Does It Feel Like the 1970s to You?

Mark Twain once said: "History doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes."

I'm now getting old enough to recognize certain things in this decade — the 2000s — that "rhyme" with things from another decade, the 1970s. See if you agree.

      

• Both the 1970s and the 2000s have an unpopular but twice-elected Republican president (Nixon in the 70s; George Bush in the 00s).

• Both decades have an unpopular war (Vietnam in the 70s; Iraq in the 00s).

• Both decades have significant rise in petroleum prices (the 70s had the "oil shocks" of 1973-74 which raised prices from $2.50/barrel to $10/barrel; the 00s have spot oil prices approaching $150/barrel).

• Both decades witnessed a rise in environmental consciousness (the 70s had the birth of the "environmental" movement; the 00s has its own apocalyptic religious vision of "global warming").

      

• Both decades had the democratic party nominate a previously obscure liberal as its candidate for president (Jimmy Carter in the 70s; Barack H. Obama in the 00s).

• Both decades saw the rise of a transformative media technology (the 70s saw the beginning of cable television which began the fragmentation of media centralization away from the "Big Three" networks; 00s have widespread WIFI that allows bloggers and Twitterers a final assault on our attention span).

• The mid-to-late 1970s saw a significant growth in inflation rates; inflation growth is just beginning at the latter part of the decade.

Of course, we should be grateful we don't have "big hair," "bell bottoms," or "swingers" to the same degree that were present in the 1970s.

Question: What other similarities do see between the current decade and the 1970s?

Comments

[Randy Bosch]

Roger:
Didn't you receive the Memo from HQ about Big Hair?

[Randy Bosch]

Roger, seriously though,
I infer that you agree with Mark Twain, Nassem Taleb (and me!) that history does not repeat itself. You're use of "rhyme" is very insightful. Historical simile's?
(And I guess you didn't get the Big Hair Memo).
Thanks.

[John Koetsier]

Interesting observation, Roger. Thanks for having it and publishing it!

(Is tie-dye coming back too?)

[Roger von Oech]

Randy: "Big Hair" -- we are fortunate that it hasn't come back. "Swinging" won't come back either (at least not like the 70s, due in part to lingering concerns about AIDS and STDs).

John: What similarities do you see?

[fredrick]

As in the 70's, US Auto manufacturers are surprised with the need for energy efficient and economical vehicles.

[Alex von Oech]

As in the 70's, the Rolling Stones are playing to sold out crowds. Hell, Keith Richards probably still thinks it's the 70's!

[Jeffrey Phillips]

Roger:
Great minds must think alike. I think we are in a 30 year cycle and just repeating the 1976 election. People were tired of a Republican who had alienated a lot of people, and the Democrats rejected the clear front runner for an "outsider" who was going to "change" Washington. Energy prices were a concern and there was a general "malaise" about the economy. It's deja vu all over again. Even Iran is a key threat - just like in the Carter administration!

[lp009]

Let's see... in the 70s: Old White Men control the branches of government.

... in the 00s: Old White Men control the branches of government!

Yea... I see your point!

[John Thomas]

Well, being musical, I hope we'll see a dissatisfaction with much of the music coming out right now and that we'll see a new movement with something honest and real and creative like the punk movement was that I can appreciate musically.

If it's here, I haven't seen it yet, and, believe me, I'm looking.

For new stuff, I'm starting to look back to older stuff. But, I guess, that would make me like The Clash in that respect.

Hey, in that light, I can think more highly of myself than I should! I guess history does repeat itself!

- John

[datter]

"Question: What other similarities do see between the current decade and the 1970s?"

Really, really shitty music.

datter
http://finaldog.com/

[C. Duke]

Well of course the 00s are like the 70s... Don't you remember the 90s being like the sixties? I know I sure do. >;D