ABC's Gibson Tags 1980s 'Me Decade' During Volunteerism Story

By Brad Wilmouth (Bio | Archive)
December 4, 2006 - 23:19 ET

On Monday's World News with Charles Gibson, host Gibson referred to the 1980s as the "Me Decade" while reading a short story about volunteerism in America. Citing an unspecified "new study" showing that volunteerism is at a 30-year high with 27 percent of Americans donating time to community service, the ABC host noted that the number was "up from a low of 20 percent at the end of the 1980s." Gibson added: "Which, you may recall, was known as the 'Me Decade.'"

Below is a complete transcript of the story from the December 4 World News with Charles Gibson:

Charles Gibson: "And one note about what a lot of Americans are doing with their time. They're donating it. A new study out today says volunteering is at a 30-year high. More than a quarter of all American adults now spend time doing community service, up from a low of 20 percent at the end of the 1980s, which, as you may recall, was known as the 'Me Decade.'"


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Gibson thinks the rotting EU is our model anyways

December 4, 2006 - 23:31 ET by Unsane

VERY shocking from the guy who, a decade ago while reporting live from Denmark on GMA, was positively gushing about how tax rates in Denmark were around 63% "and people around here don't seem to mind at all".  (or something to that effect)

He's just another whiny ingrate Leftist who insists that we should follow the "brave" trail (to ruin, little does he know) of the rotting EU.

"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy."  -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)

Gibson ought to refer to that

December 4, 2006 - 23:39 ET by Galvanic

Gibson ought to refer to that new book about Who Gives in the US.  The author found, to his surprise but not ours, that the states that donated the most to charity were  the Red states, and that conservatives generally donate more time and money than liberals.

This reminds me of when Bill Clinton decided that Voluntarism was going to be one of his Themes of the Month.  He urged Americans to volunteer in their communities to make them better, as if he suddenly invented the concept.  I always wondered if he had ever been a tutor or mentor, or youth sports coach, or Sunday school teacher, or Scoutmaster, or Red Cross volunteer, et al.  I suspect he never did.

 But we need to be on our guard.  When the Dems perceive volunteerism as a rival to wasteful Big Government, they'll find a way to either regulate it or tax it out of existence.

Would "tutoring" M

December 5, 2006 - 00:35 ET by HypocriteHater

Would "tutoring" Monica count as charity work? ;-)

"Today we did what we had to do. They counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong."    - Ronald Reagan

icky thought

December 5, 2006 - 00:59 ET by terrig

What ever happened to old Monica.  Read somewhere years ago that she was trying to hawk some purses & Jenny Craig (sales slipped, fathom that?).  But what is the blue dress, beret wearing girl up to now?? 

I thought it was the "Me Deca

December 5, 2006 - 00:00 ET by balboa

I thought it was the "Me Decade" because of the junk bonds stuff, Milliken (sp?), etc.?

"Me decade" a slam at Reagan

December 5, 2006 - 00:27 ET by nkviking75

The "Me Decade" was given that label when Reagan became president and the influence of the 60's hippie boomer crowd began to fade. Reagan enacted policies that made the economy take off and restored us to prosperity after the disastrous Carter years. Supposedly American became greedy and self-centered as the country took a strong right conservative turn.

Given the excesses of the Clinton presidency, IMHO the label fit the 90's much better.

Me Decade

December 5, 2006 - 00:49 ET by Blonde

nk,

Oh yeah....the "me decade" started in the 80's.....

By those of us who were sick to death of our older whiny anti-war protesting, smelly, hippy, brothers & sisters.

So you betcha, we were all for me....me as in "I am going to think for myself, I am going to make something of myself, I am going to be responsible for myself"....and then of course, we met our partners and moved it right along.

I remember the night Reagan was elected....like it was yesterday.

So yes, the 80's absolutely were the "me" years.  As in "I am going to be responsible for my own self, and everything I do!"

The 90's would be more aptly described as the "greed" years....an entirely different thing, if you really think about it....

The glorious 1980s

December 5, 2006 - 01:21 ET by Unsane

Good catch...I loved the 1980s. Mr. Gibson says "me" years like it is a bad thing...

"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy."  -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)

Uns,Of course he does....to h

December 5, 2006 - 01:32 ET by Blonde

Uns,

Of course he does....to him....it should always be the "we" years.

As if...."we" should decide for you...."we" should spend your money...."we" are the arbiters of all that is fine and righteous.

No decade epitomizes "me" like the 70's.

December 5, 2006 - 00:31 ET by terrig

I really don't get Charlie Gibson.  On the surface he seems like he would or should be the most sane one on the big 3 but I guess there is no sane one there.  Okay, I was a kid in the 70's but I remember all the drinking and drugs and hearing about Studio 54 all the time on tv.  Heck, I had a number of cousins who put a very expensive white powder up their noses multiple times and had to have their noses rebuilt.  Call me crazy but I think old Charlie has it wrong.  I too find it funny that libs don't give anywhere near as much as conservatives do.  Wonder why that is?  I have my own opinons but I know the libs think they're the greatest.

I bet Chuckies new stats in

December 5, 2006 - 01:44 ET by OIFveteran

I bet Chuckies new stats include the Americorps who get paid to "volunteer".

Granted, I grew up in a Republican/Army family so by default I'm stupid according to the Dhimmicrats, but don't volunteers do just that. Volunteer and not get paid?

<insert something clever>

Mr. Gibson may have acciden

December 5, 2006 - 01:50 ET by ckc1227

Mr. Gibson may have accidentally confirmed something the MSM has been trying to deny, and that is the economy really IS doing pretty well, and because it is doing pretty well, people can afford to volunteer more.

Perhaps the person who first

December 5, 2006 - 08:44 ET by ghotifun

Perhaps the person who first noted the need for volunteering was George H. W. Bush.  Early in his presidency, did he not refer to the "thousand points of light" as recognizing the untapped resources of American volunteers?

I can't believe no one noti

December 5, 2006 - 22:42 ET by Howard_Beale

I can't believe no one noticed Gibson's big mistake.

It's the 1970s that was dubbed The 'Me' Decade," not the 80s. The term was coined by author Tom Wolfe.