America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says About Who We Are

Re:America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says ... by Avicebron on Friday July 03, 2026 @12:28PM (#48776859)

Sometimes I wish Strauss–Howe theory hadn't been hijacked. It seems noteworthy how similar (cyclical?) things are even if it's a coincidence..

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says ... by edoceo on Friday July 03, 2026 @12:30PM (#48776879)

A key feature of the human condition is thinking "this time will be different"

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says ... by gopher_space on Friday July 03, 2026 @06:29PM (#48780772)

From my perspective more like "it didn't work the last 20 times we tried it, but it damn well ought to!"

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says ... by copper-float on Friday July 03, 2026 @12:58PM (#48777190)

What do you mean hijacked? I'm not familiar with that theory.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says ... by Izkata on Friday July 03, 2026 @01:32PM (#48777554)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss%E2%80%93Howe_generatio...

The relevant sections for these comments:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss%E2%80%93Howe_generatio...

Basically we've been in a "4th Turning" for about two decades, and the 4th turning typically ends in some sort of crisis (hence the name for it, "Crisis"): Great Depression/WWII in the previous one, the US Civil War before that, the "Age of Revolution" before that, etc.

The idea behind it is lessons learned last until the people who lived through the previous one die. So the 4 "turnings" repeat every 80-100 years, and some sort of major crisis is expected around now - hence talk of another Great Depression or WWIII.

I don't see what GP means by "hijacked", GGP is pretty much a direct reference to exactly what it talks about.

Aside, this meme is based on this theory: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/hard-times-create-strong-men - "hard times" represents the 4th Turning, though it's oversimplified, which makes it not really a great match.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says ... by Spooky23 on Friday July 03, 2026 @01:24PM (#48777474)

Crazy/extemist people use it as a way to justify their nonsense.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:America, 1926: What a Forgotten 100-Year-Old Report Says ... by GolfPopper on Friday July 03, 2026 @02:02PM (#48777930)

Yeah, that's my guess as to what Avicebron meant as well. Various flavors of extremists use it (like others have used "social darwinism") as a justification or excuse for their accumulation and abuses of power. "We are the 'hard men' this time needs! Shut up and do what we tell you!"

[ Parent | on HN ]