Being a so-called Bitter Boomer is why I am voting for Obama...

[WCGreen]

When I watch Obama inspire the kind of reaction he does with the youngsters, I am bitter because the political figures of my age, outside of RFK and MLK, hardly inspired hope for a better future.

Some would say the Bill Clinton inspired us but what he inspired was his chance at the presidency. Granted, it was much better than what he is historically sandwich between, but as far as drastically changing the country, looking and planning for a better future, it was incremental tinkering that I remember.

Sure Clintons Economic team lead by Rubin inspired wild investment schemes and people from main street to wall street were caught up in what can only be called a capitalistic climax. But in the end, all that accomplished was short term and nothing of great substance was created for the future. Money just moved around and around and around.

And now that we are almost at Victorian Age income inequality, Obama is the person that I believe can inspire people to do something about it. He has his finger on the future. I feel it out there. I believe he is the only one who can tap into that special place in all of us that dares to think beyond ourselves.


What I am bitter about is that my generation, the Boomer's, seemed to be focused far too much on personal growth and not enough of our country's growth. Sure there are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, it has always been about what can you do for me. Nothing much changed.

But I see the hope in Obama.

Sure, he may prove to be a disappointment. He may even end up ostracizing a generation of true believers.

But in the end, this November, I see, for the first time since RFK, a real chance for America to become what Reagan waxed about but did everything in his power to denigrate, a shinning city on the hill that beckons to new generations to be all that we were meant to be.

We really are lucky to be living in this country. The next generation has to step-up and truly fulfill the future that Adams and Jefferson and the rest of the founding fathers and mothers envisioned.

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. In a way I'm not surprised about the 'me' turn of our generation.

We saw in our youth the birth of 4 great movements (or 5, but the fifth is a different story): the civil rights movement, the women's movement, the anti-war movement, and the gay rights movement. Three of those 4 mass movements allowed millions of people unprecedented freedoms. It is not surprising that after the 70s that freedom was used by those millions in pursuing personal self-actualization. After all, that's what they were INTENDED to do. The 4th mass movement of course, the anti-war movement, ended with the winding down of Vietnam.

It is now time, and past time, to re-integrate the effects of those movements to the benefit of the nation as a whole. We have spent the past 25 years exploring the limits, both positive and negative, of personal growth. It is time for us to grow as a society. We know what our individual differences are - both our strengths and weaknesses. We now need to put that knowledge to work to heal a fractured society. There are still movements ahead - the Green movement; the Democracy movement; the peace movement - and those behind us remain unfinished.

We CAN do it.

[WCGreen]

2. When JFK was murdered, the dream of public involvement,

as exemplified by the Peace Core, was shoved aside and tarnished by Vietnam.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I understand your bitterness...

But let it go...

That's over now, and Obama is the future!

We will live long enough to see his promise fulfilled...

I truly believe he will not turn out to be a disappointment...

K&R

:patriot:

[WCGreen]

4. I let my bitterness turn to borderline cynicism

But I never wavered in my quest to help elect as many progressive democrats as possible.

[Raine]

5. That's the way I feel too

I've never been able though to get my thoughts down about it. THANKS for putting it into words. :hi: