He’s going to party like its 1959.
By: Anita HuggChevy Chase, MD – Vice President elect Mike Pence has big plans to ring in the New Year. As he is looking forward to 2017 and helping Donald Trump “make America great again,” many people are wondering with joblessness rates at an astounding low, affordable healthcare available to all, an overall raise in minimum wages, and marriage equality for all, and so many more steps forward taken as a nation, if America is not already great today, when was it great? Mike Pence has the answer. 1959.
1959 was a time when only silly, disobedient women dreamed of earning a college education and going out into the workforce. And if they did, they knew they deserved to earn less money than a man. It was also a time when birth control was not so easily accessible to women. After all, why should women have any control over their own health care needs and their own bodies? That is a man’s job.
In 1959, although the Civil Rights movement was gaining momentum, it was still a time of segregation. African American citizens were forced to use separate, and substandard, services and facilities, backed by “law and order”. African Americans faced bullying and violence for demanding equal services and opportunities. Today we still have a lot of problems with racial injustice. The answer is back in 1959, when America was great. One good start to going backwards, according to the Trump-Pence administration, is to restore law and order by enacting the stop-and-frisk program where police are permitted to profile citizens and pat them down for no other reason than existing.
The LGBT community also knew their place in society in 1959, and it was in the closet. Forget marriage equality, it was not even legal to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Conversion therapy wasn't necessary back in 1959. People just knew they should be ashamed of who they are and be forced to pretend to live a so-called “normal” life, like Ward, June, Wally and the Beav.
And let’s not forget the best part of 1959 – the start of the arms race and constant fear of nuclear war. Good times! Sure, let’s make America great again.
To ring in 2017, Mike Pence plans to toast with a glass of milk and dreams of 1959, the year he was born, and a time when America was great.