Millennials are maligned everyday. Corporate leaders condescend to them and public officials complain about their naivete. If only millennials could be more like us they say to one another.
Newsflash, the younger generation does not want to be like the previous generations, i.e. baby boomers and generation x'ers. Quite the opposite, actually. It's more probable than not that millennials will have to clean up the mess that has been left for them. To do that millennials must reject current norms and principles.
The state of the country, all things being considered, is messy. Social cohesion is lacking. Faith in institutions, both public and private, are at record lows. While there has been economic progress, too much prosperity has gone to those who need it the least. Civility and decency are things of the past.
So, given current circumstances, millennials must call out those who have failed. Far too long we have let our leaders, primarily comprised of baby boomers, call the shots and lead us down a path of unrest (maybe personified the best by Donald Trump).
Their approach has been adversarial, not inquisitive. Every possible issue of disagreement is broken into two, diametrically opposed sides. The worldview of older generations was certainly shaped by the Cold War and the chaotic times of the Vietnam War, but it is destructive. When compromise is needed -- for example, on the issue of climate change -- the conservative reaction is to oppose any solution lest we turn into a communist regime. It is silly. At least millennial conservatives acknowledge the problem (for the most part) and propose conservative ideas to combat it.
Previous generations have also forgotten that millennials are more educated than they are so stop with the deception. Nuance exists in complex issues of public policy. There can be free markets with limited regulation. A tax system can be more progressive, but keep its entrepreneurial spirit. I cannot explain how many times I have argued with a baby boomer about the merits of government intervention in a depressed economy to only be accused of being a "Marxist." A liberal idea and a conservative idea can both be right at the same time (fiscal prudence dictates that low to moderate deficits should be strived for in good times, but in difficult times, higher government spending should be considered, even encouraged).
A lot of criticism to this post will certainly arise from the clear gains that have been made in technology and consumption. How can a millennial brat complain?! This line of attack is unpersuasive. Sure, consumerism is alive and well. So many different products, services, and businesses to choose from. But, there is more to life than acquiring things. Millennials value family time, new experiences abroad, personal mobility, autonomous work environments, and creative opportunities. Today, with the policies put into place by the previous generations, it is more difficult for a millennial to achieve those dreams.
Now, not later, is the time for millennials to climb the ladders of responsibility. Young leaders should run for public office. It does not need to be national. Start with your local communities. Change is needed and who better to lead it than youthful visionaries who are ready to begin anew.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Monday, February 29, 2016
How Donald Trump Hijacked the GOP
Something is amiss. Or rather, something has happened to the people of this country. It seems that too many voters, inexplicably (or maybe it can be explained but we refuse to believe it because it is too scary), have been swept off of their feet by Donald Trump. The presumptive Republican nominee is a man who knows no shame, decency or respect.
The list is endless -- a long history of sleights, insults, and demagoguery. A trickster who inherited his wealth, but somehow persuaded the public into believing that he was self-made, will be a serious contender for the white house in the general election. Even now, while writing this post, I cannot believe that he is in the lead. His opponents, just recently, are trying to employ the same juvenile tactics that he has used since the beginning of his campaign, i.e. name-calling, innuendo, and conspiracy theories.
An inquiry into how one major political party was hijacked is the subject matter of this post. Serious in tone, markedly different than my more light-hearted blogs, shows how grave I believe our political situation to be. Let us begin.
Beware of what you wish for. Pick any metaphor: Frankenstein, Terminator, or Icarus. Credit for creating Donald Trump the candidate belongs, in part, to the Republican party. For years now, since President Obama was sworn in, the GOP has made it a legislative, political and idealistic goal to oppose everything that the President stands for. It doesn't matter if the party use to adopt a similar policy in the past (see: Cap and Trade, Individual Mandate, Comprehensive Tax Reform). If Obama is for it, they must be against it.
A strategy of obstruction was meant to bear political fruit. Mitch McConnell, senate majority leader, believed that the gridlock would result in voters being frustrated. He knew that Congress would be blamed, but theorized that President Obama would be blamed more. Thus, inaction has become the norm.
In addition, Republicans have stepped up their bluster, hyperbole, and extremism. For purposes of inciting the base, and encouraging higher voter turnout, elected officials have swayed from the mainstream. Instead of "a president whom we disagree with", it has become normal to say that the "president is a traitor, terrorist-funding, dictator, who will do anything to dismantle the constitution." Such language riles the passions, particularly those who hold white nationalist beliefs (a core constituency of Donald Trump).
