I have a spreadsheet called John’s Timeline. It runs from the year I was born to the present. It has schools I attended, places I’ve lived, jobs I’ve held and that sort of thing. To help me delve into my past, I’ve also included data about world events. Doing so has given real structure to my memories and given me a better perspective on my world view, especially as it relates to the aftermath of World War II, the event that gave rise to me, and the world it created.

I can see how events that were key to me and drove my perceptions might be invisible to those younger than me and mean nothing at all. I can see how the world has changed and in some cases I can see why. One change in particular is worthy of note. Bipartisanship. We’ve lost it. From 1946 right through the early 90s, parties worked together to pass legislation. Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency and opened up China. Reagan had a big immigration bill and started taxing Social Security. Clinton reformed welfare and repealed the Fairness Doctrine. Bush won the Cold War and raised taxes because we needed revenue to balance the budget. That’s all gone.

The unity that drove us to victory in World War II is a memory. How did we lose it? I have a theory. Right through the 70s nearly 4 out of 5 legislators served in the military. We were all on the same side to help America win in the world, with different opinions as to how best to serve America at home. Call it the legacy of World War II. Nowadays life feels more sectarian and angry. We even have people talking about a new Civil War and seceding from the Union. Getting and holding power feels more important than actually passing legislation. If the other guy wants it, we oppose it. I’m not a social scientist with reams of data, I’m just a guy who has seen things. And one of the things I’ve seen is that the middle is where things get done to benefit everyone while the extremes benefit only the righteous and the righteous can be a real pain in the neck.

Part 8, Living in America, An Old Man’s Journey into His Past