Political Implications Of Today's Generation Gap
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-06-27/political-implications-todays-generation-gap
Some say the gap between younger and older Americans over economic, social and political issues is wider than at any time since the the 1960s. We explore what this could mean for federal spending priorities and the outcome of the 2012 election.
Guests
David Leonhardt
Washington bureau chief, The New York Times.
Karlyn Bowman
resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
Morley Winograd
senior fellow,USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy
co-author of Millennial Makeover: MySpace, YouTube and the Future of American Politics (Rutgers University Press:
Comments
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Normally I don't approve of Comments posted before the story even airs, but this Comment is about this webpage, not the story itself.
Golly, you sure worked hard to get an appropriate image for a story about "the gap between younger and older Americans"! I especially liked that "American" sign in the background.
;-)
Give it time, Etaoin. Give it time.
My name is Stephen Crowley and I live in DC (Dupont Circle).
I like your conversation of the moment & for another view of this
topic I suggest you read "Why Are American Kids So Spoiled"
by Elizabeth Kolbert in the current issue of The New Yorker.
As always, I enjoy your program.
Being born in 1989, and part of the millennial generation, and a product of 1/3 divorces, I find myself constantly speculating on why I view social and political issues so vastly different from preceding generations. Often the difference between my ideals and ideology differ from those of my parents and relatives on a social and societal basis, rooted in questions equality, as my parents may view it as questions of morality. My life has been inundated with an evolving sense of equality to others from the day I was born due to major societal shifts and growths in technology, which may contribute to the gap between my generation, and that of my parents'.
Being young, idealistic and ignorant naturally leans democratic, Being older, experienced and informed naturally leans republican.
I question the statement that people over 65 are very conservative. So many are beneficiaries of Social Security and Medicare that they are very leary of Republican/conservative 'reforms' to these programs. We (I'm 67, still working) have seen first hand the failure of private equity markets, so the idea of privatizing earned benefits (NOT entitlements) programs appears ridiculously dangerous and unworkable. By now, many of us have children who are openly gay or have relationships with people of different ethnic or racial origins. I believe AARP would show a more liberal bent to the 65+ generation.
This generation is more in touch with the rest of the world. and is much more in tune with the more public approach to solving a country's problems. This generation is less idealistic and understands that America's worshiping of the INDIVIDUAL is bothe detrimental and unrealistic.
I'm on the older end but not quite in the demo you're referring to as older (I'm nearly 55) & what I've noticed is that it's the ignorance & fear of the older generation that influence their votes. They vote based on their prejudices & bigotry. Just look at the numbers on who still believes Obama is a Muslim, isn't an American, etc, etc, etc - the vast majority are the old folks! As long as the older folks are listening to the fabrications of Rush & Fox, they will vote based on ignorance & fear & against their own best interests & those of the nation!
My name is Rick, I'm in my early 30's and I live in Madison, WI
What kind of difference is there between people of a certain generation that in rural areas as compared to urban areas? I don't have numbers, but I suspect that our recent election had more to do with the rural/urban difference than generational.
I am 27 and my girlfriend is 21. She is very religious and I am not. I think what we share, when it comes to social issues, is that your ideals no matter what they are should not have so much weight to dictate others rights.
This generation is much more in touch with the rest of the World, that is, more open to other countries approch to solving problems. They are more willing to preserve a more public approach and understand that our country's obsession and worship of the INDIVIDUAL is both unrealistic and in the long term, detrimental. Thanks.
How does family values influence? I am a generation Xer with 3 teenagers. But we're a "blended" family. My husband is MUCH more conservative than I am, and so are his children. We often have the conversation you are having at our dinner table and they do reflect a more optimistic, etc attitude. But there is certainly a difference on a family divide.
My conversations with the Millennials indicate they view a more pro-life leaning to BE the true LIBERAL bent: just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD. That is the powerful abusing the powerless.
Concerning the comments right before the break, and speaking for myself, I think that maybe abortion is no longer a political issue. I consider myself a solid liberal, but I am not pro abortion. Conservatives tried to 'own' the abortion issue in the 70s with the moral majority, but people like me are taking it back. I am at the tail end of the Boomers, and most of my friends (I live near Dallas), are solidly conservative politically.