GOP primary voters are mad. They are angry with their economic station in life. For decades now, income and wealth inequality has benefited those at the top at the expense of everyone else. It is being felt everyday. Trade deficits result in layoffs. Soaring corporate profits culminate in lower wages. Beneficial tax rates for millionaires and billionaires lead to reduced tax receipts and social benefits. Who has advocated for the policies that exacerbate the problems above? Republicans.
Add it all up: an angry, frustrated populist movement exists in the Republican party and Donald Trump knows how to play into their anger. He offers easy solutions. The real estate mogul dumbs it down. Trump makes life a zero-sum game: it has to be the fault of undocumented immigrants (economists actually point out that immigrants increase innovation and GDP), or Muslims, or African-Americans. Complexity is shunned. Quick, streamlined justice according to "The Donald", and "The Donald" alone, is all that is needed for "America to be great again."
Donald Trump will likely be the general election candidate for the Republicans, and a large establishment majority within the party do not like it. They believed, incorrectly, that they could control the extreme elements within. Political death after political death should have been a warning (Dick Lugar, Eric Cantor, John Boehner); it wasn't. The monster movement that the GOP created is uncontrollable and strikes indiscriminately.
Pundits, establishment politicians, and wealthy insiders may be confused about the current state of affairs. Perhaps, they really didn't see a Donald Trump victory on the horizon. But any fan of science fiction knows, you have to be careful with what you create. Ultimately, your own creation can be your own demise.
The list is endless -- a long history of sleights, insults, and demagoguery. A trickster who inherited his wealth, but somehow persuaded the public into believing that he was self-made, will be a serious contender for the white house in the general election. Even now, while writing this post, I cannot believe that he is in the lead. His opponents, just recently, are trying to employ the same juvenile tactics that he has used since the beginning of his campaign, i.e. name-calling, innuendo, and conspiracy theories.
An inquiry into how one major political party was hijacked is the subject matter of this post. Serious in tone, markedly different than my more light-hearted blogs, shows how grave I believe our political situation to be. Let us begin.
Beware of what you wish for. Pick any metaphor: Frankenstein, Terminator, or Icarus. Credit for creating Donald Trump the candidate belongs, in part, to the Republican party. For years now, since President Obama was sworn in, the GOP has made it a legislative, political and idealistic goal to oppose everything that the President stands for. It doesn't matter if the party use to adopt a similar policy in the past (see: Cap and Trade, Individual Mandate, Comprehensive Tax Reform). If Obama is for it, they must be against it.
A strategy of obstruction was meant to bear political fruit. Mitch McConnell, senate majority leader, believed that the gridlock would result in voters being frustrated. He knew that Congress would be blamed, but theorized that President Obama would be blamed more. Thus, inaction has become the norm.
In addition, Republicans have stepped up their bluster, hyperbole, and extremism. For purposes of inciting the base, and encouraging higher voter turnout, elected officials have swayed from the mainstream. Instead of "a president whom we disagree with", it has become normal to say that the "president is a traitor, terrorist-funding, dictator, who will do anything to dismantle the constitution." Such language riles the passions, particularly those who hold white nationalist beliefs (a core constituency of Donald Trump).
GOP primary voters are mad. They are angry with their economic station in life. For decades now, income and wealth inequality has benefited those at the top at the expense of everyone else. It is being felt everyday. Trade deficits result in layoffs. Soaring corporate profits culminate in lower wages. Beneficial tax rates for millionaires and billionaires lead to reduced tax receipts and social benefits. Who has advocated for the policies that exacerbate the problems above? Republicans.
Add it all up: an angry, frustrated populist movement exists in the Republican party and Donald Trump knows how to play into their anger. He offers easy solutions. The real estate mogul dumbs it down. Trump makes life a zero-sum game: it has to be the fault of undocumented immigrants (economists actually point out that immigrants increase innovation and GDP), or Muslims, or African-Americans. Complexity is shunned. Quick, streamlined justice according to "The Donald", and "The Donald" alone, is all that is needed for "America to be great again."
Donald Trump will likely be the general election candidate for the Republicans, and a large establishment majority within the party do not like it. They believed, incorrectly, that they could control the extreme elements within. Political death after political death should have been a warning (Dick Lugar, Eric Cantor, John Boehner); it wasn't. The monster movement that the GOP created is uncontrollable and strikes indiscriminately.
Pundits, establishment politicians, and wealthy insiders may be confused about the current state of affairs. Perhaps, they really didn't see a Donald Trump victory on the horizon. But any fan of science fiction knows, you have to be careful with what you create. Ultimately, your own creation can be your own demise.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Bernie Already Won
American presidential elections are unlike any other in the world. For one, presidential campaigns start way too early -- years before a voter steps into the voting box. Two, billions of dollars are spent on the candidates. Thank you Citizens United (not really). Three, we have a primary system that puts an inordinate amount of responsibility on a Midwest state that does not reflect the broader electorate.
