People's History: Away from Radicalism (Chap 20)
Thrill Is Gone, B.B. King
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Summary The seventies saw little change, with business eager to arrange connections with the government, and military men intent on showing their pre-eminence in countries lacking self-defense. Chapter The tumult of the sixties caused tremendous change. The government and public tried to rearrange their lives: less intervention, greater tolerance for radical opinions; falling confidence in leaders. Worst of all was Nixon's Watergate fiasco: subterfuge and lies would decimate the President, who risked impeachment. He resigned. So Ford announced, "the nightmare's over." But behind the scenes, no change. They "tossed the rotten apples, saved the barrel." Lobbying by corporations paved the way for influence, campaign chicanery, and secret deals. The same for foreign policy, no change. But public will was gone, and Vietnam went communist. There followed a deceptive calm at home, the honor of America at stake as foreigners were quick to censure our mistake in Vietnam, abuses by the CIA in Cuba and in Chile, and the overplay of FBI authority against the black rebellions. Most insulting was the droll attack on "paper tiger" USA. And our response? To bomb Cambodia. With haughty nonchalance State Secretary Kissinger explained our side: our ship the Mayaguez had been detained. Our pride and safety were at risk. The headlines would agree with this -- in times of national security we must display our strength! An understated theme was present, though. The sixties had revealed extreme resistance to authority. Democracy was at a peak, with relative equality as people organized. But to the government this posed a problem: how, indeed, to implement regimes abroad, and shape the world's economy? The answer's clear -- we must exert authority. |