My name is J.T. and I'm a 30 black male( I hate the term African-American) that considers himself uber liberal, yet I'm very pessimistic about the future of this country. I feel that all aspects of society are very polarized on most issues that we face as citizens in contemporary society in the United States. I'm concerned about environmental issues, the U.S.'s economic viability in the world, and such things as student loans. I have over a 100k in student loan debt and I went to a state university, luckily I'm working on a PhD in Business administration with the hopes of obtaining gainful employment with a competitive salary. I feel that most people are unaware of the majority of the issues that our country will be facing over the next 30 to 40 years. I'm planning for the worst, but I hope for the best. I'm not a religious individual, but I guess that you have to possess a little faith the way that things are looking for individuals in contemporary society. By faith I mean: believing in something not based on proof.
What are the similarities of multi-generation? Are there not more similarities than dissimilarities? Don't we want to work it out for all? Are we not, regardless of the distance we have traveled, just looking out to the future together? We really have no choice do we (opinion).
Just a thought!
Topic: Lowered Horizons or No Blinders
The teens to twenties have a more limited future than those who are now 50's-60's were when they were in their teens and twenties. The main avenue for economic/professional upward mobility was the college/master's/Ph.D. degrees and/or available credit. Availability to both educational and economic resources are much more costly and limiting. It's not primarily self-reliance motivating this age group, but more accurately, lowered horizons and lowered expectations for those who are brighter and more realistic than their parents were.
Red-lining of the lower and middle classes by the banks not providing capital to these economic strata, colleges with exorbitant tuitions with more limited educational resources provided, all with increasing resources channeled to the top economic stratum is what these teens and twenties observe. They're not blind, but resigned to more limited opportunities.
This is one of the most ironic things I have heard of yet. I am 63. We were the generation who prided ourselves on "don't trust anyone over 30."
To now be identified by "youth" as "older Americans," and to be criticized as out-of-step, uncool, technologically ignorant, and "set in our ways," is ironic in the extreme.
It points up the fact that "youth" always thinks that the "older generation" is in need of instruction from younger people. We now know that they too will someday be as we are now, just as we used to them :-)
So let's all just relax and take life and aging as they come to us.
I'm a 27-year-old daughter of two very Republican parents, and when I first registered to vote, I went with Republican. I considered myself a socially liberal, but still Republican moderate. Now, almost ten years later, I've found myself left behind by the Republican party. I absolutely cannot identify with their increasingly extreme conservatism.
I'm now registered as non-party affiliated, having found my political preferences far too a la carte to match up with the Democrats.
I think the ever-growing generational gap is not so much a question of age, but the fact that millenials have grown up with choices. We like them. We're not satisfied with a coffee menu that only offers milk or cream. To be told that we must adhere to one party or the other chaffs. As such, more and more of us are going toward a middle ground of moderation, where we might feel comfortable with being pro-choice but supporting 2nd Amendment activism, or being against the death penalty but wanting a balanced budget.
We've simply been spoiled. :) Two options is not enough.
Your use of liberal and conservative and conflating of various views is troubling. For instance there were many republicans who voted for Ron Paul in primaries who are apparently interested in limited government, but may have a range of views on things like gay marriage. The two issues do not fit closely together. You can't just call a group something (liberal, conservative etc.) and then assume that all their views are neatly arranged with that classification scheme.
Re the comment about rights:
Importantly, it is the liberals (and therefore voting democrat) that want to RESTRICT or eliminate RIGHTS. Obamacare is a case (among many) in point. A federal government that mandates you must buy something (and then states exactly what that something must be with all sorts of requirements) just because someone thinks it's a good idea, is not one that honors individual rights. The mandate is of course blatantly unconstitutional whatever the court decides. That is important because it is the Constitution that protects our rights.
Finally, Ms. Rehm, why did you pretty much walk on the point getting at ultrasound that illuminates why younger people tend not to be pro-abortion. They realize that in many cases abortion means killing someone.
