax advantages. Democrats only know how to restrain productivities. I'm a minority and immigrant to be clear. I didn't come here to see people lost their motivation and doing nothing. Because there is no punishment when you play safe.
2
That race and race relations is not a critical, mutually understood part of this curious article proves that we refuse to understand that we needed a still unfinished revolution just to allow minorities and women the right to vote, hold jobs and own property. We are in terrible trouble because we still cannot accept our birth defect. We started out badly--nattering about equality and then taking hundreds of years to consider actually believing in it. We've been crippled by all this for centuries. Our current state of psychotic nostalgia and ridiculous oblivion is our greatest threat. Better days are ahead if we can conquer our childish need to pretend.
5
The American Dream was built on optimism - that we would move forward to build a more perfect union, that our children and their children would have a progressively better future. America's greatest year - that's in the future - it's that optimism and idealism coupled with hard work and a willingness to address our flaws and overcome our challenges that has and will continue to make America great. Those who look to glory days of the past - like the Tea Party types and the angry, blame others (instead of looking in the mirror) white voters that are the base of the Republican Party, in general, and Trump voters, in particular, are destined to live in the past - a fictionalized past that never existed to cover up their whining, self-victimhood, lack of skills and intellect to compete in the global marketplace, fear-mongering, violence and bigotry - make America less great. Fortunately, the demographics are on the side of Americans who will continue to make this a great country.
5
On one hand, it is a silly question. What does "great" mean to most people in this context? I don't know. Most powerful? Strongest economically? Militarily mighty? Diverse, equal and free?
So many Americans are happy to settle for part of the promise and potential of the US and that is just sad. There are so many problems we have yet to confront, much less solve but I still believe our best year is 2016, with 2017 holding the same potential to make us a better version of ourselves. Our challenges are complex and difficult and sometimes overwhelming, without a doubt. But I believe that every day we don't succumb to "good enough," every day someone stands up for what he or she believes, every time a small victory lifts someone up, we are closer to reaching greatness.
The idea is to learn and grow from the past, not lie about the embarrassing parts and invent an America that never was. That hopey, changy thing is working, step by step. Next year will be better than this and the one after ever better. as long as we look out for each other in all aspects of life.
So many Americans are happy to settle for part of the promise and potential of the US and that is just sad. There are so many problems we have yet to confront, much less solve but I still believe our best year is 2016, with 2017 holding the same potential to make us a better version of ourselves. Our challenges are complex and difficult and sometimes overwhelming, without a doubt. But I believe that every day we don't succumb to "good enough," every day someone stands up for what he or she believes, every time a small victory lifts someone up, we are closer to reaching greatness.
The idea is to learn and grow from the past, not lie about the embarrassing parts and invent an America that never was. That hopey, changy thing is working, step by step. Next year will be better than this and the one after ever better. as long as we look out for each other in all aspects of life.
8
Please. Conservatives are always looking backwards...to that kinder, simpler "time that was"... to a yesteryear when things were "so much better".
Take a time machine back to the supposed better days and the conservatives at that time would be clamoring for "that time that was". Dial back the time machine to go back even further and the conservatives you'd meet would be pining for "the good ol' days when things were so much better"
They never were what they were. Living for an imagined past that never was, is a fool's errand.
Liberals/progressives are the ones who advance society.
#proudunabashedliberal
Take a time machine back to the supposed better days and the conservatives at that time would be clamoring for "that time that was". Dial back the time machine to go back even further and the conservatives you'd meet would be pining for "the good ol' days when things were so much better"
They never were what they were. Living for an imagined past that never was, is a fool's errand.
Liberals/progressives are the ones who advance society.
#proudunabashedliberal
15
Liberals and progressives have done wonders in Detroit, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Memphis....the list goes on and on
1
I wonder if anyone remembers what the tax rates were in the 50s and 60s... When this country was thriving... Including the middle class... Those making $400,000 and more... 85%...80%...75%.....
11
What's not great about the United States ?
5
Investigate 9/11...make America great again!
1
Despite the great recession, 2008 was an incredible year. The Obama campaign captured my heart and soul, bringing back a feeling I hadn't experienced since May 1968 with the Bobby Kennedy campaign. When President-Elect Obama and his family took the stage in Grant Park on election night, it brought tears to my eyes. It was a magical moment for the country.
16
There are way too many factors involved. Maybe the best years were those following the War of 1812. It was known as the "era of good feelings" and the biggest smudge on the landscape was slavery. The brief era from 1964 to 1966 created the end of de jure segregation and the birth of the Great Society. Viet Nam killed the latter and the "southern strategy" finished civil rights in not in name but in practice. Overall, my bet is for the first 4 years of Theodore Roosevelt's presidency.
2
"Maybe the best years were those following the War of 1812. It was known as the "era of good feelings" and the biggest smudge on the landscape was slavery."
And the Indian Wars.
Bad times for brown people indeed.
And the Indian Wars.
Bad times for brown people indeed.
1
I think we should stop trying to be a GREAT country and just try to be GOOD one again. A good country means to me one that:
Provides reasonable self-defense but does NOT start unnecessary wars which are the ethical equivalent of international murder.
Allows for free-enterprise, but NOT to the point of a plutocratic oligarchy, & provides reasonable safety nets.
Where politicians compromise.
Politicians are honest & hesitant to recommend wars when they never served themselves.
Prohibit late term abortions, but leave the responsibility otherwise to the people involved.
People believe in ethics & morality again & sincere religion & humanism, not superficial superstitious hypocrisy.
Money becomes an insignificant factor in politics.
People respect science.
Civil rights are preserved but not to the point of reverse discrimination & political correctness.
That'll do for now.
Provides reasonable self-defense but does NOT start unnecessary wars which are the ethical equivalent of international murder.
Allows for free-enterprise, but NOT to the point of a plutocratic oligarchy, & provides reasonable safety nets.
Where politicians compromise.
Politicians are honest & hesitant to recommend wars when they never served themselves.
Prohibit late term abortions, but leave the responsibility otherwise to the people involved.
People believe in ethics & morality again & sincere religion & humanism, not superficial superstitious hypocrisy.
Money becomes an insignificant factor in politics.
People respect science.
Civil rights are preserved but not to the point of reverse discrimination & political correctness.
That'll do for now.
42
I think I 'm going to create 500 new accounts so I can upvote this comment the appropriate number of times
9
best comment I've seen. I think ever.
6
Prior to 1492, when the process of savagely massacring the indigenous people and stealing their land while labeling them 'savages' began. Before millions of Africans were dragged to the United States to be forced into slavery and treated worse than dogs, a practice which their descendants are still experiencing. Before American imperialism began with the Monroe Doctrine and still carries on today. Before the idiotic gun laws, the mass incarcerations, and the crazy campaign finance laws. Back when the original inhabitants lived in harmony with nature which they both respected and revered; the lost America so brilliantly described in the final pages of The Great Gadsby.
5
Before Europeans arrived in the Americas, Native Americans were conquering each other, fighting and sacrificing hundreds of thousands in religious ceremonies. The myth that it was a peaceful Garden of Eden is Left-wing bunk.
3
In the Year Two Thousand:
"In one of the most negative, ruthless presidential campaigns ever, candidates will run ads accusing their opponents of coming up with the idea for Jar-Jar Binks. Computers will be convinced that it is the year is 1900. They will support President McKinley, grow handlebar mustaches, and crack the heads of the filthy Irish. A teenage boy will smoke his first marijuana cigarette, within an hour he will laugh at the thought of a horse riding a jockey, instead of the other way around. "
Good job, Conan! Nailed it.
"In one of the most negative, ruthless presidential campaigns ever, candidates will run ads accusing their opponents of coming up with the idea for Jar-Jar Binks. Computers will be convinced that it is the year is 1900. They will support President McKinley, grow handlebar mustaches, and crack the heads of the filthy Irish. A teenage boy will smoke his first marijuana cigarette, within an hour he will laugh at the thought of a horse riding a jockey, instead of the other way around. "
Good job, Conan! Nailed it.
1
I can say what year was one of the globe's worst:
1937.
Fascism on the rise in Japan, Italy and Germany. The bombing of Guernica, and few things about which to be optimistic.
1937.
Fascism on the rise in Japan, Italy and Germany. The bombing of Guernica, and few things about which to be optimistic.
1
1789, when the Constitution was ratified. It's been downhill ever since.
2
From every graph, just at a glance, it seems that the best years were always when we had a Democrat in the White House! Even the Republicans and Trump supporters seem to agree!
I see that they were great approximately early sixties ( the Kennedy era), and the end of the Clinton era ( notice that it's Before GW arrived) and finally the Obama era.
I see that they were great approximately early sixties ( the Kennedy era), and the end of the Clinton era ( notice that it's Before GW arrived) and finally the Obama era.
2
1933.
The end of Prohibition.
The beginning of FDR.
The end of Prohibition.
The beginning of FDR.
10
A "democracy" in which about half of the adult population has no real voice in government is a farce. Therefore I think 1920 was America's greatest year because that's when ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment made it illegal throughout the entire country to prohibit women from voting.
Of course, disenfranchisement of minorities and the poor is now rampant in many parts of our country, so let's see how far Donald Trump will at least *say* he's willing to go to eliminate this blatantly unpatriotic, un-American practice. Who could honestly call America "great" if we continue to make it ever more difficult for certain demographic groups to vote? What's "great" about bigotry and bullying?
Over to you, Mr. Trump.
Of course, disenfranchisement of minorities and the poor is now rampant in many parts of our country, so let's see how far Donald Trump will at least *say* he's willing to go to eliminate this blatantly unpatriotic, un-American practice. Who could honestly call America "great" if we continue to make it ever more difficult for certain demographic groups to vote? What's "great" about bigotry and bullying?
Over to you, Mr. Trump.
3
Which Trump supporters did you poll, not nearly enough. Our greatest days are not today since for say race relations we are back (or worse) than the 60's. Our economy is a bad as it has been outside of a large recession and has little to no chance of providing jobs for our citizens. Our culture is under attack from many directions, including too many illegal or others that don't respect the constitution, opportunity based economy, or other core attributes of America when it was great. It is not too late to turn it around but it will take a lot of hard work.
" race relations we are back (or worse) than the 60's"
I feel that your idea of good race relations are when black people shut up about their actual situation.
I don't feel that race relations have gone downhill or changed drastically in the past few decades.
The only changes have been how loudly black and brown people speak out, and some white people (a minority in my opinion) can't tolerate that and therefore feel the need to complain about "the relationship".
It's not the relationship. It's you.
