Ramaswamy is wrong: Why ’90s America was the pinnacle of greatness
Vivek Ramaswamy’s critique of 1990s American culture — a swipe at sleepovers, Saturday morning cartoons and kids hanging out at malls — lands like a lecture from someone who never quite understood what made the era magical. Yes, mall culture might seem frivolous to him, but at least when kids gathered there, they were socializing — a lost art in today’s age of isolation and endless scrolling.
His nostalgia for a joyless, hyper-utilitarian upbringing shows how out of touch he is with the essence of what made ’90s America great.
During this golden decade, as Ramaswamy was growing up, America wasn’t just leading the world — it was shaping it. The United States was the cultural capital of the globe, setting the standard not just for innovation but for influence. This was soft power at its peak — effortless, magnetic and aspirational. America wasn’t just a superpower; it was the cool kid everyone wanted to emulate.
Soft Power Superpower
What Ramaswamy fails to grasp is how the ’90s epitomized balance. The decade wasn’t about choosing between discipline and leisure; it was about seamlessly blending them. Shows like “Friends” turned the lives of six twenty-somethings in New York into a global phenomenon. From Mumbai to Milan, people mimicked Joey Tribbiani’s “How you doin’?” with grins and smirks, embracing a slice of Americana.
Meanwhile, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” tackled class and race with wit and wisdom, and “Seinfeld” deconstructed the absurdities of modern life with a precision that still resonates. And the movies were, on the whole, pure magic. “Titanic” wasn’t just a film; it was a cultural event. “Jurassic Park” brought dinosaurs to life in ways that ignited imaginations everywhere, while “The Matrix” redefined action cinema and philosophical storytelling. It reshaped how we think about reality itself. When it comes to ’90s culture, Ramaswamy seems to have swallowed the blue pill while convincing himself it was the red.
The ’90s soundtrack was just as iconic. Nirvana gave a voice to the disillusioned, Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” became the ultimate love anthem, and hip-hop emerged as a global movement, shaping both culture and identity. This was the age when Eminem burst onto the scene, shocking the world with his raw, unapologetic lyrics and elevating the U.S. hip-hop scene to new heights. These weren’t just trends; they were seismic shifts that showcased America’s ability to inspire, entertain and connect.
Meritocracy in Action
The ’90s also celebrated a meritocratic ethos. High school wasn’t just a hierarchy of cheerleaders and jocks; it was a proving ground for everyone. Prom queens weren’t crowned for looks alone — they balanced academics, extracurriculars and social leadership. The star quarterback wasn’t handed glory; he earned it through sweat and skill. Think of “Friday Night Lights,” where characters like Jason Street and Matt Saracen weren’t just athletes; they were complex individuals balancing immense pressure on the field with personal challenges off it.
And nerds? They weren’t sidelined — in fact, they had their moments to shine, defying the one-dimensional narrative Ramaswamy would have you believe. Steve Urkel from “Family Matters” showed that sheer brilliance and determination could steal the spotlight, clumsiness and all. Over on “Saved by the Bell,” Screech’s quirky genius made him an essential part of the gang, even if he was a little awkward. The ’90s didn’t just celebrate the cool and the confident — they made space for the thinkers, the dreamers and the oddballs, proving that everyone had a role to play in the cultural story.
Ramaswamy’s Myopic Vision
Ramaswamy’s dismissal of this cultural richness is shortsighted. His call for more math tutoring and fewer sleepovers reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what it takes to build a well-rounded individual. Hanging out at the mall or watching cartoons weren’t wastes of time; they were essential social experiences that developed empathy, teamwork and creativity.
Consider today’s innovators: Steve Jobs, who famously merged art with engineering, or his buddy, Elon Musk, whose inspiration came as much from science fiction as from science itself. These are the fruits of a culture that valued imagination as much as intellect. The ’90s weren’t just about producing engineers — they were about cultivating dreamers who could revolutionize industries and reshape the world.
Even Saturday morning cartoons — dismissed by Ramaswamy as mere fluff — were storytelling masterclasses. “Animaniacs” delivered sharp satire, while “Batman: The Animated Series” offered genuine artistry and depth. Shows like “Johnny Bravo,” with its slapstick charm, “Rugrats,” which explored childhood wonder through clever storytelling, and the surreal chaos of “Ren and Stimpy” pushed creative boundaries, proving that even so-called “kid’s stuff” could be bold, innovative and unforgettable.
The Lesson of the ’90s
The ’90s weren’t perfect, but they embodied a balance that’s hard to replicate. This was a decade that celebrated the grit of Michael Jordan alongside the genius of Bill Gates, the charm of Julia Roberts alongside the edge of Quentin Tarantino. MTV and NASA could coexist in the same cultural moment.
Ramaswamy’s vision of a joyless, hyper-competitive society might churn out a few more coders, but it would suffocate the creativity and humanity that made America a cultural and intellectual powerhouse. The ’90s remind us that greatness isn’t about sacrificing joy for ambition; it’s about blending them in a way that elevates both.
To make America great again, we don’t need to banish sleepovers or cartoons. We need to rediscover what the ’90s got right: a culture that valued balance, meritocracy and the joy of simply living. It wasn’t a world of rigid categories but one where nerds and jocks, dreamers and doers, all had their moments. The ’90s were a beautiful, messy and unforgettable testament to that obvious truth — no matter how hard Ramaswamy might try to convince you otherwise.
John Mac Ghlionn is a writer and researcher who explores culture, society and the impact of technology on daily life. His work appears in outlets like The New York Post and Newsweek.
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