Tomorrow, February 1, the voting will begin. The state of Iowa will caucus and choose a candidate for the general election. Polls show a close race on both sides of the aisle. Donald Trump leads Senator Ted Cruz; Secretary Hillary Clinton edges Senator Bernie Sanders by a few points. Only time will tell who will end the night victorious.
For Democrats, even if Hillary were to win, Bernie Sanders will remain the champion. This observation is not meant as a dig to Secretary Clinton, who remains a strong, formidable progressive. No, it is a reflection on what has occurred during the summer and fall. Feel the Bern has become a movement that will not be extinguished with a loss in Iowa. A fire has been lit.
The popularity of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders lies in current economic realities. For the past four decades, income and wealth distribution has grown more unfair. By objective measures, America no longer offers equal opportunity for those willing to work towards their American Dream. Instead, corporate profits soar while wages remain flat. Executives receive a 300:1 pay ratio without having to deliver results.
Levels of inequality are obscene. Even conservatives cannot deny it. 100 White Americans own more wealth than every African-American throughout the country. One family, the Walton family, has more wealth than 40% of the entire country. Since 1979, the percentage of national income to the top 1% has doubled. Japanese, Italians, and Belgians are more wealthy than Americans.
With so much wealth, the privileged class has sole influence over our elected officials. Political scientists have done the research. Important issues to average Americans are not on the radar for representatives. Instead, lobbyists and campaign contributions make sure that corporate interests are catered to first, and usually to the detriment of the consumer. Monopolies run rampant; small businesses and entrepreneurship have declined. We do not have a capitalist system. We have a crony state.
Bernie Sanders has run his campaign on the promise to raise the middle class up rather than subjugate it to Wall Street. Labels do not matter, even if the media claims that his democratic-socialist identification will hurt his chances of a win in a general election. What ultimately matters is how this economic crisis will be solved. Americans, particularly millennials, who comprise a large percentage of his passionate supporters, know that if action is not taken together, collectively, we will slide into more unrest, bitter partisanship, and economic stagnation.
Republicans and Democrats feel the injustice. So, going forward, no matter the outcome of the Iowa Caucus, issues of economic fairness will be front and center. In a way, Bernie has already won.
Tomorrow, February 1, the voting will begin. The state of Iowa will caucus and choose a candidate for the general election. Polls show a close race on both sides of the aisle. Donald Trump leads Senator Ted Cruz; Secretary Hillary Clinton edges Senator Bernie Sanders by a few points. Only time will tell who will end the night victorious.
For Democrats, even if Hillary were to win, Bernie Sanders will remain the champion. This observation is not meant as a dig to Secretary Clinton, who remains a strong, formidable progressive. No, it is a reflection on what has occurred during the summer and fall. Feel the Bern has become a movement that will not be extinguished with a loss in Iowa. A fire has been lit.
The popularity of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders lies in current economic realities. For the past four decades, income and wealth distribution has grown more unfair. By objective measures, America no longer offers equal opportunity for those willing to work towards their American Dream. Instead, corporate profits soar while wages remain flat. Executives receive a 300:1 pay ratio without having to deliver results.
Levels of inequality are obscene. Even conservatives cannot deny it. 100 White Americans own more wealth than every African-American throughout the country. One family, the Walton family, has more wealth than 40% of the entire country. Since 1979, the percentage of national income to the top 1% has doubled. Japanese, Italians, and Belgians are more wealthy than Americans.
With so much wealth, the privileged class has sole influence over our elected officials. Political scientists have done the research. Important issues to average Americans are not on the radar for representatives. Instead, lobbyists and campaign contributions make sure that corporate interests are catered to first, and usually to the detriment of the consumer. Monopolies run rampant; small businesses and entrepreneurship have declined. We do not have a capitalist system. We have a crony state.
Bernie Sanders has run his campaign on the promise to raise the middle class up rather than subjugate it to Wall Street. Labels do not matter, even if the media claims that his democratic-socialist identification will hurt his chances of a win in a general election. What ultimately matters is how this economic crisis will be solved. Americans, particularly millennials, who comprise a large percentage of his passionate supporters, know that if action is not taken together, collectively, we will slide into more unrest, bitter partisanship, and economic stagnation.
Republicans and Democrats feel the injustice. So, going forward, no matter the outcome of the Iowa Caucus, issues of economic fairness will be front and center. In a way, Bernie has already won.
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