I feel that your idea of good race relations are when black people shut up about their actual situation.
I don't feel that race relations have gone downhill or changed drastically in the past few decades.
The only changes have been how loudly black and brown people speak out, and some white people (a minority in my opinion) can't tolerate that and therefore feel the need to complain about "the relationship".
It's not the relationship. It's you.
1
The Fifties for sure. Harry Truman and big dreams.
1
Nobody has so far mentioned the 'greatness' of America with regards to foreign intervention.
It would be interesting to poll those in SE Asia, the middle east, central and south America, the Caribbean, Africa, or almost anywhere actually about when they thought the USA was 'great'. Europeans may vote for the 40's and 50's. I am not sure a positive answer about greatness would be received from anywhere else for any time.
It would be interesting to poll those in SE Asia, the middle east, central and south America, the Caribbean, Africa, or almost anywhere actually about when they thought the USA was 'great'. Europeans may vote for the 40's and 50's. I am not sure a positive answer about greatness would be received from anywhere else for any time.
2
This work is very poor in delving into gender differences, age effect, level education is missing, geographic location is missing. This subject matter is far too important to leave it as is.
1
I'd have to say now. Any year before two years ago I would be just another unknown (Trans)woman making it through a life of dealing with slurs and hatred.
Fast forward to today, and PayPal is boycotting North Carolina for their recent discrimination laws against me using the bathroom. I can get health insurance that actually helps me transition. I can get married to who I want, and I am much more accepted and supported by the wider community.
Maybe the 50s were great for white men, but they were horrible for every other group. LGBT people could be thrown in jail just for being who they are in the 50s. Women slaved all day housewifing to support their master, Mr. Man. Indeed, that sounds like an Orwellian nightmare to me.
Fast forward to today, and PayPal is boycotting North Carolina for their recent discrimination laws against me using the bathroom. I can get health insurance that actually helps me transition. I can get married to who I want, and I am much more accepted and supported by the wider community.
Maybe the 50s were great for white men, but they were horrible for every other group. LGBT people could be thrown in jail just for being who they are in the 50s. Women slaved all day housewifing to support their master, Mr. Man. Indeed, that sounds like an Orwellian nightmare to me.
14
Egypt still struggling to rebuild after America's "help". Libya still in chaos. Syria still bleeding people fleeing the proxy war the US has been driving...
The economy for pretty much everyone outside Wall Street and the Beltway has been rough, with each year a new record for real wage disparities.
Over a thousand shootings in Chicago, while the guy in the White House holds the city's gun control up as a model for the nation and he speaks of racist cops being the issue. Over 1000 shot, 4 involved the police. There's a huge cognitive problem focusing on those four.
I suppose for single-issue people, the choice of year would be different.
The economy for pretty much everyone outside Wall Street and the Beltway has been rough, with each year a new record for real wage disparities.
Over a thousand shootings in Chicago, while the guy in the White House holds the city's gun control up as a model for the nation and he speaks of racist cops being the issue. Over 1000 shot, 4 involved the police. There's a huge cognitive problem focusing on those four.
I suppose for single-issue people, the choice of year would be different.
3
Yeah well in the 50s thousands of Americans died in Korea, and thousands of Africans died in various wars if independence. In the 60s thousands of Americans died in Vietnam, millions of Chinese died under Mao, and the people under Soviet rule. In the 70s, thousands of Americans died in Vietnam again, while the Middle East descended into chaos. In the 80s, FARC killed tens of thousands, Iraq and Iran slaughtered each other, and CA equipped Afghanistan mujahadeen died in the thousands killing Russians. In the 90s, the former Yugoslav states fell into anarchy, thousands died. Oh and the US destroyed Iraq in 100 days. Then the 00s, thousands of Americans died in Iraq and Afghanistan, while Iraq was destroyed for the second time . Now, we have Syria and ISIS.
My point being, the world was horrible for some group of people at every point in history. My "single-issue" affects pretty much every minute of my day, so yeah, it's pretty important to me.
Also, beyond the rest of the world being nuts as usual, in Colorado life is great. 2.9% unemployment, wage growth and good jobs, and respect for me and my people. Progress on many issues sounds great, but I'd still chose now with an optimistic view of the future.
My point being, the world was horrible for some group of people at every point in history. My "single-issue" affects pretty much every minute of my day, so yeah, it's pretty important to me.
Also, beyond the rest of the world being nuts as usual, in Colorado life is great. 2.9% unemployment, wage growth and good jobs, and respect for me and my people. Progress on many issues sounds great, but I'd still chose now with an optimistic view of the future.
2
1983, when the Star Wars trilogy was a set of three movies that had yet to be bowdlerized by George Lucas's endless attempts to digitally spruce them up. Yes, I know this is a weak argument, but so is the idea that we can make our country just like it used to be if we do things the same way we did back then, whether in 1983 or any other year. It's okay to be nostalgic, but not to let nostalgia dictate our public policy.
3
1999. That was the year when the Federal Government had a surplus and before the Republican Party decided to give all the money to the wealthy with obscene tax cuts, and then fight two wars.
This country is suffering for those misguided decisions by the GOP!
This country is suffering for those misguided decisions by the GOP!
32
I think the experience of "'greatness" varies very much by who it was living it.
While the 1950's might well be considered to have been a time when the US was at its best, with manufacturing surging, the economy growing, soldiers home from the war starting families, etc. I'm not so sure it was so great for blacks experiencing segregation and low opportunities. It was pretty great for white males, but for females, with limited career opportunities, it wasn't necessarily all that great.
And so on, really, at different periods, it all depends on who was experiencing it. But in some ways, even though I can't personally vouch for it, I suspect the 1950's overall were a time of "greatness" and unity for this country that we haven't had since.
While the 1950's might well be considered to have been a time when the US was at its best, with manufacturing surging, the economy growing, soldiers home from the war starting families, etc. I'm not so sure it was so great for blacks experiencing segregation and low opportunities. It was pretty great for white males, but for females, with limited career opportunities, it wasn't necessarily all that great.
And so on, really, at different periods, it all depends on who was experiencing it. But in some ways, even though I can't personally vouch for it, I suspect the 1950's overall were a time of "greatness" and unity for this country that we haven't had since.
7
America has never been great. Our food is terrible, we are overly militaristic, we are overweight, we don't take care of each other, we are often too loud, our best art comes from the people we shun the most, we are rich but only at the top, we export silliness everywhere, and we are constantly congratulating ourselves. The only thing great is that we aren't quite as bad as some really messed up places in the world. I'm going to run for president with the slogan, "make America not quite so crappy".
39
It's all relative. I was a kid in the 50s in Iowa. Can't imagine a better time to have grown up. But the Clinton years were the best as an adult. It's been downhill since.
6
What they mean is back when it would have been unthinkable for a black man to even run for president, much less win. Twice. We all know that is what they mean, right? We just don't want to admit it.
11
"Things aren't like they used to be and they never were".
6
It’s totally subjective, isn’t it?
1
1976. I was 19 and had a summer job paving roads in New Hampshire. I lived in a college town (where I also went to college - but not that summer - I was working, in shape, and really really tanned). The town was full of kids going to summer school so, every evening after working in the sun, we'd go to the beach, swim and wash up, and then go out to the bars or fraternity houses which had all been rented out to co-eds. The Red Sox were winning (although they didn't win in the end) Jim Rice was hitting home runs and the Yankees were losing (that did not last). We could drink, show up for work tired (sometimes hung over - oh my gosh, can you say that today? - we were abusing substances and sometimes smoking cigarettes too), we'd be fully revived by 9:00 break, and go out again that evening. It was without question the greatest America has ever been - really, it was as good as the world has ever been. If Donald Trump can make that happen again for me - and I really mean this people - I will vote for him twice!
12
For me it was the mid-90s: I was in my twenties, had a fun job with a lot of flexibility and local travel (.87 gas!), and good friends. I was single and carefree, my grandparents and my dad were still alive and (mostly) well, and my friends and I could head down to New Orleans on a whim (and often did). I was blissfully clueless about politics. I had a fun car, a great figure and fabulous hair. I also drank and smoked too much, and showed terrible judgment regarding men and money. But man, I sure had fun. :)
So my vote is for 1994.
So my vote is for 1994.
1
In what is obviously a meaningless finding, that pushed the meaning of irrelevant data to a height that baffles me. Most people don't know who even was president 6 years ago much less any arbitrary year in our past. First lets analyze the frequency from random pickings, then lets remove known selectivity biases (people like round numbers, numbers close to a personally significant event, dates they can associate with the minute number if historical events they actually know something about, etc, etc, etc.), then lets ask the fundamental question of whether its a year or a span or a period or events that are meaningfully logged in a persons construct of the good old days when America was whatever (number 1? Wealthiest? Most powerful? Most just? Equitable? Least racist? Kindest to its children? Elderly? Poor? Common this is a ridiculous attempt to give meaning to numbers that they cannot have!!!!
3
America's greatest years are still to come. My favorite scenario - Mr. Trump wins the nomination while fracturing the Republican party, which fails spectacularly in the Nov. 2016 election, sweeping out the Republican Senate majority and greatly narrowing the Republican House majority. Recognizing that their platform, candidates, and ideas are all strongly rejected, the Republicans do a real soul-searching reassessment of their current 'party before country, politics before patriotism' attitude, and rededicate themselves to being a real partner with the Democrats in solving America's problems for *all* Americans. With this new dedication to making government work, to making government part of the solution, America's greatest years are ahead of us. I know, a fantasy, but is it really -that- improbable in a year where Donald Trump is a serious presidential candidate?
7
Please tell me what "greatest" means-most at peace, most powerful, fairest, wealthiest, most influential? And who cares?
At any rate, in September, 1945, the US may have been the most powerful of any country at any time since the peak of the British Empire.
At any rate, in September, 1945, the US may have been the most powerful of any country at any time since the peak of the British Empire.
3
Fairest? Maybe only for white, straight, Christian males.
5
I think America's greatest year was probably sometime before 1492. Things went downhill pretty rapidly after that.
11
Pre- Hate Radio and Fox News were the Golden Years we didnt know about until catching on that they were poisoning the American Public Well 24/7.
I think realistically we have to realize that there are great things about every age and we need to aim for more of those and minimize the negative things.
I think realistically we have to realize that there are great things about every age and we need to aim for more of those and minimize the negative things.
9
I think the turning point was the arrival of personal computers. TV did not turn out to be as destructive as forecast, but computers are another story.
3
For those choosing the 50's or 60's, remember: no cell phones. One screen at the movie theater. Supermarkets half the size. AM radio only. Three, maybe four television choices. No internet. Houses about half as big as today. Corded tools only. Help Wanted ads said "No Women". Pat Boone tops the Hit Parade.
Yeah, those are the days I want to go back to.
Yeah, those are the days I want to go back to.
5
It's the winter of 1944/45 and the 101st. Airborne are taking on multiple SS Panzer divisions in the Ardennes. America has come through four years of war and with its allies have almost almost defeated the Axis powers in Europe and the Pacific. America is united by a cause, not divided and polarised as it is now.
6
Were Native Americans asked their opinion of "when was America greatest"? No? Hmmmm...
4
This has been, without a doubt, my best year so far...
1
Isn't it time to stop letting Donald Trump define the conversation? I realize this article is being slightly ironic, but really? I thought the media had entered some sort of self-reflective mode where they are realizing that all of the excessive attention they have given to he-who-should-not-be-named has only enabled and fueled this megalomaniacal escapade. Can we not declare a Trump-free zone?
3
My professor for a Mark Twain course thought that the end of the 19th century fit the bill.
Not me, though. I actually like the world today, as long as you're not in the Middle East.
People pining for the 1950s don't seem to appreciate that the US's relative power, shortly after the end of WW2, wasn't sustainable. Nor should it have been; you'd hope that the world would recover from devastation like that.
Not me, though. I actually like the world today, as long as you're not in the Middle East.
People pining for the 1950s don't seem to appreciate that the US's relative power, shortly after the end of WW2, wasn't sustainable. Nor should it have been; you'd hope that the world would recover from devastation like that.
4
1945. Victory over fascism.
3
Back when Malibu was undiscovered and you could paddle out with a couple of friends and enjoy the waves all alone. Heaven!
5
There's no such thing as "the good old days."
2
The good old days are spelled Y-O-U-T-H
5
"Great", like "luck", is a relative term. The eruption of Krakatoa, for instance, was ''great". Lucky thing for western civilizations it happened quite a ways away. In 1859 the sun belted out a great solar storm that fried parts of what great electronic infrastructure there was at the time. Lucky thing the telegraph didn't make use of the great advancements in microprocessors to come about one hundred years later, because if we are lucky enough to be hit by a comparable storm of equal greatness our luck will be in great dollops of short supply.
Why not the worst years, times from which we have improved?
The most recent was 2009, the start of the Great Recession. One could pick a year before getting to 2001 - the low point in the Iraq War when Bush had no clue. 1974 a truly awful year on any basis, and the whole period going back to 1968. Before that is ancient history - let the historians decide.
The most recent was 2009, the start of the Great Recession. One could pick a year before getting to 2001 - the low point in the Iraq War when Bush had no clue. 1974 a truly awful year on any basis, and the whole period going back to 1968. Before that is ancient history - let the historians decide.
Many seem to agree on 1974 as a bad year. But a good congress was elected.
I'm 65 and have been following politics since the 1956 election when I was 5, but more seriously since 1960.
When I was a child, I was a fan of Ike (still am), Nixon (who I have disliked since 1970) and Goldwater (who I like personally but no longer like politically).
When I wad a child I disliked JFK and LBJ, but since the early 1970's, have greatly respected what they did or try to do (except for their Vietnam war, and their hostility towards Cuba). I never thought Bill Clinton was a good President. I like Obama.
That said, the USA was at its peak 1965-1968 and 1940-1948.
When I was a child, I was a fan of Ike (still am), Nixon (who I have disliked since 1970) and Goldwater (who I like personally but no longer like politically).
When I wad a child I disliked JFK and LBJ, but since the early 1970's, have greatly respected what they did or try to do (except for their Vietnam war, and their hostility towards Cuba). I never thought Bill Clinton was a good President. I like Obama.
That said, the USA was at its peak 1965-1968 and 1940-1948.
4
How can anyone say that this country was greatest before we had things like the Civil Rights Act or Medicare? We had greater wealth equality in the 1950s, but it was also a period when anything "troublesome" was swept under the rug. For example, I was in high school then, and there were no gays among the student body or the faculty. They were all hiding in the closet.
In my lifetime I must say that the best period was the late 1990s. The economy was good (until the tech bubble burst); we were adding jobs; we were not at war. Then came 9/11 and George W. Bush. Oh well!
In my lifetime I must say that the best period was the late 1990s. The economy was good (until the tech bubble burst); we were adding jobs; we were not at war. Then came 9/11 and George W. Bush. Oh well!
16
I had a discussion with an older woman--I'll call her Mom--who insisted that the world was a better place when she was growing up than it is now. Even after I reminded her that she grew up during the Great Depression and World War II. Nostalgia is a powerful emotion.
8
Socially, now is best. Economically, before the nineties when everything was more affordable such as housing, higher education, food, cars, etc. Before all the Bane Capitals of the world, before all the mergers and monopolies and when people actually had pensions. Before compromise on Congress was a four letter word.
22
In many ways, I think I would have preferred living 50 years ago (fewer people and motorized vehicles, more wild spaces) but my thinking along those lines hits a wall when I consider medical advances in the last 50 years and that fact that women, people of color, and the LGBT community were so much worse off 50 years ago than they are now.
13
I was around 50 years ago and while I understand your sentiment, here is what I remember about those days: smog that burned eyes and lungs, a black hill of oil down the middle of every lane. Acid rain. Racism was openly practiced. Blue collar white people could buy a house but blue collar any-other-color could not. That's the 60's I remember.
7
I miss the simplicity of the Cold War. Bring back the '80s. Nothing makes other countries love America more than seeing a worse alternative with 156 divisions.
7
It's any year you want it to be. The question itself is subjective - there is no objective criteria on which to make a judgement. And, frankly, how great any year is is entirely up to the individual. Stuff happens all the time. It's how you choose to react to it -- as well as how much you decide to "take the bull by the horns" -- that ultimately makes the difference and answers the question.
3
A more interesting approach to this question might be to ask residents of various foreign countries their opinions of when America was at its greatest...our allies and our enemies. Anyone who has spent any meaningful time working outside the States quickly realizes that as opposed to being at the center of our own universe, in a global setting the USA is just one of perhaps eighty-five countries out there doing business. This may upset some of the big egos stateside, but it is a reality. Let's face it. We really can't be great without foreign buyers for our products; nor can they. If there is a time out there when the opinions of our greatness dovetails with our own, that might be interesting to hear about. It's a thing called admiration.
3
A rare GREAT opinion piece here @NYT
1) Funny how EVERY group picks 2000, when Clinton handed off the GWB/Cheney a Government actually running a 'seeming' surplus
Not really much of a *REAL* surplus, since most of it came from treating excess FICA contributions 'as if' they were General-Government-Revenues
Lying Kasich likes to boast about how HE & the GOP paid down half-a-Trillion in debt. TRUTH= without raiding SS-Trustfunds, the real amount was a couple hundred $Billion; and over 4 years, that was only peanuts
2) Lying Bernie likes to keep claiming that we are the richest nation on earth.
TRUTH= We are the 'Brokest' Country in the history of humanity,
Wallstreet, & our Billionaires are the richest on earth, our healthcare industry has the highest profits on earth, & etc
-The last time we were actually the *richest* was in the 50s & 60s. Most of the advanced countries on Earth were destroyed from WWII. The Marshall Plan *loaned* them money to buy American Goods & Services
-Big Business was dominated by Loyal US Companies before the rise of Multinational Corpratism, arose with loyalty only to the 1%
-In the US, everything was great if you were a white, male
-Eisenhower/Truman paid down a *huge* portion of our WWII debt
-There was a lot of slack for Govt-Spending when LBJ started raiding the SS=TrustFunds for Vietnam, Great-Society, & MoonShot {THAT, not JFK TaxCuts was responsible for 60s Growth, plus the rise of MainFrames & Transistors}
1) Funny how EVERY group picks 2000, when Clinton handed off the GWB/Cheney a Government actually running a 'seeming' surplus
Not really much of a *REAL* surplus, since most of it came from treating excess FICA contributions 'as if' they were General-Government-Revenues
Lying Kasich likes to boast about how HE & the GOP paid down half-a-Trillion in debt. TRUTH= without raiding SS-Trustfunds, the real amount was a couple hundred $Billion; and over 4 years, that was only peanuts
2) Lying Bernie likes to keep claiming that we are the richest nation on earth.
TRUTH= We are the 'Brokest' Country in the history of humanity,
Wallstreet, & our Billionaires are the richest on earth, our healthcare industry has the highest profits on earth, & etc
-The last time we were actually the *richest* was in the 50s & 60s. Most of the advanced countries on Earth were destroyed from WWII. The Marshall Plan *loaned* them money to buy American Goods & Services
-Big Business was dominated by Loyal US Companies before the rise of Multinational Corpratism, arose with loyalty only to the 1%
-In the US, everything was great if you were a white, male
-Eisenhower/Truman paid down a *huge* portion of our WWII debt
-There was a lot of slack for Govt-Spending when LBJ started raiding the SS=TrustFunds for Vietnam, Great-Society, & MoonShot {THAT, not JFK TaxCuts was responsible for 60s Growth, plus the rise of MainFrames & Transistors}
5
My guess would be 1969 when Apollo 11 landed men on the moon. From 1961 when Kennedy said that our national goal would be to land a man on the moon and bring him back safely to its actual conclusion was 8 years. Talk about the advance of technology in an age that most people now consider PRIMITIVE.
what has America done in 8 years that can match that? Nothing much I'm afraid.
Yes, there was an accumulation of scientific knowledge from early in the 30's to the 60's but we have nothing now that beats that, unless you are thinking how Wall St crashed the economy in about the same amount of time.
I'm sure for some people it doesn't hold a candle to what their iphone can do but they lack imagination in the extreme.
what has America done in 8 years that can match that? Nothing much I'm afraid.
Yes, there was an accumulation of scientific knowledge from early in the 30's to the 60's but we have nothing now that beats that, unless you are thinking how Wall St crashed the economy in about the same amount of time.
I'm sure for some people it doesn't hold a candle to what their iphone can do but they lack imagination in the extreme.
4
There has been a lot of accumulated scientific knowledge, especially in the area of biology. And it is pretty awesome that anyone can communicate with virtually anyone else on the planet, for nearly nothing.
Don't get me wrong, going to the moon was incredibly cool. But Apollo 11 wasn't the pinnacle of human civilization.
Don't get me wrong, going to the moon was incredibly cool. But Apollo 11 wasn't the pinnacle of human civilization.
1
America's best days are still to come but 2000 might have been the peak year for The New York Times.
