The Young Vote
 

Newsweek has an interesting cover article about a resurgence of interest in politics on the part of the young generation. Being a person who believes in the public policy-making process (as opposed to some of you guys whose agenda is simple.....tear down gubmit and increase your income by lowering your support of community/gubmit), this has me excited. Except for one thing, and I think this is very interesting:

I know a number of young people and I discuss political and economic issues with them. They are, as we were, smarter than old farts give them credit for. There is an elephant in the corner. Young people see the economic handwriting on the wall. America's economic strategy has been one of leveraging today's profits against tomorrow's prospects. 100% short term. No long term strategy. Further, our economy is based on growth and increases in affluence. Typically American, we are not prepared for a period of no growth. That means economic disaster. We leverage our earnings with massive debt and growth is a MINIMUM. When (not if) that collapses, we're in deep doodoo. And.....it's GOING to happen. We're just working hard to make sure it happens on someone else's watch.

Let;'s get back to the young people. They will inherit the cost of our irresponsibility. Here is what they see: They see poor upward wage pressure. They see good jobs going overseas. They see other countries preparing their next generation. They see mounting debt. They see a mass of wealth located at the upper end of the age scale here. They feel we raped their future, and are holding wealth as a consequence. And....they are correct.

And so, as much as you guys hate gubmit reaching into your pockets......gubmit is still the people and soon these young folks will have a voice.

They are going to reach into your pockets, guys. During retirement. Liberalism has not been ultra-popular for quite some time. The early sixties. But I think that's what you're in for.

100% short term is correct. No long term strategy is also correct.

And sad.

But I don't see how liberalism is the answer. Do these intelligent young people think the government reaching further into their pockets will solve this?

Their hope is the gubmit will reach further into YOUR pocket.

Most younger people (high school or college age) aren't smart enough to think for themselves yet. They tend to be sponge-heads who are easily brainwashed by those around them, be it conservative parents or liberal professors or simply from peer pressure.
The just regurgitate what they have been programed with but they do it with ENTHISIASM and we act like that is a good thing. Bah.

I'd prefer it if the legal age to vote was 30 or older, that was they could actually try and figure out how the world really works before they try to influence it.
That would also help rid the world of at least some of the most liberal politicians.

Please lead by example. I'll wait for you to post a copy of the receipt from the IRS for you tithing 100% of your salary to the federal government, since you're such a believer in "father knows best" and everything. :)

Trouble with those young voters is they don't show up for the general election.
I can appreciate all this idealism for Obama, but aside from the CHANGE slogan that hangs over the rallies for TV, where's the beef?

I was heartless when I was under 30 ;)

I've always been heartless.

One of these days I'll explain my paper on "advanced social darwinism" that I did in high school. ;)

Oh, and my parents were RINOs. Claimed to be conservative, but always had their hands out...

QUOTE:"Here is what they see: They see poor upward wage pressure. They see good jobs going overseas. They see other countries preparing their next generation. They see mounting debt. They see a mass of wealth located at the upper end of the age scale here. They feel we raped their future, and are holding wealth as a consequence. And....they are correct."
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So let's run some of the snot nosed brats for office?

Sure they may get out the vote (LOL! oh ...sorry) but look who the candidates are they get to vote for.

We need Fresh New Faces in D.C. and elsewhere.

I say let's dump anyone over, oh ...say 30 years of age that is in ANY elected office, nationwide, and replace them ALL with ...20somethings!

and let me know how that works out for ya.

Nothing like getting a good job, opening your pay envelope, and finally understanding how much government steals. This has changed many liberals into conservatives.

I turned from a liberal to a conservative when I bought my first place, a duplex, and the City of LA came in an told me what how much I could rent the lower unit for. WTF? It's MY property, you don't like what I want to charge for rent, don't do the deal!

Painting with a pretty broad brush, aren't we guys? You're like a bunch of grumpy old men sitting around the coffee shop, complaining about how the younger generation will be the end of us.

I'm 27, and would like to think that I have my own lucid views on politics and the state of our nation. My friends also have their views, and it's a topic we frequently discuss. We have all gone to college, and none of us was simplistic enough to buy into the BS. While we vary in some areas, I can tell you for a fact that liberalism is most certainly NOT the answer that we would select. In general, I'd say that we would all support cutting government spending to balance the budget, and reducing the overall size and scope of the govt. Most of the younger people I encounter feel the same. Note, however, that conservative does not equal Republican. In recent years the Republican party has been anything but conservative.

Supe, you think you might be somewhat framing the conversations? Either by the people you talk to, or geography? Painting an entire generation into a corner is a bit simplistic.

Matt - you are smarter than most.

But the press loves and reports on the left leaning youngsters of today..

The press loves and reports on ANYONE left leaning. That's why the Hollywood nutjobs get so much press, despite the fact that they are no more qualified than anyone here.

A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.

-Ty Webb

Supe I am young and i guess I fall in the "tear down gubmit and increase your income by lowering your support of community/gubmit" category.

I want the government to stop reaching into anyone's pockets.