The Worst Ideas of the 20th Century
Prohibition was the worst idea of the 20th Century (and of our lifetimes), according to the survey conducted by TIME Magazine in 1999-2000. It was named in a little more than 8% of the 233,000 votes cast in the survey, which reflected a mxture of laughs (leisure suits) and serious mistakes (the Titantic)
Right behind Prohibition was the Teensy Programming decision that led to the Y2K Bug (7.98%), Geraldo's opening of Capone's vault (7.8% ) and telemarketing (7.67%)
The surprisingly small percentages generated by the four top finishers reflected the competiton and the large number of bad calls we've seen in our lifetimes. Others drawing at least 3% were:
- The Jerry Springer Show
- O.J Simpson being called on to "try on the glove" in his murder trial
- Spandex in "Plus" sizes
- The American League's designated-hitter rule
- Driftnet fishing
- Watches that beep
- DDT
Check TIME for the complete list of "worst ideas."
Here are a few more candidates for the list of worst ideas during our lifetime:
- President Herbert Hoover and a long list of political and economic experts assuring the nation in 1929 that both the stock market and the economy were in great shape.
- Dan Qualyle comparing himself to President John F. Kennedy during his vice presidential debate, only to have Sen. Lloyd Bentzen counter with "You're no Jack Kennedy."
- George "The Elder" Bush saying "Read my lips" about no tax increasees.
- U.S. Sen. Gary Hart, the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nominaton in 1988, daring newsmen to check his social life, then getting photographed on a yacht with a woman sitting on his lap. He withdrew from the campaign shortly after.
- Michael Dukaksis inviting ridicule by donning a military uniform and riding a tank for a presidential campaign photo in 1988.
- Bill Clinton deciding that Monica, Jennifer, etc.were irresistable.
- Bob Dole depending upon voter "outrage" to beat Bill Clinton in 1996.
Copyright 2005-08 by Carroll P. Trosclair