3
I'm in shock that 1970 was ranked so much higher than this year. In 1970 we had: the Cambodian incursion, the Kent State shootings, the PFLP hijacking of four aircraft, Spiro Agnew as VP, and an American toll in the Vietnam War (that year alone) of 6,173 dead. I'll let others comment on other "highly rated" years.
10
What I liked and still respect about the 70s was the strong influence of the opinions of young people who dreamed of a better world for everyone. Interesting to see how much influence young Americans have on issues in this election cycle. I may not agree with everything I'm hearing some of them espouse, but it's quite a throwback moment. What if we had been able to achieve those goals then? What if they can achieve theirs now? History repeats in amazing ways but I'd really like to see some actual progress!
2
The 60's were the years when the influence of the "youthquake" peaked. By the 70's the boomers had sold out the "revolution" to make fortunes for themselves off cheap third world labor and party while Rome (or at least New York) burned. Having bled the economy dry and brought on ecological catastrophe, they ride off into the sunset congratulating themselves on all the "social progress" they have made. Wonder what our children enslaved by student loan debt or those who barely survive despite having three jobs think about "greatness" in America?
The article and even more so the comments point out the genius in the slogan. Each of us has our own idea of what " great again" means. Kinda like hope and change. Didn't Obama once say that folks attributed to him things they were looking for? So, for each it was his hope, his change.
1
America was the greatest back in "the good old days". And for most everyone, "the good old days" were when we were kids. Kids have no idea what "the bad old days" are yet. So for kids today, America is at the greatest right now...however, if elected, I'm sure Mr. Trump will do his best to change that.
3
Trump: Define 'greatest'.
1
The time for nostalgia is when as a nation you have a lot to look back upon but nothing to look forward too. I don't think the US is there yet and god willing will never have to face that option. We in the UK are already there and have been in this position for a number of years.
This survey is biased to the extent that people are more likely to rate an era higher if they've lived in it themselves. . .so there is a bias toward later rather than earlier eras. There should be a way to factor that out
With that in mind I agree with mm068 below except to say that the greatest era lasted from the end of WWll through the mid-60's.
From The Greatest Generation:
"They answered the call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded on every front. They won the war; they saved the world. They came home to joyous and short-lived celebrations and immediately began the task of rebuilding their lives and the world they wanted. They married in record numbers and gave birth to another distinctive generation, the Baby Boomers. A grateful nation made it possible for more of them to attend college than any society had ever educated, anywhere. They gave the world new science, literature, art, industry, and economic strength unparalleled in the long curve of history. As they now reach the twilight of their adventurous and productive lives, they remain, for the most part, exceptionally modest.
It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced."
With that in mind I agree with mm068 below except to say that the greatest era lasted from the end of WWll through the mid-60's.
From The Greatest Generation:
"They answered the call to save the world from the two most powerful and ruthless military machines ever assembled, instruments of conquest in the hands of fascist maniacs. They faced great odds and a late start, but they did not protest. They succeeded on every front. They won the war; they saved the world. They came home to joyous and short-lived celebrations and immediately began the task of rebuilding their lives and the world they wanted. They married in record numbers and gave birth to another distinctive generation, the Baby Boomers. A grateful nation made it possible for more of them to attend college than any society had ever educated, anywhere. They gave the world new science, literature, art, industry, and economic strength unparalleled in the long curve of history. As they now reach the twilight of their adventurous and productive lives, they remain, for the most part, exceptionally modest.
It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced."
6
Great if you were a white guy.
4
To Donald Trump, America's greatest year must be 1968 when he was given a "small" One Million dollars free loan from his father to make the business debut in Manhattan. And Donald has no shame to say that he started out poor!
America can not be great again without being crushed and toppled down first. Try to imagine America's rise in the last 150 years, and the pains it inflicted upon itself (the Civil War) and others (foreign wars like Mexican, Spanish, Philippine, WWI, WWII, Korean war, Vietnam war, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and many others in between). And how many millions of innocent foreigners were killed, bombed, shot, burned, starved, tortured, raped, nuked, by the "great" Americans.
Only when people rise from the ashes, does the sweet taste of "beating against the odds" survival victory make you feel great again.
America can not be great again without being crushed and toppled down first. Try to imagine America's rise in the last 150 years, and the pains it inflicted upon itself (the Civil War) and others (foreign wars like Mexican, Spanish, Philippine, WWI, WWII, Korean war, Vietnam war, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and many others in between). And how many millions of innocent foreigners were killed, bombed, shot, burned, starved, tortured, raped, nuked, by the "great" Americans.
Only when people rise from the ashes, does the sweet taste of "beating against the odds" survival victory make you feel great again.
I thought it was 'Make America Hate Again'.
4
Great is a very relative moment in time and how do you measure it? While I would like more aspects of life to be improved I would not want to go back to some previous time. As in most things you make choices and you adapt to the consequences you learn what works and what doesn't. Things sometimes improve and sometimes they don't. You cannot step back in time no matter how you perceive those times they probably were not as great as you imagine them but only different. The challenge is to take the now and fashion it into tomorrow. This will only happen if we all work together if we all accept each other and respect each other. Shall we say it is time to love your neighbor as yourself. Time to build a world where there is more equality. Time to value people less for their accumulation of wealth but for how they aid the group as a whole. Time yet to be great as we move to the future.
15
When was America greatest? 1491. For obvious reasons.
83
The date, July 20, 1969. The time, 8:18 PM GMT.
We dared to do great things. No longer.
We dared to do great things. No longer.
5
My Dad would say, as his first born, Nov 5 1968 my birthday--so even more specific. It also happened to be when Richard Nixon was elected. This made my Dad, at the time, doubly happy.
3
No surprise that Trump supporters yearn most for the mid-1960s, when white American men ruled the roost, there were few environmental regulations, we were killing people by the bushel full in Vietnam in the name of Democracy, and a high-school education got you a good job at the factory.
8
1955-1965: roughly from the end of the korean war and the collapse of mccarythyism to the civil rights, voting rights, anti-poverty and medicare/medicaid legislation -- and the birth of modern feminism (friedan, steinem, etc.).
along the way: computers, space, infrastructure buildout, standard of living, flower power, counterculture, black power, black pride, flowering of rock 'n roll, european & american filmmaking, the great urban cultures of new york, san francisco and los angeles, LSD and leary: turn on, tune in and drop out. the sixties, baby!
along the way: computers, space, infrastructure buildout, standard of living, flower power, counterculture, black power, black pride, flowering of rock 'n roll, european & american filmmaking, the great urban cultures of new york, san francisco and los angeles, LSD and leary: turn on, tune in and drop out. the sixties, baby!
7
I wish I could read the "America's Greatest Year, According to All Americans (Including History Buffs)", but I can't make out the years because the bars are too thin. Not America's greatest info graphic... oh well!
1
What is greatness? In terms of world standing plus optimism, 1945 stands out. Sure, there were very many problems then, but it was the dawn of can-do America.
It was also the dawn of the cold war and the continuation of racism propagated by the Democratic party pf the day but taken over by Nixonian Republicans.
Which part of that moment of greatness should we emulate today? The growth of the middle class or of the wealthy class? The ongoing advance of medical science or the unrestrained profits of the pharmaceutical industry?
No matter what, at that moment, long before McCarthyism and rampant billionaires, we stood on a pinnacle as a nation. I doubt that we have ever stood so tall since.
It was also the dawn of the cold war and the continuation of racism propagated by the Democratic party pf the day but taken over by Nixonian Republicans.
Which part of that moment of greatness should we emulate today? The growth of the middle class or of the wealthy class? The ongoing advance of medical science or the unrestrained profits of the pharmaceutical industry?
No matter what, at that moment, long before McCarthyism and rampant billionaires, we stood on a pinnacle as a nation. I doubt that we have ever stood so tall since.
1
Americans are such individualists. I'm guessing most of these answers are based on what the respondent's idea of which years were best for THEM (or what they thought would have been best for them had they been born yet), without regard to anyone else.
2
Silly poll! Everyone has a reason for choosing a good year. It could be because they got married or had a child or got a job. I guess the better poll is to ask the reason why they thought that it was a great year for the US. But then again it would be difficult to graph such a poll. My best year '86, I met my beautiful wife of 30 years!
12
Why the year 2000? Here, it says, "Bill Clinton was president that year, but George W. Bush won the election to replace him." I hope that at some point we will make the historical record correct and say, "Bill Clinton was president that year, and the Supreme Court appointed George W. Bush to replace him." Truly a high point in the American past.
6
Hear, hear. 2000 was the start of a harrowing century for America; we will find out just how harrowing when the results of the 2016 presidential election are known.
1
People have such short memories and are so ignorant of the past. "2000 was America's greatest year because it's a round number and we hadn't been attacked yet." Huh? And as if we never were attacked before? No doubt most of these people could not name a crucial event before 2000. I have a few candidates: 1776, 1789, 1803, 1865, 1945, 1969. Let's do a poll asking Americans what important, "great" events happened in those years. As always, please, no wagering.
2
I don't think we have seen America's greatest year yet. Maybe we never will. For centuries visionaries have described what our greatest year will look like. A year where the barriers between class, race, gender, and religion finally drop away. A year when all our children will get the same quality education and all our parents will get to enjoy their retirement without economic hardship. A year to remember what our true American values are and to hold to them, no matter the price.
When I see all of that, then I'll be ready to tell you when America's greatest year was.
When I see all of that, then I'll be ready to tell you when America's greatest year was.
24
America was greatest, at least for the middle class, prior to 1980. Then Reagan destroyed the middle class.
7
I vote for whatever year America gains enough confidence in itself not to have to ask what its greatest year was.
33
I always thought that Trump's slogan, "Make America great again," implies that America is not great now. The fact that whatever past his slogan refers to is left undefined is exactly like the rest of his campaign: Undefined. His followers are filling in the blanks themselves. The fact is, no one knows how Trump would govern. I choose not to leave America's future to chance.
8
Finally! a glimpse into what the heck "make America great again" means! Of course this is so highly personal as to be 100% subjective. The 1940's and 50's were sweet--IF you were white! and IF you were not dead or mangled from WW2 and Korea--two of the worst wars ever. I told my 82 yo friend about this and he laughed hard--"the 40s and 50's were hell! Now is much better!" in fact--Americans are safer now than at anytime in the past.
Trump's stupid slogan is meaningless. and really says "make America WHITE again." I believe Trump is mad as hell that a black man has way more power than he does! (yes-he IS a racist--or not "politically correct" as his fans say) In fact--Trump owes his sudden popularity to 8 years with our first black president. We are witnessing a "blowback" effect---all the latent racism has emerged--and we see it's grotesque face at Trump's rallies....
