Generation X - Link to 2004?

[tlcandie]

This article asks, "So how would American politics change if the voice of Generation X were suddenly heard?"

WARNING TWO PAGES - long


Politics for a Generation X
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/99aug/9908genx.htm

<snip>
REPUBLICANS and Democrats will be tempted to dismiss the Xer agenda, because it threatens their electoral coalitions and the politics of short-term convenience. But both parties will do so at their peril, because many of the issues that Xers care most about are already rising to the political surface. A glimpse of the future may come, strangely enough, in the election of Jesse Ventura as governor of Minnesota. Much of Ventura's support came from young adults, who took advantage of Minnesota's same-day registration law and stormed the polls, helping to create a record turnout. This suggests that if a political candidate can somehow capture the passion of young adults, they will do their part. Ventura offered young Minnesotans something refreshing: a clear alternative to Democrats and Republicans, and a willingness to take on the status quo. But Jesse Ventura is no figurehead for Xers; he is just an early beneficiary of their pent-up political frustration.
<snip>

<snip>
The stability of today's political consensus is also contingent on the promise of an economy that continues to expand. Take that away, and the props of the status quo -- a balanced budget and the novelty of a budgetary surplus, a booming stock market and stable price structures, low unemployment and rising wages, falling welfare rolls and crime rates, and the illusion of a painless fix to Social Security -- all topple at once. No business cycle lasts forever, and the global economic crisis of 1998 should come as a warning of what may lie ahead. The prospect of a significant recession leaves the future of American politics wide open.
<snip>

<snip>
Balanced-budget populism, social investment, no-nonsense pragmatism, and shared sacrifice could resonate quite strongly with Americans of all ages -- particularly the increasing number who are fed up with conventional politics. What is more, the Xer synthesis of a middle-class economic agenda with a moderate social one could remake the powerful alliance between progressives and populists that dominated national politics (and brought widespread upward mobility) from the 1930s to 1960s, when it was ripped apart by the cultural upheaval of the Baby Boom. In practical terms this new politics -- based on fiscal prudence, economic populism, family-friendly morality, social investment, campaign reform, environmental conservation, and technological innovation -- could eventually take hold in either of the major parties, both of which are now searching for a coherent agenda and a lasting voter base. For Democrats it could mark a return to the party's New Deal roots, and for Republicans it could give substance to heretofore vague calls for a "compassionate conservatism."
<snip>


According to this article some of Generation X's ideas include Deliberative DemocracyModern Multi-Party System; Class-Based Affirmative Action; severing traditional link between pulbic-school funding and local property taxes; increase the skill level of our public-school teachers by imposing stricter standards and offering more-competitive salaries; contingent workers' bill of rights, which calls on employers to provide health care and other benefits to more of their workers; all of the money raised or saved by charging for the use of common assets, ending corporate welfare, and closing unproductive tax loopholes could be used to make a topnotch education affordable and accessible to all and, just as important, to make every American child a "trust-fund" baby from birth; and replace payroll taxes with pollution taxes, thereby boosting wages, promoting jobs, and cleaning up the environment, all without raising the deficit.

It also states that in order to appeal to Generation X Cut out name-calling and ideology so that simple things can work.


I am interested to see your opinion about the following:

1) Which candidate comes closest to reaching Generation X in your opinion?
2) Is Generation X worth reaching or a waste of time?
3) If you think they are worth reaching, how should we reach them?

[tedoll78]

1. I've always said for the longest time..

that Canada is what happens when young people actually show-up to vote. The U.S. political landscape would look more like theirs if people under 30 cared more.

So..
- We need to advertise more on MTV. In fact, we need to keep one of their reporters with the candidate at all times.
- We need to advertise more in magazines with young readerships.
- College activities, of course..
- We need to drop-off literature in locations where young people congregate.
- Our advertising to young people needs to focus more on environmental issues, along with college tuition hikes, and free speech issues. Young people are often more idealistic than older ones.
- Mention Supreme Court nominees more often (hell, this works for all of the base). Note that a good nominee is the gift that keeps on giving (or curse, in Rehnquist's case).

