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Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

Interesting take; my translation of it is that the anti-war movement was a huge motivator and driving force for the left. Who was most impacted by the draft? Simple math says “white guys”. When the war ended and the draft was gone, so was the energy. Abortion and birth control are “women’s issues”. So is gender equality. Sadly, although women are statistically greater than 50% of the population, we are not the culturally dominant gender, and our protests and demands are dismissed as “irrelevant”.

Democrats have status quo’d themselves into oblivion. I knew from the 80’s on there was a war on. Too bad the Democratic Party didn’t.

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TCinLA's avatar

Yes, that is an excellent analysis. I will never ever forget the first New Left meeting I was at, where two "movement women" got up and made a presentation about "the position of women in the movement." And all the "advanced" "radical" guys who were jumping up and down in their seats yelling "I stand firmly erect in my support of pussy power!" I didn't know why at the time, but that was the most ashamed I have ever been to be a white male. 57 years later, still the top.

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Bongo-1, VT's avatar

I believed the poor Black, Latino young men were proportionately more affected by the draft. They certainly were proportionately a very high percentage of Grunts! TC, correct me if I am FUBAR on this.

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TCinLA's avatar

Entirely accurate.

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Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

I’m not old enough (quite) to have firsthand knowledge about draft issues; I am well aware that then as now POC are a high percentage of enlisted (as a distinction vs. officer) personnel. I believe that it was white guys getting their lives derailed is what spurred the anti-draft fury.

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TCinLA's avatar

You are correct, officer! :-)

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Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

Just an EM, here, unless you’re talking about 👮

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TCinLA's avatar

Was referring to your former employment.

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JennSH from NC's avatar

The right is ALWAYS on the offensive. The left seems to think the battle is over as soon as the election is called. Trump showed that was NEVER the case. The left is a disparate coalition of particular interests; the left is more akin to herding cats. The right is more narrowly focused and monolithic. With regard to women’s issues, I cannot think of a male corollary to Phyllis Schlafley.

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TCinLA's avatar

Yes, as someone who actually has a job herding cats (a bunch of them live here), about the only way you can do that is to promise them a meal.

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