Trump's stupid slogan is meaningless. and really says "make America WHITE again." I believe Trump is mad as hell that a black man has way more power than he does! (yes-he IS a racist--or not "politically correct" as his fans say) In fact--Trump owes his sudden popularity to 8 years with our first black president. We are witnessing a "blowback" effect---all the latent racism has emerged--and we see it's grotesque face at Trump's rallies....
9
In 1950, 1 in 20 Americans were employed by General Motors. Take a good look at the huge industries that gave Americans good jobs in history.
1
I wish there was an age of responder vs. response plot. I'm curious how many people answered a year from their childhood, high school, college (often described as the best years of a persons life). How many people answered a year they weren't even alive or coherent for? How many responses have absolutely nothing to do with the state of the union, but rather with the amount of fun someone was having or the amount of money they were making?
1
75% of Republicans say life was better in the mid 1960's?? My guess is that these people were either not alive or were children then. (Childhood is generally more carefree than adulthood.) They certainly weren't old enough to worry about being drafted and be sent to fight a useless war. And they must have been too young to notice the horrible air pollution - including that from leaded gasoline, as well as the polluted lakes and rivers.
These numbers would have more relevance if interviewees could choose only a time through which they had lived as a relatively cognizant individual.
If those who chose the 1960's actually lived through them (and not as a child), then clearly that pollution had lasting effects.
These numbers would have more relevance if interviewees could choose only a time through which they had lived as a relatively cognizant individual.
If those who chose the 1960's actually lived through them (and not as a child), then clearly that pollution had lasting effects.
1
Look at any historic photograph of an American town, city or rural place in 1945 and then see the same place today. Decline, abandonment, defacement, defilement, sprawl and ugliness all around is the USA in 2016.
Ask yourself if you prefer to live in a time when people worked at all types of jobs, when streets were safe, when schools were good, when men and women dressed with modesty and behaved with propriety.
America, at the end of WWII was indeed the world's leader in every measurement of political and economic well being. We possessed the atomic bomb, but we had also just defeated Fascism, overcome the Depression, built fantastic public works projects. Our trains ran on time, our highways were unclogged and smoothly paved. We counted on our mail delivery, our telephone system, our health care providers. We took care of mentally ill people by putting them into asylums not out on the street.
There was optimism about the future based on the fact that we were united and strong. And our music, our films, our self-image was healthy and wholesome.
Today we are a self-destructive nation of obese, tattooed, drug addicted, heroin shooting, ignorant, phone and computer pigs who dress like slobs and work part-time jobs that lead to dead ends or work for slave organizations that throw us out when we reach 40. We have no pride in our nation because we know that so many other nations do it better.
So 1945, you have my vote.
Ask yourself if you prefer to live in a time when people worked at all types of jobs, when streets were safe, when schools were good, when men and women dressed with modesty and behaved with propriety.
America, at the end of WWII was indeed the world's leader in every measurement of political and economic well being. We possessed the atomic bomb, but we had also just defeated Fascism, overcome the Depression, built fantastic public works projects. Our trains ran on time, our highways were unclogged and smoothly paved. We counted on our mail delivery, our telephone system, our health care providers. We took care of mentally ill people by putting them into asylums not out on the street.
There was optimism about the future based on the fact that we were united and strong. And our music, our films, our self-image was healthy and wholesome.
Today we are a self-destructive nation of obese, tattooed, drug addicted, heroin shooting, ignorant, phone and computer pigs who dress like slobs and work part-time jobs that lead to dead ends or work for slave organizations that throw us out when we reach 40. We have no pride in our nation because we know that so many other nations do it better.
So 1945, you have my vote.
11
I may prefer to live today, but 1945 was America's "greatest" year by measures of accomplishment, world standing, and optimism.
3
I wasn't born at that time, but it does sound like in many respects, at least for some, that it was a better time for the US. Although some things are much improved, so much else has gone downhill since then. I think the stability of the family back then was a big plus. The expectation that employers would be loyal to their employees, and that one could work hard but provide for a family, send the kids to college, buy a house etc. without taking on the monstrous debt of today.
Sure, 1945 was the best!
Well, unless you weren't white.
Or if you had an abusive and/or alcoholic husband or father.
Or you weren't Christian.
Or you suffered from one of any number of diseases that are easily treatable today.
Or if you were mentally ill and in an "asylum". (Lobotomy with a shock treatment chaser, anyone?)
Or if you were gay.
Then 1945 was just the bee's knees.
Well, unless you weren't white.
Or if you had an abusive and/or alcoholic husband or father.
Or you weren't Christian.
Or you suffered from one of any number of diseases that are easily treatable today.
Or if you were mentally ill and in an "asylum". (Lobotomy with a shock treatment chaser, anyone?)
Or if you were gay.
Then 1945 was just the bee's knees.
3
It is typical of the Upshot's lack of statistical savvy that they presented four graphs of answers to the same question by different populations, but far away from each other instead of on the same diagram — making it impossible to compare them.
Plus, one of the four uses a very different scale from the other three, adding to the problem with comparing them.
Plus, one of the four uses a very different scale from the other three, adding to the problem with comparing them.
1
Until all Americans have meaningful equality -- fair treatment, equitable wages, access to quality education and secure health care, housing, and jobs -- we will not have fulfilled Abraham Lincoln's vision of a nation "of the people, by the people, for the people." "Greatest" should include all Americans, not just some.
8
Above all, 1945:
Victory in World War II.
America dominated the world, militarily and economically.
All the old European powers except Russia/Soviet Union, were finished.
Japan was also finished as a military power as well.
Europe and Japan would recover economically,
but never up to the level of the USA.
And militarily, they all, except Russia/Soviet Union,
were now either medium of small powers.
Only Russia/Soviet Union survived as a significant military power.
Economically, the USA accounted for fully one-half of all of the worlds' economic output.
Next: 1989:
The fall of the Berlin Wall.
Within just a few years later:
Germany would be re-united.
The rest of the Iron Curtain would be lifted
Eastern Europe would emerge from Soviet/Russian domination.
The Soviet Union itself would break-up.
Communism in Russia itself would come to an end.
The 50-year Cold War was over.
America emerged as the world's sole Super-Power.
Meanwhile, the American economic expansion of the 1980s continued into the 1990s. America continued to dominate the world economically, still, even today,
accounting for more than one-fifth of world output.
Symbolically, 1969:
America was the first, and so far still the only, nation to put a man on the moon.
Victory in World War II.
America dominated the world, militarily and economically.
All the old European powers except Russia/Soviet Union, were finished.
Japan was also finished as a military power as well.
Europe and Japan would recover economically,
but never up to the level of the USA.
And militarily, they all, except Russia/Soviet Union,
were now either medium of small powers.
Only Russia/Soviet Union survived as a significant military power.
Economically, the USA accounted for fully one-half of all of the worlds' economic output.
Next: 1989:
The fall of the Berlin Wall.
Within just a few years later:
Germany would be re-united.
The rest of the Iron Curtain would be lifted
Eastern Europe would emerge from Soviet/Russian domination.
The Soviet Union itself would break-up.
Communism in Russia itself would come to an end.
The 50-year Cold War was over.
America emerged as the world's sole Super-Power.
Meanwhile, the American economic expansion of the 1980s continued into the 1990s. America continued to dominate the world economically, still, even today,
accounting for more than one-fifth of world output.
Symbolically, 1969:
America was the first, and so far still the only, nation to put a man on the moon.
5
This is a tad too triumphalist: With Paul Volcker and the start of the Reagan era in 1980, capital grew at the expense of labor and wages began to decline in real dollars. The trend continues to this day leading to the two Americas everyone is talking about. It signals the shrinking of the middle class and is as good an explanation of the Trump and Sanders insurgencies that have been put forward.
5
When was America greatest for whom? Was it when we allowed the most immigrants to come here or when the most millionaires were created? Or was it when we made our greatest strides helping to promote life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to the greatest number of its citizens (think advances in civil rights, social security and greater access to healthcare)?
3
In the modern period, I would have to say it is the late years of Bill Clinton's second term as president. The budget was balanced; the economy was reasonably healthy; we weren't off fighting someone somewhere; the ridiculous Republican attempt to impeach/convict the President had failed; etc. That said, I believe that the United States has every possibility of recovering from the disastrous years of 2000-08 and continuing on to even better things in the future.
4
surprising that the article didn't note a racial or gender difference in people's answers. clearly the person that picked 1860 belongs to a specific demographic.
2
Why not just say it loud and say it proud?
Thinking Jan 2009-October 2010.
5
Finally, something we can all agree on - bring back the Clinton year!
In 2000, after two terms of a Democratic president, everything was running on all eight cylinders. Then, at the end of 2000 SCOTUS had to come along and mess it all up by electing GWB 5-4.
In 2000, after two terms of a Democratic president, everything was running on all eight cylinders. Then, at the end of 2000 SCOTUS had to come along and mess it all up by electing GWB 5-4.
12
These all seem to rather narrow definitions of "greatness." I hope we aspire to more than these.
1
1960s and 1990s
I was young and newly married in the 1960s
I retired satisfied in the 1990s and began a satisfying 2nd career
After 2010 a 3rd satisfying career
So it's all about me...
I was young and newly married in the 1960s
I retired satisfied in the 1990s and began a satisfying 2nd career
After 2010 a 3rd satisfying career
So it's all about me...
1
Might be interesting to ask which were America's worst years.
1
It is hardly a surprise that 2000 garners the most votes of any year. The Cold War was a fading memory, 22 million jobs had been created in the past 8 years, the stock market was up by 6,000 points in the past 6 years, inflation was low, the federal government had a budget surplus, and terrorism seemed like a distant problem. It was undoubtedly a wonderful time.
10
Sounds good. But at that very time, savages were plotting to kill Americans. The signs were there, including an attempt to topple the WTC, but our government did not properly heed them or connect the dots. Indeed, the Administration then in power passed on a chance to get the ring leader.
When 9/11 came it brought about a Sea change in the way we live, especially those of our fellow citizens who lost loved ones.
(And I haven't even explicated on relaxing banking laws, giving China MFN trading status, revamping criminal laws that unfairly impacted African Americans and/or setting a bad example by immoral behavior.)
Try again.
When 9/11 came it brought about a Sea change in the way we live, especially those of our fellow citizens who lost loved ones.
(And I haven't even explicated on relaxing banking laws, giving China MFN trading status, revamping criminal laws that unfairly impacted African Americans and/or setting a bad example by immoral behavior.)
