Quite frankly, I’m worried. Our neighboring country seems to be sinking deeper and deeper into an alarming dystopian, circus show era, and I can’t help but wonder what we can do beyond cringing and hope that this will pass?
The options are few, but here they are, as I see them:
- We can ignore it all and put our heads in the sand. We can think, ‘I’m okay, so I don’t care’. Unfortunately that’s not a choice for those of us who have children and grandchildren.
- If you are American, of course, you can can fight. You can register your disapproval of the political reality by contacting your representatives, you can join protest groups, you can do everything you can to ensure that your vote will count this next election, (not as easy as it used to be, now that foreign influences are targeting the election)
- The rest of us can only do one thing—pin our hope on the next generation, the millennials.
Members of this generation were born between 1981 and 1996,the oldest millennial is 39 years old and the youngest is, or is turning, 24 years old in 2020. They are at the prime age to become interested in politics and change the course of how their country is run.
The question is, are they up to it? Are they smart enough, do they care enough, do they have what it takes?
Maybe. Compared to baby boomers, millennials are more motivated by their ability to make an impact wherever they work. According to a Global Report survey, 74% of millennial job candidates want a job where they feel like their work matters, where they can make a difference.
They differ from the boomer generation, in that they are more interested in maintaining good eating habits and physical activity, (as reported in “Millennials are more health-conscious than older generations”). In other words, they are more interested in staying healthy.
They are more conscious about climate change. According to a recent report 70% of Americans age 18 to 34 worry about global warming. This compares with 62% of those 35 to 54 and 56% who are 55 or older.
They are more broadly racially diverse. Overall, millennials are 55.8 percent white and nearly 30 percent “new minorities” (Hispanics, Asians and those identifying as two or more races). In 2000, when millennials were just beginning to impact demographics, this age group was 63 percent white and in 1990 it was 73 percent white. Of course, this means they are less likely to be racist.
They support changes in how society addresses the issues of gay marriage, criminal justice and marijuana legalization.
They are better educated than their parents, they are more tech savvy, and are less interested in having material possessions. (Although this may be because they have less money than boomers.)
I have written about this generation before. I have always been interested in its size and potential. My hope is that, as this group matures and its influence increases, it will astound us with their capability.
In an age that is becoming increasingly lawless and worrisome, we can only hope.
Right on, Diane!
Thanks, Barry. I stay out of it as long as I can, but this week was too much for me!
Great post, Diane. I’m encouraged by the number of people I see taking to the streets, gathering outside the White House and the Supreme Court, making phone calls–it felt like there was a long lull of civic indifference after Vietnam and the initial civil rights struggles.
We are, indeed, in a mess. A life-threatening, planet-threatening mess. It’s important to keep hollering. What we do DOES matter. The noise we make DOES have an effect. I get an e-mail almost every day letting me know that some action taken (phone call, petition signature, protest) has made a positive difference, changed an outcome for the better. While fighting to right the wrongs, we can gain strength by remembering all the wrongs our active vigilance has prevented.
Yes, Amy. Taking action does matter. And it is happening world-wide, although anything non-residents do can appear futile, since we don’t have a vote. Speaking out is all we can do!
We fervently hope that both Millennials and Boomers will turn out to vote, since they are the ones that can get rid of the poison in the White House and U.S. Senate, and put our country back on the right road. Thanks for your post and support!
It just may happen this time, Rin! Younger people are more engaged than I’ve ever! Fingers crossed, fingers crossed…
Interesting!
As for being more health conscious, Millennials are a lot less healthy, more of them fall sick, and are not the right weight for their height, than previous generations. [https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-facts-2014-5] I believe that older generations learned how to be active and eat healthy food from their parents, and the Millennials are stuck listening to digital entrepreneurial interests, bombarded with smoke and mirrors, bells and whistles, promising magic bullets. There is a deterioration in the quality of self care, and actual knowledge about human health and nutrition, in the Millenial generation, in the general sense, I do know exceptions. So much misinformation about health is spread around the internet, the Millenials who seem to have little to no ability to distinguish between reliable information and hype.
Out of general interest in the state of the world, I follow quite a few social media venues, dominated by Millenials. The lack of basic knowlege is shocking, as is the proliferation of young people giving advice to each other, advice based on self-education learned on the internet. They honestly believe they can gain a real education from youtube, directed by themselves. Although I respect that there is some very good information shared on venues like youtube, that does not consitute an education… one must be able to discern what is credible, and what is not, and that ability to think critically is not taught on the internet, and I wonder if it is being taught in the schools.
I favour the politic rather than the Politic. The Politic seems a divisive energy in human societies, the politic a healthy energy.
Do what you can, when you can, always watch for the opportunity, and don’t expect praise or reward for it, is my approach.
Wow, lots to think about here, Maggie, although I don’t agree with some of it! There is a problem with disinformation, I concur, thereby giving Millenials false information about nutrition, but I do know they exercise more than our generation did, and tend not to be a overweight. Statistics do differ, though. As for their general knowledge, when I think about how ignorant we were when young, it makes me shudder. They have much longer to learn, and show signs of doing so. They certainly have the technology ability. Thanks, Maggie, you have done a lot of thinking about this!
I do what I can and stay engaged as much as I can stomach. You are right that there is little you can do, and for that matter not much that I can do as an American, either. Vote, give money, join marches and causes and hope for change.
You have it covered, Djan!
If you are a Boomer, I’m one then the Millenials are basically your own sons and daughters. I don’t think any one demographic has the power or smarts over another. To solve some of our most difficult economic and social problems there will need to be more collaboration among the different age groups. Also, seniors 50+ need to determine if they are going to be part of the problem or significant contributors to the required solutions today based on their wisdom and experiences.
Seniors(70+) are not part of the generation that displayed the excesses of the boomers (who set new standards of materialism). Older people have been more cautious in what they consume and how they affect the planet. Not all of them, but certainly the majority. Thanks, Joe, good thoughts!
What seniorpreneur says
Action is what counts, and as long as older people vote to keep certain groups in power, I don’t think we can claim wisdom. Just say’n. Thanks Tom. I value your opinion, as I do seniorpreneur as well.
In truth we’ve no choice but to trust the younger generations. Like it or not, they are our future. I hope we’ve taught them well enougn.
Yes. The ship has sailed for our generation. We had our chance. I’ll say it again, action counts, and I question how our generation is voting—in my country as well as the US. Thanks, Pied.
The scary thing is that milennials or boomers could easily sit out the election unless the candidate of their choice is the one eventually put on the ballot.
Oh, don’t scare me! That would be a travesty.
I have mixed feelings on this, not the political side (I’m in the Southern Hemisphere) but on which generation is the better, doing better, potentially better – in all avenues…
It’s so complex, so there really are no easy answers, no real assurance that any generation is better than another at addressing today’s problems. But somewhere along the line, I did make a choice, mainly because I don’t like how the previous generation has voted, and may vote again. Thanks, cedar.
One thing is certain, it’s going to be interesting! I’m afraid we’re in for four more years of Trump if the economy continues to do so well, but we will have to see.
One can only hope!
The world, and our future hinges on hope, these days. Nice to hear from you, Carla!
I can’t bear to even think it. But you have a point, people don’t seem to care about anything as long as they are making money. That’s really unfortunate.
My reply to cheerfulmonk was supposed to convey my hope that President Trump will be re-elected. I know that’s not a popular sentiment on this blog, but so be it.
No, It’s not a popular theme with me, but you are entitled to your opinion, Carla. All the best.
My two daughters are both millennials, born in 1986 and 1991. I see a lot of what you describe in their approach to life, and they make me hopeful that their generation will build a better world than the one their predecessors have been screwing up.
Congratulations for raising such great people! Dads have a great influence, you know!
Thanks, Diane. I tend to think my ex-wife deserves the lion’s share of the credit though!
Indeed, Clive.
Since I am neither Canadian nor a neighbour, I shall simply leave this link with you with my compliments.
Thanks so much, Rummuser. I will read it—I’m sure it will be illuminating!
No doubt some of us will see.
Yes, Derrick, time will tell, as always!
As a British senior citizen (80 +) I don’t know much about Millenials or American politics. However, if it wasn’t for young Americans I would now be speaking German. I am a great fan of the American people, and I hope they let me remain so.
Me too, John!
The most interesting thing to me is that most Millenials I know are supporting the Oldest Candidate!! That seems to be the only uniting force. I will certnainly not sit out if my candidate does not win the primaries but the problem is I can’t decide who my favorite is! Interesting piece by Tom Friedman proposing a Unitiy Ticket. What a ‘dream team’. Everyone in my family knows who they support. Only I waiver about the top of the ticket. I have solid reasons for each of them.
Thanks for this, Alexandra!
Statistics can be cited to support most positions as well as a means to try to characterize various groups or generations. I take them all as a grain of salt since there are so many variables involved, often with their results raising questions of reliability. I have high expectations U.S. citizens of all ages, races and gender will recognize the critical need for their educated assessment of what is at stake and a majority will vote in this Nov. election to alter the path this nation has taken the past four years.
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