Thank you for the opportunity to express these views.
carpetfibers, apparently your parents did a good job.
cheinick wrote:"Ron Paul"
Sounds good to me.
So glad you're having this show. Was in a waiting room yesterday and heard some 60-70 year old ladies talking about health care reform. I normally don't engage in political conversation with people I don't know but the things they were saying were so factually incorrect I had to. I am a 28 year old health professional who orks with the elderly. I brought up the point that preventative measures would decrease the amount Medicare has to spend on someone after a stroke etc. My point was completely disregarded as I was too young and I would learn. I am a very educated person and the future of this country. Their decisions are going to impact my future not theirs!
Let's see some data to back that up. Otherwise, how is it less biased and ignorant than any other view?
Also, the "false consciousness" view is an old and tired one. You think you know someone's "best interests" better than they do? History is littered with those in power that thought they knew what was "good for the people," and to heck with whatever those people actually wanted.
I wish I could have listened to the entire program. I am a boomer entering retirement (I hope) with two millennium sons who are different politically but both support democrats. One is a Marine with a young family and conservative leaning and the other put himself through college is working in the private sector and more liberal leaning. Both believe that the government will not be able to provide the support that my generation receives, but neither buy into the extreme anti government, anti tax rhetoric of the conservative movement. Their generation is not willing to give up on public education, support for health care, and some support for retirement but both are also prepared to rely less on social security. Both are turned off by the conservative hostility to the environment, regulation and personal liberties and the religiosity of the right. And both are appalled by the corporate influence of money and the moneyed elite on politicians. If one issue alone will motivate them to political action it may be this issue.
cheinick, you are not for abortion. I know of several conservative leaning young people, who when faced with difficult medical conditions have been required to teminate a pregnancy. After going through this process the absolute stance of the right is non acceptable and for a multitude of reasons abortion should remain a personal choice. This issue will fade in time to become rare but used when needed.
Also my Marine son and his fellow service members think Ron Paul is a kook. There is within the libertarian movement to privatize the military, this is downright dangerous.
The part of the panel discussion I heard sounded interesting, fact-based, and politically/ideologically balanced until one of your guests casually referred to the Democratic Party as the "Democrat Party".
After that not-so-sly partisan slur, anything he said after that point was suspect, on all levels.
What I would like to convey to him, if he happens to read these comments, is that engaging in such unattractive, sneaky, and hostile behavior toward a huge segment of the voting public of this country is at the very least, a hindrance in helping him convey his ideas, and perhaps even persuade others to agree with at least part of his view. (Many of us on the "left" positively ache to hear someone intelligently present ideas with which we disagree---we get bored with the same ol same ol cheap subterfuge and pandering from our opponents on the right)
Unless of course he is satisfied with simply "preaching to his choir".
This Boomer started out Republican in the post Eisenhower days and over the years life taught her a lot. Although the program guests refer to my generation as staunchly Republican, nothing could be further from the truth -- not just for me but my friends.
We have learned that most people at one time or another in their life need a 'hand up', not so much a hand out. And that when education, some type of security for the basics is there, the entire society thrives.
Becoming more and more socially liberal in my old agel
soundpam wrote:
"what I've noticed is that it's the ignorance & fear of the older generation that influence their votes. They vote based on their prejudices & bigotry. "
So ... anyone who disagrees with you and votes contrary to the way you would is prejudiced and a biggot. Really convenient point of view for you, pam! Just see if someone's beliefs line up with yours. If they don't, they're a biggot! Never mind debating issues, presenting facts, considering the views of others. Just compare their beliefs with yours! So easy and so Perfect!
MDavey wrote:
"The part of the panel discussion I heard sounded interesting, fact-based, and politically/ideologically balanced until one of your guests casually referred to the Democratic Party as the "Democrat Party"."
I don't get it. They're Democrats, right? So why aren't they the "Democrat Party?" Why is that a "slur"?
strudel wrote:
"Golly, you sure worked hard to get an appropriate image for a story about "the gap between younger and older Americans"! I especially liked that "American" sign in the background."
I don't agree with you on much, but for this you get post of the month! Nice catch!