hereSome questions to start the debate.

1, Were the sixties a revolutionary period?

2, Are the sixties, as the Right like to claim, responsible for present day ills?

3, Ultimately, did the working class benefit from this epoch? and if not, who are the true beneficiaries?

4, When did "the sixties" start, and when did they end?

5, What is the single most important event of that decade?

I don't believe that when people talk of the sixties it means Jan 1st 1960, to Dec 31st 1969, They rather use the term to describe an attitude of mind, that seemed to be about a rejection of the past, and an embrace of modernism, typified by the Arts, especially music, and a resergence of Political activism. Many of the elements that are most associated with the sixties were already blossoming in the late 1950s, CND, The Beatnics, Rock and Roll, and the beginings of that troublesome creature the "Teenager"

I believe it is proper to describe the Sixties as a double decade, in the manner of Hobsbawm's short Century, 1958-1977 would seem to encompass the neccessary elements, Growth of working class confidence, new, and more Democratic forms of Art, often employing revolutionary ideals, the rise of the teenager, A massive increase in popular revolt, anti war, Womens rights, Civil rights, the breakdown of "The family" A call for sexual freedom and the begining of the complete mistrust of anything, and anyone Establishment, embodied by that wonderful sixties saying "The Man"

I'd agree with all above so far. For me the '60s' were all about HOPE...and now I realize those who purposely killed the '60s' (and many of the leaders/idols/heros/ordinary people of the '60s') had in mind to kill that hope first and foremost! It was the hope of change; the hope of different societal structures and paradigms; the hope of a change of priorities in human society back to its 'natural' form; it was about hope of real democracy - not the fake kind we have now (everywhere); it was about hope that Peace could win-out over War; that women and men could be equal [again]; all people equals; that all could benefit together our progress, science, technology, planetary wealth. It was about the hope to re-discover the lost ancient wisdom and add to it the new. It was about ending the societal/religious/puritanical denial of pleasures of living; and mostly it was hope for an end to the domination paradigm (over other humans, nations, tribes, groups - and all other species). It was about hope of real spiritual values and morality - not the sham variety in vogue and holding sway. It was about hope humanity could survive without destroying itself and befouling its own nest. It was about hope for the poor and the 'least amoung us' - not just the Oligarchy with the most. It was murdered in a well-orchestrated series of black operations over the time period and they keep it in its grave still..............

In America:

1... no more than the Roaring 20's

2... hardly, freedom of thought, ideas, speech and media manipulation. And, who is selling present day ills as ills?

3... of course the working class benefited... fair to good paying job[s], a home, two cars, kids off to college.

4... for some, its STILL the 60's

5... commercial use of the transistor...

Absolutely

Yes: the Right's counter-actions to the revolutionaries.

Not over yet, the long awaited 'second wave' may be sooner than later.

Kennedy till Jimi et al.

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