I’ve seen a lot of 1976-related nostalgia on the internet these past weeks, as the 250th anniversary of America’s founding approaches. I suppose the comparisons are inevitable.
Most manifestations of this involve older adults (obviously, since they are the only ones who can remember 1976) reflecting on how much better things were back then.
My opinion?
I was 8 years old and I had a happy childhood, so 1976 was a grand year for me.
But adults at the time were concerned with:
- Stagflation
- Post-Vietnam divisions
- Rising urban crime rates
- Energy crises
- The then-recent Watergate turmoil
- Soviet aggression
It wasn’t paradise on earth, in other words.
Still, the vibe from 1976 seemed more positive than the vibe of 2026.
Also, the World War II generation was still in charge everywhere, and they tended to be more measured in their leadership, because they knew from experience just how bad things could get.
The Baby Boomer, Gen X, and Millennial leaders of today don’t have that perspective.
In 1976, JD Vance would not be born for 8 years. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would not emerge from the womb for another 13 years.
In 1976, the world was led by adults. In 2026, it is mostly led by children–of varying ages.
-ET