The Never Starting Story
Viewing comments for Chapter 63 "The Great Society"A collection of things that fit nowhere else.
24 total reviews
Comment from angelface2
This was a very interesting write, Mikey. I graduated in 1956 and I remember both LBJ and JFK. I thought JFK would have made a great president, however he never got the chance. Now, It seems like we vote for the lesser of two evils, which I don't like!! I enjoyed reading this. :>D Miss Sally
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This was a very interesting write, Mikey. I graduated in 1956 and I remember both LBJ and JFK. I thought JFK would have made a great president, however he never got the chance. Now, It seems like we vote for the lesser of two evils, which I don't like!! I enjoyed reading this. :>D Miss Sally
Comment Written 27-Jan-2015
Comment from esacony
There is an easy going stride in this writing which tends to encourage me on from one sentence to another. Though it is not a high impact chronology it releases the sentiment of the author in a manner not cynical but refreshingly honest. What is most interesting to me is the fact that a seventh grader consumed and digested these events only to regurgitate them later; qualities of a historian.
The only suggestion I might offer is the inclusion of how government changed after Kennedy's assassination. How once it was acknowledged that a president could be eliminated without a revolution from the people........what more could a governing body ask for........a wide open path to absolute power.
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There is an easy going stride in this writing which tends to encourage me on from one sentence to another. Though it is not a high impact chronology it releases the sentiment of the author in a manner not cynical but refreshingly honest. What is most interesting to me is the fact that a seventh grader consumed and digested these events only to regurgitate them later; qualities of a historian.
The only suggestion I might offer is the inclusion of how government changed after Kennedy's assassination. How once it was acknowledged that a president could be eliminated without a revolution from the people........what more could a governing body ask for........a wide open path to absolute power.
Comment Written 27-Jan-2015
Comment from Sasha
I think the assassination of JFK woke a lot of us up.
My ex-husbands father was a close friend of Goldwater and never forgave Johnson for that ad. I am pleased to see you posting this book again. I have read many of the previous posts and liked them all.
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I think the assassination of JFK woke a lot of us up.
My ex-husbands father was a close friend of Goldwater and never forgave Johnson for that ad. I am pleased to see you posting this book again. I have read many of the previous posts and liked them all.
Comment Written 26-Jan-2015
Comment from madhatter1977
Hi, Mikey! I know what you mean about political campaigning and it's interesting to read about the campaign after Kennedy's assassination. We have an election in the UK this year which will be dominated by the Conservatives (think Republicans) and Labour (think Democrats) with the Liberals likely to form a coalition with the winner. Unfortunately (in my humble opinion) UKIP (the UK independence party) are also gaining lots of votes and may help Labour at the conservatives' loss to a majority victory. Labour are campaigning hard to gain the votes they lost in the last election under Gordon Brown and have a very media-slick leader, Ed Miliband, but like many parts of the world, there is little real choice between the parties as all seem to swing to centre-right policies. In the city where I live it is unlikely I will be able to vote for the Green Party or even, get this, The Monster Raving Loony Party! So I might just spoil my ballot paper on election day. I will follow the US election with interest too as I understand it is Obama's 2nd term and he can no longer be re-elected. Best wishes, Pete :)
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Hi, Mikey! I know what you mean about political campaigning and it's interesting to read about the campaign after Kennedy's assassination. We have an election in the UK this year which will be dominated by the Conservatives (think Republicans) and Labour (think Democrats) with the Liberals likely to form a coalition with the winner. Unfortunately (in my humble opinion) UKIP (the UK independence party) are also gaining lots of votes and may help Labour at the conservatives' loss to a majority victory. Labour are campaigning hard to gain the votes they lost in the last election under Gordon Brown and have a very media-slick leader, Ed Miliband, but like many parts of the world, there is little real choice between the parties as all seem to swing to centre-right policies. In the city where I live it is unlikely I will be able to vote for the Green Party or even, get this, The Monster Raving Loony Party! So I might just spoil my ballot paper on election day. I will follow the US election with interest too as I understand it is Obama's 2nd term and he can no longer be re-elected. Best wishes, Pete :)
Comment Written 26-Jan-2015
Comment from CR Delport
When it comes to politics, I don't trust anyone. Once in office, politicians only care about their own pockets and don't give two hoots about the people. I don't know that much about American history so I might learn something here. Another great write, Mikey.
Have a great day.
Christelle.
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When it comes to politics, I don't trust anyone. Once in office, politicians only care about their own pockets and don't give two hoots about the people. I don't know that much about American history so I might learn something here. Another great write, Mikey.
Have a great day.
Christelle.
Comment Written 26-Jan-2015
Comment from l.raven
HI Michael, you are so right about Johnson...he could have cared less about the family man...or his children...it seems Michael every time people vote some one in...they got it right this time...but NOT...this is a very interesting story...a lot to learn...very well written you...Luff Linda xxoo love
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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HI Michael, you are so right about Johnson...he could have cared less about the family man...or his children...it seems Michael every time people vote some one in...they got it right this time...but NOT...this is a very interesting story...a lot to learn...very well written you...Luff Linda xxoo love
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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It's fun to look back and remember myself at that age and how I felt then. It hasn't changed really, so it's still pretty clear what my thinking was, to me anyway. Yep, LBJ was definitely not one of my favorites. :)) mikey
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good to see you my friend...I do some looking back myself at times...it's funny the things I can't remember...and the things I do...love ya you...xxoo
Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca
Absolutely right, not choices we have anymore.
