This series returns from a short hiatus with "Part Three - Politics."
The 80's
The political situation of the 1980s was not ideal, but what it lacked in quality it made up for in charisma. There were so many political giants in that era; George Bush, Tip O'Neal, Dan Quayle. And of course, the big one. The president of the US when I was born was Ronald Reagan, our nation's first ideologue Commander-in-Chief. His excellent quotes and TV moments are more noticeable in our lives than even JFK's, but more importantly his effect on the country today is incredible. He was the earthquake that started the Tsunami of conservatism that's dominated the U.S. in the 21st century. He gave money and weapons to the people we're currently at war with. He fought the Soviet Union relentlessly (as evidenced by that linked article), culminating in one of the great events of the 80's, the collapse of the Berlin Wall. In so many ways the world we're living in now was shaped in the 80's. So basically, I wish I had experienced the political 80's so I'd be less shocked by the political 2000's. 
The 70's
Watergate. Nixon. Vietnam. Hostages. OPEC. Pinochet. Inflation. Mao. Every time I think things have never been as bad as they are right now, I say these words over and over. It really helps.
Comments
Stiggy: I can't really do a part on the hair, because that's one part of the 80s I'm glad I didn't experience. 
Although, I kinda did experience it since people here were wearing 80s hair until 1997. And I remember that Patty Hearst episode... she's really not a great actor. 
Oooooh... it's the Troi shooting Worf episode isn't it? 
It's a lot better the second or third time, considering that the first time is spent being totally confused.
)
Perhaps the worst battle in history was the siege of Leningrad over a 2 1/2 year period in WWII. One and a half million died during that extended siege, most of them civilians. That's from one city alone.I think people tend to go overboard when they think the world is so bad today. Sure, there are tough problems to solve like Iraq but it really pales in comparison to what happened in the mid-20th century.
Even outside of war, hundreds of millions of people are better off today than they were 30, 40 and 50 years ago because of the extraordinary economic development that has taken place in numerous countries like China, Taiwan, South Korea, Ireland and now India. South Korea was once one of the poorest countries on the planet. Now it is an industrial nation with a thriving economy and culture. North Korea is pretty close to what the south was 50 years ago. Ireland was once one of the poorest countries in Europe. Today it is the 4th wealthiest country per capita -- in the world! No, poverty hasn't been erased and unfortunately it still is prevalent in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but it's still a great accomplishment to have perhaps as many as 500 million people worldwide now living a middle-class life whereas before they were in abject poverty.
Given all this, I don't think things are so bad when you look at the big picture.
Political 70s. I remember the Patty Hearst kidnapping and SLA. The Black Panthers and the No Nukes signs everywhere. The one image that stuck in my head was a photo in Life magazine showing a soldier returning from Vietnam and being spit on at the airport.
I can't think of the Reagan era without thinking of the Genesis, Land of Confusion,video. Shows where my head was in the 80s.
Stig14
Okay, now that I've returned from that little reality break.... hmmm... politics in the 70s. Patty Hearst is what I remember. She was in a Veronica Mars eppy, as a kidnap victim or something. I remember thinking it was funny haha for the producers/directors/casting people to get her to play that role.
Um.... I'm really not that political.
I thought part III was going to be "The Hair".