America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
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America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
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Re: America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
#2Most people would think the government is responsible for all these drug epidemics: the DEA jailing minorities on minor infractions or the CIA hustling cocaine between countries (look it up).
But really the true culprit is just the youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his essay/book Industrial Society and its Future is a wealth of knowledge on this subject (strange I know coming from a Christian woman).
But look at it this way: people resort to drugs because reality sucks. Why does reality suck? Well, we live in a society, and this very society (and its implicit social network) causes our youth to suffer.
Just look at how much the new Joker movie resonated with kids, teenagers and young adults! Heck, my niece of 12 years was itching to put on a mask and march in the street after she walked out of the theater. It was terrifying.
Re: America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
#3Most people would think the government is responsible for all these drug epidemics: the DEA jailing minorities on minor infractions or the CIA hustling cocaine between countries (look it up). But really the true culprit is just the youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his…
I don't really completely agree with this argument but I'd like to remind the HN community not to downvote simply because you disagree.
I would argue that drug addiction is affecting older adults much more severely than youth.
I can definitely agree that social cohesion in America has been somewhat awful for generations.
Re: America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
#4Most people would think the government is responsible for all these drug epidemics: the DEA jailing minorities on minor infractions or the CIA hustling cocaine between countries (look it up). But really the true culprit is just the youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his…
I would disagree that today’s youth are suffering because ‘reality sucks’. If anything the youth of today have it better than ever before. In 1950 [at least in the USA] a youth would not have had access to reliable information on possible career choices and outcomes apart from maybe a school counselor, now that information is available instantly on the internet. Likewise reality would have really sucked had the youth had the youth been female or LGBT, as reliable contraception and abortion were not available. Likewise suicide and crises services were not as available. Now we have things like the it gets better project, texting to social hotlines. This has vastly improved the options available to the youth of today for psychological support.
Of course reality will still suck for some, but it is vastly better than 50-70 years ago.
Re: America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
#5Most people would think the government is responsible for all these drug epidemics: the DEA jailing minorities on minor infractions or the CIA hustling cocaine between countries (look it up). But really the true culprit is just the youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his…
I would disagree that today’s youth are suffering because ‘reality sucks’. If anything the youth of today have it better than ever before. In 1950 [at least in the USA] a youth would not have had access to reliable information on possible career choices and outcomes apart from maybe a school counselor, now that information is available instantly on the internet. Likewise reality would have really sucked had the youth…
There is more to life than contraception and psychological counselling. A chance at a steady job, the ability to save money, the opportunity to start a family, the prospect of retiring with a Social Security check, and confidence in the ecological future of the planet come to mind.
Re: America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
#6Most people would think the government is responsible for all these drug epidemics: the DEA jailing minorities on minor infractions or the CIA hustling cocaine between countries (look it up). But really the true culprit is just the youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his…
I would disagree that today’s youth are suffering because ‘reality sucks’. If anything the youth of today have it better than ever before. In 1950 [at least in the USA] a youth would not have had access to reliable information on possible career choices and outcomes apart from maybe a school counselor, now that information is available instantly on the internet. Likewise reality would have really sucked had the youth…
> I would disagree that today’s youth are suffering because ‘reality sucks’.
I would agree to the degree that reality has always sucked. Life in general is hard and can be pretty miserable. It's up to an individual to build up resilience and mindset that will allow them to survive and even thrive in spite of this. Of course, having smart parents and other early influencers helps immensely.
Re: America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
#7Most people would think the government is responsible for all these drug epidemics: the DEA jailing minorities on minor infractions or the CIA hustling cocaine between countries (look it up). But really the true culprit is just the youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his…
I would disagree that today’s youth are suffering because ‘reality sucks’. If anything the youth of today have it better than ever before. In 1950 [at least in the USA] a youth would not have had access to reliable information on possible career choices and outcomes apart from maybe a school counselor, now that information is available instantly on the internet. Likewise reality would have really sucked had the youth…
> I would disagree that today’s youth are suffering because ‘reality sucks’.
I would agree to the degree that reality has always sucked. Life is hard and can be pretty miserable. It's up to an individual to build up resilience and mindset that will allow them to survive and even thrive in spite of this. Of course, having smart parents and other early influencers helps immensely. Otherwise, it's easy to fall prey to drugs and other deviations.
Re: America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
#8Most people would think the government is responsible for all these drug epidemics: the DEA jailing minorities on minor infractions or the CIA hustling cocaine between countries (look it up). But really the true culprit is just the youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his…
I would disagree that today’s youth are suffering because ‘reality sucks’. If anything the youth of today have it better than ever before. In 1950 [at least in the USA] a youth would not have had access to reliable information on possible career choices and outcomes apart from maybe a school counselor, now that information is available instantly on the internet. Likewise reality would have really sucked had the youth…
if you want an autobiographic a take read Rocket Boys: by Homer Hickam.
These days those kids would probably have gone to uni but in 1950's company towns they where destined for the mine or blue collar jobs
Homer got drafted and went to Vietnam only later joing NASSA
Re: America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
#9Most people would think the government is responsible for all these drug epidemics: the DEA jailing minorities on minor infractions or the CIA hustling cocaine between countries (look it up). But really the true culprit is just the youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his…
I don't really completely agree with this argument but I'd like to remind the HN community not to downvote simply because you disagree. I would argue that drug addiction is affecting older adults much more severely than youth. I can definitely agree that social cohesion in America has been somewhat awful for generations.
Please don't believe you know why others down vote.
I down voted because it's a comment with unsubstantiated claims, only tangible related to the article.
Re: America’s First Amphetamine Epidemic 1929–1971 (2008)
#10Most people would think the government is responsible for all these drug epidemics: the DEA jailing minorities on minor infractions or the CIA hustling cocaine between countries (look it up). But really the true culprit is just the youth, and always has been. Ever since the early 1900s traditional family values and social community/cohesion has been seriously on decline. Say what you will about Ted Kaczynski, but his…
I don't really completely agree with this argument but I'd like to remind the HN community not to downvote simply because you disagree. I would argue that drug addiction is affecting older adults much more severely than youth. I can definitely agree that social cohesion in America has been somewhat awful for generations.
> I don't really completely agree with this argument but I'd like to remind the HN community not to downvote simply because you disagree.
pg has explicitly said that downvotes on Hacker News can be used for disagreement.
"Downvotes to express disagreement are part of the ethos of this site; it's a norm Paul Graham established almost a decade ago."