Try again.
1
Didn't Trump recently say that America was last great when Teddy Rosevelt was president?
America during TR's first Administration was pretty darn good. But, of course, we've been great since then.
1
Greatest yrs like beauty are in the eyes of the beholder.
Economically it had to be after WW2, circa 1945-1965. Europe, Japan were destroyed by WW2. USSR had an inefficient eco. system and the rest of the world was third world.
We had two cars, the wive didn't work, summer home, low cost health, free ed. etc. etc.
After 1965 we hid it till 2008 with putting the wife to work, borrowing up the kazoo and other bags of tricks...
Economically it had to be after WW2, circa 1945-1965. Europe, Japan were destroyed by WW2. USSR had an inefficient eco. system and the rest of the world was third world.
We had two cars, the wive didn't work, summer home, low cost health, free ed. etc. etc.
After 1965 we hid it till 2008 with putting the wife to work, borrowing up the kazoo and other bags of tricks...
2
Putting the wife to work?
Barf barf barf barf barf
Barf barf barf barf barf
5
Also Karen...don't play the "female" card. My post said nothing bad about the wife, women going to work, just that is also helped keep our standard of living up...but now we needed two people in the household to work..
2
Yes...it was the right move for women to be independent but also artificially kept our standard of living up..ie there were now two people working in the household instead of one...then after that with massive govt spending and credit card debt we kept up the facade of living like the60s until 2008 came and blew it all up...it is very unlikely we will every have the situation we had in the 1960s...ie one person working, little credit card debit , low fed. debt but still a great standard of living..
1
Define "great".
That's always my issue with campaign slogans like Trump's. I personally don't think we're there yet. As long as America is the nation of me, not we, I don't hold out much hope of us getting there any time soon.
That's always my issue with campaign slogans like Trump's. I personally don't think we're there yet. As long as America is the nation of me, not we, I don't hold out much hope of us getting there any time soon.
6
History will show that the period from the end of WW II through the 1970s was the high point for blue collar and lower level white collar American workers. Those halcyon days are aberrational and gone.
Any era is a good one for the upper classes. Some are just better than others.
While social consideration and acceptance of Others is improving, the US is till looking for a Golden Age.
Any era is a good one for the upper classes. Some are just better than others.
While social consideration and acceptance of Others is improving, the US is till looking for a Golden Age.
6
I lived during the forties and fifties and I can tell you that for most people, life was better then. People were happier, made more money, things were cheaper, America had more respect; we were in the driver's seat after the war and our President played more golf and stayed out of trouble. Sure, we had the cold war and the Suez crisis, and racial problems but overall for most people the country was in better shape and it was a pleasure to go through that period. What do we have today? Stupid wars, obese people, crazy, hyped up drivers, drug epidemics and lousy and expensive education. And debt. And don't forget mass shootings. And ISIS. And lying Saudi Arabia. And completely uncontrolled illegal immigrations. Rodney King said can't we all get along?. How about, can't we all follow the law?
7
I think a lot of African Americans and women might feel differently.
Not to mention Jews...the 40's weren't a particularly good time for them...Even if they escaped the Holocaust it was pretty traumatic.
Then there were the people who lost loved ones in WWII...they might have a different view of the 40's and 50's.
Economically...excellent time for the US no doubt. But I don't know that economic dominance is everything.
Not to mention Jews...the 40's weren't a particularly good time for them...Even if they escaped the Holocaust it was pretty traumatic.
Then there were the people who lost loved ones in WWII...they might have a different view of the 40's and 50's.
Economically...excellent time for the US no doubt. But I don't know that economic dominance is everything.
3
People tend to remember the good times better than the bad (or, I'm told, no woman would ever have a second child), and we yearn for the feeling that we had in our 20's when, despite obstacles, we felt we could conquer the world. .
Political slogans that promise to take us back to a better time, to make America great again, etc., are, to a great extent, pandering to our general desire to be young.
Political slogans that promise to take us back to a better time, to make America great again, etc., are, to a great extent, pandering to our general desire to be young.
52
I'd say the first Clinton era. Good thing we're headed for the second!
7
Like many other commenters it depends upon what aspect of our country you are laking about. In terms of civil rights the present is unquestionably the best. In terms of opportunity for social and economic advancement the time from the California Gold Rush until the closing of the frontier would probably be tops. In terms of environment, the year before any Europeans touched the shores of this continent would be best- it has all been downhill from there.
America was not born great, having been built upon theft of land from the native tribes, theft of labor from slaves and indentured people, the denial of equality to women and people of color and many other ugly things. What has made America great over time is that people group after people group have stood up and demanded their rightful place at the table and asking our country to live up to the promises of the founding documents.
I would strongly recommend that all reading this read Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" Do not use it to replace the history you know from school, but in addition to the history you have been told in school. It is broadly available from second hand book stores to ebooks in about any format you can imagine plus your local library.
Here is a link to the publishers page which links to many formats
https://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061968358
America was not born great, having been built upon theft of land from the native tribes, theft of labor from slaves and indentured people, the denial of equality to women and people of color and many other ugly things. What has made America great over time is that people group after people group have stood up and demanded their rightful place at the table and asking our country to live up to the promises of the founding documents.
I would strongly recommend that all reading this read Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" Do not use it to replace the history you know from school, but in addition to the history you have been told in school. It is broadly available from second hand book stores to ebooks in about any format you can imagine plus your local library.
Here is a link to the publishers page which links to many formats
https://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061968358
17
Quite an opinion...
Yes, quite a comment, Mr Gregory.
IMO 1964 was the high point since the 1700s. LBJ signed the Civil Right Act, an embodiment of a wave of idealism and hope for change and justice of many kinds, which grew from the Enlightenment and Romanticism (see I Berlin), that knit together, among others, struggling Black Americans, college idealists, and even a southern professional politician. Unfortunately, it began to collapse soon after and has not yet recovered.
IMO 1964 was the high point since the 1700s. LBJ signed the Civil Right Act, an embodiment of a wave of idealism and hope for change and justice of many kinds, which grew from the Enlightenment and Romanticism (see I Berlin), that knit together, among others, struggling Black Americans, college idealists, and even a southern professional politician. Unfortunately, it began to collapse soon after and has not yet recovered.
1
1964 was a year of great promise on paper but the change was yet to come. In 1964 at the Democratic Convention there were 2 delegations from Mississippi- one led by racist whites and the other one from the people the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.
In 1964 it was illegal for President Obama's parents to be married in many states. Most southern schools were still segregated, almost all universities in the south were.
Up north, many cities were just as segregated due to redlining. Same in Los Angeles.
in 2016, it is legal in all 50 states for an interracial couple or a same sex couple to be married. All the schools are officially integrated. Things are not perfect, but they are far better than they were in 1964.
In 1964 it was illegal for President Obama's parents to be married in many states. Most southern schools were still segregated, almost all universities in the south were.
Up north, many cities were just as segregated due to redlining. Same in Los Angeles.
in 2016, it is legal in all 50 states for an interracial couple or a same sex couple to be married. All the schools are officially integrated. Things are not perfect, but they are far better than they were in 1964.
2
I guess it depends on who you ask. Some will say the 50's but that was when women did not work and if they did it was a waitress, or a telephone operator, definatly not many women lawyers and doctors then. So women wouldn't vote as a whole for that era. Then you have Jim crowe laws from the 60's back. I don't believ any African American would say that was when America was great. If you were a gay person I don't believe you would vote America was great in the past years. I believe waht makes America great is how we evolve. so those that believe greatness was in the past I say No. Greatness is in America's future.
16
What took you so long to get on this one, is my biggest question.
Putting myself in Trump's timewarp after living and working in Manhattan since 1978 I'd say the guy is a true denizen of the '80s. It was when he first got real mouthy in the press about the Wollman skating rink in Central Park. It was the first time he was allowed into the public sector when Ed Koch smiled and opened the door for him to spend his own money finishing the job that was nice, but it wasn't like he came in and saved the homeless or began slinging a hammer to build affordable housing or organize neighborhood blocks against crime or crack, that he just let slide. No, he got real loud in the '80s about the skating rink, luxury housing and his girlfriends in the press, his first moves in an attempt to crown himself king to Leona Helmsly's thrown, both dancing around in the tabloids to the tune of tax breaks, imminent domain and cracked crab balls.
Putting myself in Trump's timewarp after living and working in Manhattan since 1978 I'd say the guy is a true denizen of the '80s. It was when he first got real mouthy in the press about the Wollman skating rink in Central Park. It was the first time he was allowed into the public sector when Ed Koch smiled and opened the door for him to spend his own money finishing the job that was nice, but it wasn't like he came in and saved the homeless or began slinging a hammer to build affordable housing or organize neighborhood blocks against crime or crack, that he just let slide. No, he got real loud in the '80s about the skating rink, luxury housing and his girlfriends in the press, his first moves in an attempt to crown himself king to Leona Helmsly's thrown, both dancing around in the tabloids to the tune of tax breaks, imminent domain and cracked crab balls.
6
To give a serious reply, there are a number of layers to this question- and I think the high points in each layer do not coincide.
Congress: early to mid 70's--Barbara Jordan, Frank Church, Howard Baker, the Watergate Hearings, creating voting rights, EPA
President: now
International safety: 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down, and worries about nuclear war with Russia were done-- before the first Iraq war-- ( earlier second peak during the 1960's of the UN and Peace corps)
nuclear safety: after 3 Mile Island when there was a moratorium on new building of reactors
Rust Belt prosperity: 1960's with lots of manufacturing, money for arts and public services
Cleveland baseball: 1990's
Gun safety: a long time ago
Car safety: now ( even with lethal airbags)
Beautiful cities, roads, bridges, parks, rail service, airplane service: 1960
Human rights and human understanding: our best days are ahead
Congress: early to mid 70's--Barbara Jordan, Frank Church, Howard Baker, the Watergate Hearings, creating voting rights, EPA
President: now
International safety: 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down, and worries about nuclear war with Russia were done-- before the first Iraq war-- ( earlier second peak during the 1960's of the UN and Peace corps)
nuclear safety: after 3 Mile Island when there was a moratorium on new building of reactors
Rust Belt prosperity: 1960's with lots of manufacturing, money for arts and public services
Cleveland baseball: 1990's
Gun safety: a long time ago
Car safety: now ( even with lethal airbags)
Beautiful cities, roads, bridges, parks, rail service, airplane service: 1960
Human rights and human understanding: our best days are ahead
79
My perspective, 1950 to 2000 with a waning aspect not spiking.
I do not know according to what those many consider that 90's so Glamorous, but I accept dot.com Internet.
