The Great Depression created something sort of analogous to the Vietnam Syndrome -- only it focused on the obligation of government to prevent such things. Now of course the actual depression generations are dead or dying. The post-war generations, who benefitted from government programs (gi-bill, interstate system, federal loan guarantee, etc) are also dying off. Meanwhile a series of "Little Recessions," gradually increasing in severity, more and more acculturated the public to slumps they could survive, just as little wars beegan to erode the Vietnam Syndrome. That gave room for full-fledged individualism to begin to flourish again. which coupled with White Backlash (of varying degrees of intensity) made it possible for a series of Administrations to turn "Government" into evil. It will take quite a shock, plus a vigorus movement in response to it, to build some new "Vietnam Syndrome."
As I said, pure speculation which I won't venture to defend or expand.
Carrol
Doug Henwood wrote:
>
> <http://www.gallup.com/poll/125468/Americans-Leery-Govt-Regulation-Business.aspx
> >
>
> Americans Leery of Too Much Gov't Regulation of Business
> Republicans in particular are worried about too much government
> regulation
>
> by Frank Newport
>
> PRINCETON, NJ -- At a time when the debate over the optimal role of
> government involvement in regulating business is a prominent policy
> debate, new Gallup polling shows that 57% of Americans are worried
> that there will be too much government regulation of business, while
> 37% worry that there will not be enough. Half of Americans believe the
> government should become less involved in regulating and controlling
> business, with 24% saying the government should become more involved
> and 23% saying things are about right.
>
> ...
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