Agenda Packets - 1989/01/09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Looking In The Rear -View Mirror By Ann Petrisek Since the focus of COUNTDOWN 2001 is to educate individuals and organizations about the future and to suggest ways in which to act effecti ely in our rapidly changing world, we thought that it would be interesting to look into the past and learn what Americans who lived in the late 1800's were doing to prepare themselves for the rum of the last century. Here are some of the treads which were uncovctrod: I. Politics Judged Mediocre The prestige of American politics and public leaders declined measurably after the Civil War. The presidents who held office between 1377 and 1893 have been described as colorless and unimaginative men who simply carried out their executive duties with little knowledge of or concern for the current issues. The Republican party, composed largely of conservative businessmen and agrarians, was given credit for ending slavery and preserving the Union. The Democtadc party, on the other hand, which was lc:own as "!he parry of rebellion" for its attraction of discontents across country, lacked public esteem. Regardless of their differences in membership, both parties existed printari'.y to maintain the status quo. Ausinessmen across the country were, confident that the American economy would be virtually unaffected by a change in office. 2. Faith in Technology Increased The political stability and econornic prosperity of this era generated many optimistic sentiments regard!ng the future of social conditions in the United States. The increase of industrialization and the decline of religiosity led to the belief that scientific and technologicai innovations would supply the answers to any social dilemmas which might arise in the future. 3. Imperialistic Attitudes Emerged The United States had risen as a successful industrial nation and world Power and the eyes of businessmen and Winter'88-'89 Page 6 Politicians turned overseas. Theta ' 1:n-cn was to create new markets for American goods and to spread the Anglican culture to inferior!ands, 4. Pessimism Expressed T,te great optimism of the American people did not go without comment from contemporary skeptics. The pessimists warned that the outdated methods of democracy could not continue if the people took their good fomme for granted. Such writers felt that Americans must abandon self-interest and accept responsibility for the health of their own and other =iedes by practicing self-denial and individual subordination to more expansive goals. Without such holistic views and attitudes. they predicted, the nation would inevitably meet its downfall. A comparison of the trends and attitudes of a century ago and today reveals that, while there may have been different actors and issues, the underlying political and social themes are remarkably similar. This finding has prompted some questions: Does history develop cyclically and actually repeat itself: or is the change which we Perceive merely sup:rficial in nature? Whether this change is real or illusory, what can we learn by studying the past and how can we incorporate these lessons into our own lives and visions of the future? Should we heed the warnings of skcpdcs and attempt to improve on the experiences of our ancestors in order to achieve positive changes in our society and the world? Additional reading on 'use and other topics can be found in the following refemnces: A Hicrory of the Ameri P pl Sir IM by Harry Carman, Harold Syneu and Bernard Wishy. NY: Alfred A. Knopf,1964. qhe IAea of prosem by Sidney pollard. NY: Basic Books inc., Pubiishers, 1968. s F'mmice �f Am r'r by Herbert Croly. NY: 'the Macmillian Co., 1910.