But anyway, one thing is sure, We started 21st century with decline, GW Bush term and mood set in and yet dark clouds never left.
I do not know according to what those many consider that 90's so Glamorous, but I accept dot.com Internet.
But anyway, one thing is sure, We started 21st century with decline, GW Bush term and mood set in and yet dark clouds never left.
4
So, according to most Americans, our greatest year was 2000. The year that Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda were planning and proceeding to carry out a devastating attack, and we were focused on deadly shark attacks, completely ignorant of the real threats. 2000, when a disputed election and its deeply suspicious resolution revealed to us something of how creaky and unreliable the machinery of our democracy really is.
Yes, those were the days, all right.
Yes, those were the days, all right.
13
"we were focused on deadly shark attacks, completely ignorant of the real threats. 2000, when a disputed election and its deeply suspicious resolution"
It sounds like "we" as in the CIA and executive branch were quite aware of the real threats lurking in 2000, it is just that the profiteers who stole the election in Nov 2000 were too busy stealing $$ elsewhere to gear up for it.
It sounds like "we" as in the CIA and executive branch were quite aware of the real threats lurking in 2000, it is just that the profiteers who stole the election in Nov 2000 were too busy stealing $$ elsewhere to gear up for it.
2
Did the researcher really just ask the participants to name an individual year they thought was best? clearly the results are biased to years that end in 0's and 5's. And the year with the most votes only has about 7%. I think it would of been more insightful to ask people to name a decade they thought america was its greatest. Not that I'm a Trump fan, but this is garbage research, and a poor attempt at discrediting his supporters... which shouldn't be such a difficult thing to do.
3
It's just a campaign slogan. Does the year people assign to American greatness really meaningful? And what does greatness even mean?
5
Pearl Harbor up until V-E and V-J Days when America literally "saved the world" from conquest by Japan and Germany were undoubtedly "our finest hour" earned with debts to our soldiers and involved civilians we can never fully repay.
8
One question, one comment.
QUESTION: Why are there zero Trump supporters, three Republicans, and nine Democrats in the ENTIRE COUNTRY who think 2003 was our best year ever?
COMMENT: Democrats and Republicans all agree that the country: (i) became a shambles in the Bush Un years (1989-1992), (ii) improved spectacularly during the Clinton years (1993-2000), (iii) became an unmitigated disaster during the Bush Duh years (2001-2008), and (iv) climbed slowly out of the Bush Duh disaster and then reached new highs during the Obama years (2009-Today), with Republicans and Trump supporters saying that 2015 was our best year since the final Clinton year (2000), and with Democrats saying that 2016 is our best year since 2000.
I thus expect that the vote for Clinton the Second in November will not simply be a landslide -- it will be unanimous!!
QUESTION: Why are there zero Trump supporters, three Republicans, and nine Democrats in the ENTIRE COUNTRY who think 2003 was our best year ever?
COMMENT: Democrats and Republicans all agree that the country: (i) became a shambles in the Bush Un years (1989-1992), (ii) improved spectacularly during the Clinton years (1993-2000), (iii) became an unmitigated disaster during the Bush Duh years (2001-2008), and (iv) climbed slowly out of the Bush Duh disaster and then reached new highs during the Obama years (2009-Today), with Republicans and Trump supporters saying that 2015 was our best year since the final Clinton year (2000), and with Democrats saying that 2016 is our best year since 2000.
I thus expect that the vote for Clinton the Second in November will not simply be a landslide -- it will be unanimous!!
25
It’s a very personal question for most people, I’d guess, but (September 11) 2001 feels like a point of demarcation between past and present for the country as a whole, and this present seems undefined and transitional.
7
Everyone looks back to the 1950s & 1960s as being great, unless of course you're a woman, minority, foreigner from somewhere other then Europe, or handicapped in any way, etc.
117
You mean the majority of our citizens looking back as it being a great period. That in itself is a good thing.
Most don't remember the 50s and 60s, but those were good years for everyone. American factories made our steel, our cars, and produced nearly all our household goods. Back then a man could support a family on a job he might hold all of his working years. The rich weren't as rich because income tax brackets went up to 90%. Black households then were more far more likely to have two parents and own a home than they are today. Blacks were also had a higher employment rate and a lower crime rate, and black males were incarcerated at a much lower rate than in the decades since.
1
Everything is a matter of perspective. I am sure there are millions of long dead souls who think it was some year before Columbus or the Vikings, whichever came first.
5
The 1990s were so wonderful. The Cold War was over. There was immense optimism about future peace. Societies were opening up. Technological change was fast and exciting, and seemed to be creating jobs instead of destroying them. The high-security surveillance society hadn't started. The national debt was being paid off. College was much more affordable. It seemed possible to afford a home. Our biggest political concern seemed to be whether or not the President cheated on his wife.
95
I remember the 90's very well, I could not find a job at all.
1
I'm not sure that something so trivial and subjective is even worth studying, so Jurassic Park comes to mind.
"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."
"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."
6
I don't know about America, but New York City's greatest years were 1946--1949. Business was booming, wages were rising, serious crime was at a low level (maybe 50 murders a year), veterans were going to school on the GI bill of rights, Broadway was offering great dramas and musicals--All My Sons, Streetcar Named Desire, Death of a Salesman, South Pacific, Kiss Me Kate, The New York Times nearly doubled in price--from 3 cents a copy to 5, and Bill O'Dwyer was mayor.
6
Oh, come on! It's obviously the year I was born--1954.
2
1908: Chicago Cubs win World Series
2
Curious, I do understand why 2000 would be picked, things were kind of amazing back at the end of the 90's into '00. NYC was still messy in many ways, the nightlife was in full swing, the Meat Packing area was not bro-ified yet, the place I lived was still not over crowded, and we were blissfully unaware of the bush-ist agenda about to be unleashed upon us - wasting so much for so little.
But, I agree with some of the respondents, I think the best is yet to come, because while I think we are in a grievance culture-overly PC-whiny moment we'll eventually get our groove back and realize that when we are more open and more reasonably minded we can do amazing things. I hope everyday that more and more people will get past their myopic world views and we'll stop moping about and fix up our homeland.
But, I agree with some of the respondents, I think the best is yet to come, because while I think we are in a grievance culture-overly PC-whiny moment we'll eventually get our groove back and realize that when we are more open and more reasonably minded we can do amazing things. I hope everyday that more and more people will get past their myopic world views and we'll stop moping about and fix up our homeland.
9
2000 seemed so great - the economy was exploding with 'why.-we-can-do-that-on-the-Internet!" ebullience, Y2K came and went with nary a whimper and possibilities seemed endless. Then, the dot.com bubble burst, we discovered that much of the "next game-changing tech idea" hooey was... well, hooey, and we allowed the fear mongering mainstream media to let terrorists redefine our worldview.
I agree with you. When we say "we are done with this!" to the "grievance culture-overly PC-whiny moment", we can and will turn it around. Smart "open and more reasonably minded people" CAN do amazing things. when freed from a "myopic world view". All of us need to "stop moping about and fix up our homeland."
I agree with you. When we say "we are done with this!" to the "grievance culture-overly PC-whiny moment", we can and will turn it around. Smart "open and more reasonably minded people" CAN do amazing things. when freed from a "myopic world view". All of us need to "stop moping about and fix up our homeland."
2
People tend to evaluate from the default standpoint of their lifetime. Some shift their evaluative perspective toward misinterpreted or misapplied history. The compulsive need to constantly evaluate the Nation's "greatness" by politicians who seek votes, is troublesome. We The People are "America" - lest we forget who we are actually evaluating. Self-deprecating tendencies will not amount to much in terms of creating a better nation. America has a great day everyday!
3
In the 1950s were great, there was a crushing conformity in the workplace and home reinforced by businesses, government and TV that left both men and women feeling trapped. Jim Crow gripped the South and discrimination was the norm everywhere. There was the real threat of nuclear annialation, leading to the Cuban missile crisis.
The Vietnam War cast a pall over the 1960s, for draftees and their families, the first live televised war where 3 million died before our eyes. Many urban riots and 3 assassinations of popular leaders. Air, water and land pollution from cars, industrial waste streams and pesticides like DDT was soaring. Half of adults smoked.
The 1970s and 1980s saw high inflation, economic shocks and the loss of industrial leadership to the Japanese. It was the beginning of the end for pensions and a living minimum wage. Housing affordability deteriorated with double digit mortgage rates. Federal deficits soared with huge Reagan tax cuts and arms buildup.
The 1990s brought the end of the Soviet Union, the slow decline of violent crime, military budgets and wars, the Information Age, gradual increase in tolerance and opportunity for women. But a big backlash was building in response to economic transformation that gutted many extractive and industrial towns and cities and to growing social tolerance. Our schools lost the bright women with better paying alternatives to teaching. And our long history of double dealing in the Middle East was catching up to us.
The Vietnam War cast a pall over the 1960s, for draftees and their families, the first live televised war where 3 million died before our eyes. Many urban riots and 3 assassinations of popular leaders. Air, water and land pollution from cars, industrial waste streams and pesticides like DDT was soaring. Half of adults smoked.
The 1970s and 1980s saw high inflation, economic shocks and the loss of industrial leadership to the Japanese. It was the beginning of the end for pensions and a living minimum wage. Housing affordability deteriorated with double digit mortgage rates. Federal deficits soared with huge Reagan tax cuts and arms buildup.
The 1990s brought the end of the Soviet Union, the slow decline of violent crime, military budgets and wars, the Information Age, gradual increase in tolerance and opportunity for women. But a big backlash was building in response to economic transformation that gutted many extractive and industrial towns and cities and to growing social tolerance. Our schools lost the bright women with better paying alternatives to teaching. And our long history of double dealing in the Middle East was catching up to us.
11
In 2000 Donald Trump wrote the book, "The America We Deserve". Trump was a Democrat at the time and wanted the wealthy to pay a one-time 14.25% tax on wealth to pay off the national debt. This must be what Trump means by making America Great again.
75% of wealth now belongs to the richest 10% and 1% of the nation's wealth is now shared by half the population (down 70%). Of course as a Republican Trump wants to lower the income tax rate to 25% on high earners and eliminate the Estate Tax for the wealthy. Apparantly he is more interested in supporting the 20 year trend where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
If you don't believe me simply ask Mr. Trump if he will promise to balance the budget before he eliminates the Estate Tax and lowers the income tax on high earners.
