Millennial Messianism
The other night I caught a radio interview with the two hacks responsible for Millennial Makeover: MySpace, YouTube and the Future of American Politics, in which the authors declare the rising “millennial” generation to be the ultimate flourishing of both liberal sentiment and Democratic political power. The MySpace generation will lead us into a glorious new future of “win-win solutions,” and will leave behind “fake” social issues in favor of the ones that really matter.
Quick quiz: which of the following is not actually a reason they cited for the deep-rooted communitarian and progressive sensibilities of the millennials, and is really a parody invented by me?
1. They were encouraged to share by watching a lot of Barney.
2. They came of age during an incompetent and ideologically unmoored Republican administration.
3. They played youth sports in which everyone got a trophy, no matter how well or poorly they played.
Pencils down.
Answer #2 is the fake reason.
EDIT: For a cheap shot, check out this picture of two guys with their finger on the pulse of today’s youth.
It’s hard to think of anything more terrifying than the idea that a generation of leaders would have their character shaped by watching a lot of Barney.
— Michael Simpson · May 10, 12:18 PM · #
The book is as bad as it sounds. They lay out a “cyclical” theory of political realignment in American history that takes people and events completely out of context. According to them, the 2008 election will be the same as the elections of 1932, 1860, and 1800 – economic populism triumphing over “divisive” social issues through the rise of a new generation empowered by communications technology.
— Sebastian · May 10, 02:57 PM · #
matt, your right that the author relied too much on popular culture to support their thesis. But there is statistical evidence that that people under the age of roughly 26 are overwhelmingly progressive, and have leaned democratic in 04, 06, and now again in 08’, each time favoring the democrats by a higher percentage. Im 17 years old and the only president i have know is Bush, that would make anyone reject the republican brand forever. In my mind the republicans are the party of dungeons and torture, gay-bashig, and imperialism.
And you “sebastian” i wish you wouldnt so easily toss away the cyclical history based on generations theory. I find this remarkably convincing, http://fourthturning.com/,. Its simplicity allows for a lot of leway in history.There are really many similarits between this years election and 32’
— Blakey · May 10, 05:59 PM · #
The picture is the cheap shot?
— Freddie · May 11, 01:20 AM · #