Zohran Mamdani & Socialism - The 1960s Counterculture Was Dry Run for Much of That

 All kinds of voters in New York City got behind socialist candidate in the primary for mayor - Zohran Mamdani. And, yes, he won in a stunner of an upset.

So, we might start to seriously wonder what socialism may be in America. After all, New York City is a trend-setter. 

Boomers who were open to the fast-evolving trends during the late 1960s and early 1970s tried out versions of socialism. Those played out during what was called the "counterculture." Much of that took root among the 20-somethings, at least until the raw recession of the mid 1970s, 

My experience was in university town Ann Arbor, Michigan. The counterculture had started on campuses in California, stopped off at those in Wisconsin and arrived at the University of Michigan when I began my doctoral studies.

The ideology of equal access to life's necessities gave rise to free clinics for medical and mental conditions, low-priced food coops, centers where you could drop off what you no longer needed and take what you now did, no-cost entertainment such as musical concerts and stigma-free were all ways of earning a living. Not burdened with excessive ambition, people had time to listen to what we needed to say.

That infrastructure could be a go because at that time simply existing was affordable. Or, at least it could be affordable. 

For example, there were boarding houses where you could rent a room and have access to communal facilities such as bathrooms and a kitchen. Your own car wasn't a transportation requirement. Much was walkable. Also we got around on motorcycles and bicycles. 

Overall, we could feel good about ourselves, without having "earned" extreme success. The breakthrough book "Our Bodies, Ourselves" told us females that we were all beautiful. The ethos was material possessions shouldn't exceed what could be transported across country in a VW, with a manual transmission.

Unfortunately, at that time socialism wasn't sustainable. May this time it will be. 

Rattled by the uncertainty? Faith-based Career Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, reskilling and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com). Yes, test out the chemistry.


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