Very well done.
Since I lived the Viet Nam War as it was called, I especially loved the paragraph on the lives lost and no one having to stand accountable but yet being responsible.
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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Absolutely right, not choices we have anymore.
Very well done.
Since I lived the Viet Nam War as it was called, I especially loved the paragraph on the lives lost and no one having to stand accountable but yet being responsible.
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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An excellent point. I suppose it is somewhat true of any war, but especially that one. Nowadays it's all thirty second TV spots. It's impossible to know what anyone really stands for. mikey
Comment from Showboat
LOL, Mikie, I just loved this one. Whenever I think of or see the LBJ initials, or the words The Great Society, the first thing I think of are all these entitlement programs that were originally meant to give a person a helping hand during bad times, not a way of life that's four generations old. Instead of a leg up it's a subjugated way of life, always with a handout, always the dole.
When you rob a man of his dignity, his pride in achievement, in caring for his family, being a model to his children, you strip him naked. I believe he crippled the black family, threw the man out of the home, homes and families that were solid, tight, just like Asian, Hispanic and white families.
I know they were JFK ideas, not LBJ, but he could have modified them. I graduated HS in 1961, so you know I lived through it as it happened. We loved JFK so, but we didn't really know him. We just loved the package, hey!
Here'sd a sixer, my friend. Loved it,
Hugs,
Gayle
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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LOL, Mikie, I just loved this one. Whenever I think of or see the LBJ initials, or the words The Great Society, the first thing I think of are all these entitlement programs that were originally meant to give a person a helping hand during bad times, not a way of life that's four generations old. Instead of a leg up it's a subjugated way of life, always with a handout, always the dole.
When you rob a man of his dignity, his pride in achievement, in caring for his family, being a model to his children, you strip him naked. I believe he crippled the black family, threw the man out of the home, homes and families that were solid, tight, just like Asian, Hispanic and white families.
I know they were JFK ideas, not LBJ, but he could have modified them. I graduated HS in 1961, so you know I lived through it as it happened. We loved JFK so, but we didn't really know him. We just loved the package, hey!
Here'sd a sixer, my friend. Loved it,
Hugs,
Gayle
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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Thank you so much. There was a lot we didn't know back then. Can you imagine if we had cell phones with cameras and the like following JFK around? Ha! So many of the liberal ideas just get out of hand. The unions become more corrupt than the bosses that spawned them. It sounds good though, all the workers unite for a better wage and a "decent" living. But, somewhere along the way the word, "decent" is lost. Just an example that comes to mind. What a wonderful thoughtful review. I'm pleased you enjoyed my little piece. It's fun to look back trying to recall what my twelve-year-old mind thought at the time. It's an interesting perspective. You were a little older then, so you'd have a different view as well, being on the verge of entering the workplace and the events affecting you more directly. Thanks again. mikey
Comment from Tatarka2
I just loved this so much. Would you consider it a 5 1/2? You have a couple of SPAGs ("add" for "ad" and a capitalization issue). Of course, I lived through the same time and had exactly the same feelings. I'm so impressed that a 12-year-old had that much awareness. I was 16, but felt exactly the way you did - and do, I suspect. How brave of you to actually say that our liberal friends have embarrassed us at times - but ain't it the truth. Thanks for sharing this.
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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I just loved this so much. Would you consider it a 5 1/2? You have a couple of SPAGs ("add" for "ad" and a capitalization issue). Of course, I lived through the same time and had exactly the same feelings. I'm so impressed that a 12-year-old had that much awareness. I was 16, but felt exactly the way you did - and do, I suspect. How brave of you to actually say that our liberal friends have embarrassed us at times - but ain't it the truth. Thanks for sharing this.
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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Yes, they have. :) (more than once!) I suppose the events had a lot to do with a youngster being aware. The Cuban Missile Crisis, The JFK assassination, even the 60 debates drew young people in where those events would not have in the past. They were all on TV. It's fun to write about and try and remember my young mindset. And yes, I think just about exactly the same way. :)) mikey
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I hope you continue to write these. I look forward to reading more.
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Sometimes it might be best to vote for the better man. Of course, those aren't choices we have anymore.
Bingo! You're right on target with that ending statement. Very good essay, and I could go on for ten thousand words about how much damage Johnson did to our nation, destroying families, and... but I won't. You probably already know.
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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Sometimes it might be best to vote for the better man. Of course, those aren't choices we have anymore.
Bingo! You're right on target with that ending statement. Very good essay, and I could go on for ten thousand words about how much damage Johnson did to our nation, destroying families, and... but I won't. You probably already know.
Comment Written 25-Jan-2015
reply by the author on 26-Jan-2015
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Yep. Not an LBJ fan! It's so thin on substance anymore, I find it difficult to muster any interest. I like looking back and remembering how I viewed things at the time at whatever age I happened to be. Perspective is an interesting aspect of history. mikey