75% of wealth now belongs to the richest 10% and 1% of the nation's wealth is now shared by half the population (down 70%). Of course as a Republican Trump wants to lower the income tax rate to 25% on high earners and eliminate the Estate Tax for the wealthy. Apparantly he is more interested in supporting the 20 year trend where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
If you don't believe me simply ask Mr. Trump if he will promise to balance the budget before he eliminates the Estate Tax and lowers the income tax on high earners.
12
I think it would be more interesting if people could choose a range of years that America was at it's greatest. I feel like the 90's would probably have a greater amount of support. A single peak could be determined by the overlap of a time period selected and it may reduce people's tendencies to pick round years (ending in 0 or 5). Could also be interesting to see how that compares to parties in the presidency.
2
This is an utterly ahistorical question. Was it in the 1780s, when the Constitution was created? The 1830s, with the rise of the "common man" in politics? The end of the Civil War and slavery? The Progressive era of the early 20th century? The end of World War II and America's primacy on the world stage? The 1960s, when young people forged a cultural "revolution?" And so on and so forth. My guess is that most of the people answering the accompanying survey know very little about U.S. history.
10
I hope it's the near future.
28
"Great" in what way? What does that word mean? Does it refer to grand contributions to literature, art, music, education, or to equal opportunity to all in US or to peace in the world?
9
I remember that after Reagan was elected president, Steve Martin on SNL said "Mr. Reagan will again make this country what it once was: a vast wasteland covered with ice."
I guess we can't expect less from the Donald.
I guess we can't expect less from the Donald.
6
I remember that after Reagan was elected president, Steve Martin on SNL said "Mr. Reagan will again make this country what it once was: a vast wasteland covered with ice."
================
And that's exactly what happened, remember?
================
And that's exactly what happened, remember?
1
Americans, "Neil Armstrong", "Buzz Aldrin" and "Michael Collins" went from Cape Kennedy, Florida to the Moon aboard Apollo 11. And for the first time in the history of humankind people from the earth stepped out onto another celestial body. 1969.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first two humans to land on our moon and step out onto its surface.
"America, America, God shed his grace on thee".
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first two humans to land on our moon and step out onto its surface.
"America, America, God shed his grace on thee".
4
My vote is for whichever year preceded the invention of Facebook.
106
1945
2
Certainly 1945 because the US had:
A monopoly on nuclear weapons and delivery systems.
By for the largest navy and air force.
Just over 50% of the total world industrial capacity.
A monopoly on nuclear weapons and delivery systems.
By for the largest navy and air force.
Just over 50% of the total world industrial capacity.
9
America will be great again when it stops telling everyone how great it is.
161
@Rhena
Great Lakes
We've been telling everyone how great we are forever. It's a national pastime. Dickens and Trollope were satirizing it in the mid 19th century.
Great Lakes
We've been telling everyone how great we are forever. It's a national pastime. Dickens and Trollope were satirizing it in the mid 19th century.
21
Perfect illustrations of latency bias filtered through nostalgia.
2
Greatest as compared to what?
8
Other years, I guess.
1
I would say the 50's were the greatest as America ramped up production to satisfy all the pent up demand of the war years. Plus we had no world wide competition. Europe and Asia were destroyed. Anything anyone wanted had to be made here. Wages were high and corporate greed was almost non-existent. I think the U.S. is great today but could be much better if we had 100 million fewer people here. For Republicans to choose 2000 as the time America was great is to acknowledge the prosperity Clinton brought to the U.S. Is that something they want to publicly acknowledge?
25
Notwithstanding the power of the European industrial revolution throughout the 19th century America came out of our Civil War with the largest land army in existence at the time and a powerful boost to our own industrial revolution, so I would call 1865-1875 our first era of world importance. After that, the continuous period 1920-1969 was probably our greatest era. We've done a good job overall of managing a transition to an era where we must necessarily cede some of our influence to rising powers such as China, but the managers of capitalism have been inept at understanding why the damage their methods cause to the body politic is so damaging to their own interests...
4
You have chosen years when women had no right to vote, Segregation was the law and human rights were at a low point-great years indeed!
5
I'd agree with the general verdict of 2000. The 90's during Clinton's presidency were without question something of a golden age for a number of reasons. The US was the sole world hegemon, real wages rose strongly, the personal computing revolution took off, the economy was strong, the US was and appeared to be on the side of the angels. You have to go back to the late 50's early 60's to have seen a similar sense of well being and national confidence.
22
The Roaring 20's were a time of low taxes and massive cultural change. White servants were appreciated. It seems like Trump's ideal.
1
@Eugene Patrick Devany
Massapequa Park, NY
White servants were around in upper middle class homes in the late 40's, early 50's. We had one. We loved her. They were a staple of TV shows in the 50's. The question is a bit ambiguous. Is it based on subjective personal impressions (as I take it to be given the time line of the charts) or some more objective historical criteria.
Massapequa Park, NY
White servants were around in upper middle class homes in the late 40's, early 50's. We had one. We loved her. They were a staple of TV shows in the 50's. The question is a bit ambiguous. Is it based on subjective personal impressions (as I take it to be given the time line of the charts) or some more objective historical criteria.
Subjective personal impressions. The point of the question wasn't to determine America's greatest year, but to highlight and assess how different people define greatness.
The 1940's.
This is the era when America stepped up to the gravest challenges we've ever had. We were working our way out of the crippled economy of the Great Depression. The American people united as never before to defeat the greatest threats to human freedom in World War II and in victory we chose to help the battered remnants of civilization get back on its feet and not follow the path of empire for the sake of power over others. We had leadership from FDR and others that, when it was most needed, put the future of the nation and the world ahead of personal gain. The sacrifices made in those years set the United States up for some very good years in the 1950's and 60's.
In the words of Winston Churchill that was our, "Greatest Hour".
This is the era when America stepped up to the gravest challenges we've ever had. We were working our way out of the crippled economy of the Great Depression. The American people united as never before to defeat the greatest threats to human freedom in World War II and in victory we chose to help the battered remnants of civilization get back on its feet and not follow the path of empire for the sake of power over others. We had leadership from FDR and others that, when it was most needed, put the future of the nation and the world ahead of personal gain. The sacrifices made in those years set the United States up for some very good years in the 1950's and 60's.
In the words of Winston Churchill that was our, "Greatest Hour".
23
Well, you have to overlook the 450,000 Americans killed in combat....
3
You have a point. But what is greatness? Is it measurable in possessions or deeds. If you are referring to wealth then 2000 AD wins. If you think of what it took to get through the Great Depression and WWII and build a good life afterwards there is no comparison. As for the 450,000 who paid the ultimate price, you can only hope that you never face what they had to.
But more to the point, I wouldn't measure greatness by our ability to push people around. We'll be great if we are what everyone else wants to be.
But more to the point, I wouldn't measure greatness by our ability to push people around. We'll be great if we are what everyone else wants to be.
16
> "We were working our way out of the crippled economy of the Great Depression"
REALITY-CHECK: Most people don't realize this, but FDR's NewDeal Programs never made much of a dent, in terms of actually ending the Depression
It is hard to imagine how much worse it would have been without them, because they did so quite a bit, but in terms of the size of the problem
. . . they weren't big enough
It really took WWII, and the US being the sole SuperPower left standing at the end of it all, and the Marshall Plan, that loaned money for other countries to buy American Goods & Services to *really* end the 'Great Depression'
REALITY-CHECK: Most people don't realize this, but FDR's NewDeal Programs never made much of a dent, in terms of actually ending the Depression
It is hard to imagine how much worse it would have been without them, because they did so quite a bit, but in terms of the size of the problem
. . . they weren't big enough
It really took WWII, and the US being the sole SuperPower left standing at the end of it all, and the Marshall Plan, that loaned money for other countries to buy American Goods & Services to *really* end the 'Great Depression'
1
It would also be interesting to see an age breakdown. How can someone who wasn't alive in the 50's or 60's determine whether life was "better" back then? I would posit that life was simpler in the 50's ( I was alive then) but better? In the 60's, social upheaval of many kinds that makes today look like a walk in the park ( I got a free government trip to southeast asia only to come back to campus and narrowly avoided a building that was bombed). What I perceive is the decline of equal opportunity in America that started in the 1980's for anyone other than the wealthy and reached its nadir after the elections of 2000.
40
Life is never simple.
1
It would be interesting to see a racial breakdown. Whites often yearn for the halcyon days of the 1950s (when I was a child). That is the post WWII years when the economy was good. Jobs were plentiful and conservative/traditional family values ruled (women knew that they place was at home and wives & mothers). Yet, that was also a day of lynchings & violence for blacks; "negros only" bathrooms and water fountains; and lunch counter sit-ins in a demand for equal rights, i.e., it was far from a wonderful period for people of color.
Folks seem to have amnesia for the 1960s. While those who began to demand change (older boomers) and those gaining rights remember that as an energized, committed time, it was also a time of inner city riots, Vietnam, and Kent State (actually 1970).
Personally I think the question is a silly one. Most years or collections of years have good, bad, and indifferent depending upon where one stands.
What makes America "great" in anyone's opinion also depends upon how things are going for that person and those near and dear. For me, this country is at its best any time it cares well for its most vulnerable; lifts those who need a hand up (currently including the need to do better at re-training those whose jobs have disappeared); and is able to respect the diversity of its people and invite all points of view, equally respected, to join the conversations and to be part of the solutions.
Folks seem to have amnesia for the 1960s. While those who began to demand change (older boomers) and those gaining rights remember that as an energized, committed time, it was also a time of inner city riots, Vietnam, and Kent State (actually 1970).
Personally I think the question is a silly one. Most years or collections of years have good, bad, and indifferent depending upon where one stands.
What makes America "great" in anyone's opinion also depends upon how things are going for that person and those near and dear. For me, this country is at its best any time it cares well for its most vulnerable; lifts those who need a hand up (currently including the need to do better at re-training those whose jobs have disappeared); and is able to respect the diversity of its people and invite all points of view, equally respected, to join the conversations and to be part of the solutions.
100
I agree with you. The phrase, . .in the eyes of the beholder" seems fitting.
3
I remember with fondness, the 1950s and 60s. Then again, I'm white, male, heterosexual, suburban, and single.
3
But in 1776 the estimated population of the country was 2.5 million people. It's now well over 100 times that. It's hard to compare an apple to an orchard!
Do we have more an better opportunities for people of all races and genders than we did in 1776? 1946? 20 years ago? Probably yes.
Are there more angry people today (often for good reason) than we had back in the 'golden years'? Certainly! But in many ways things are better today than they have been; and in many ways that are worse... Thanks to modern communication, we know all the bad things immediately. It's all in where you sit... Less well employed, less privileged white folks see a golden age when they controlled the game...