(BTW.. The first vote I cast was for Bill Clinton in 1996. I had just turned 18, and I was ecstatic to do so. He did a great job playing to my concerns.)

[Devlzown]

4. Those are great ideas, but I don't think you're

an Xer. I think that term applies to people born during the '60's and early '70's. Some people use it now as a generic term for younger folks.
All that aside, a lot of people gave MTV the credit for Bill Clinton's win in '92. I think a Dem candidate could really pull in a lot of youth
votes this time, especially with the possibility of a draft looming.

[tedoll78]

10. D'oh!

I should have read it more carefully instead of eating and watching TV at the same time. Let this be a good example of what happens with a young person's short attention span, lol..

[Devlzown]

13. Well, according to their article you were right.

You voted in '96, so you were born in '78, right? Their article says GenX is '65-'78. I was just stubborn about it because I'd always seen earlier dates listed. All these so-called "generations" are manufactured
by pop culture anyway and don't really mean anything. I shouldn't have even brought it up.
:silly:

[Bombtrack]

2. Gen X isn't really that young anymore

Probably most of them either have young babies/children or are thinking about it if they are married.

So, it's really not easy to assign them an issue, because After the baby-boomers, they're probably the biggest voting group there is.

It's a really big group, I beleive born between the mid sixty's, and all of the 70's

a smaller group, that I believe could more effectivly be assigned a niche is the Millenials, or Generation Y, who were born in the eighty's. those born before November 86 will be able to vote

[JasonFromWaltham]

3. I am an Xer

and Clark brought me in to the party, and I think he has the widest appeal to my group. I sure as heck think I am worth reaching. Treat us honestly, rationally, and act in a nonpartisan manner. We are adults, we want what is best for our country in the long term, and are willing to sacrafice short term comfort to get there. All of my friends and I assume the social safety net of medicare and social security is going to be long gone before we are eligble. We would rather make short term sacrafices than hold our entire futures hostage. We are adults now. Treat us with respect and give us hope. Stop the blame game and come up with solutions to make the next 100 years as good as the last for America.

Gen X -- the first generation to expect to be WORSE off than their parents. Give us a chance to have our shot at "the American Dream"

"Born on date" = 1975

[tlcandie]

9. JasonFWaltham... very eloquently stated IMO....

You restated what I had just read in the 1999 article and I hope that Clark or another candidate CAN do just that for Generation X! My son was born in 1974 :D



Reposting your line because it bears repeating...hope you don't mind!

Gen X -- the first generation to expect to be WORSE off than their parents. Give us a chance to have our shot at "the American Dream"

BTW..thanks to all who respond!

[JasonFromWaltham]

14. Thanks

Don't mind at all, please do.

[LTR]

20. Great post, and welcome aboard!

PS: Thanks for your positive reply in the Clark 'Daily Democrat'.

And you are correct. This election should be about the issues, and about the future.

I am also a Gen-Xer, at the age of 35. I too want the chance to make a difference. But I feel we are being ignored, as part of the so-called 'baby bust' generation. I'd hate to think that I'm donating a huge part of my paycheck to a black hole known as 'Social Security' that may or may not be there when I retire (I hope it is). I'd like the American way of life to be better when I hit old age then it is now, and for our country and it's values to still be in place.

Great post.

[JasonFromWaltham]

27. You and I seem pretty darn close in our outlook on politics

Glad to be aboard.

[newyawker99]

42. Hi JasonFromWaltham!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[JI7]

5. what is generation x ?

what age group is it ?

[JasonFromWaltham]

6. ~28-40... you might be a Gen Xer

I am on the young side of it. Almost a Gen Yer.

If you think any question can be answered by quoting Star Wars (the original trilogy)... you might be an Xer

If you are still embarrassed of those pictures your parents have of you in those "cute plaid corduroy overalls".... you might be a gen Xer.

If you know who Buckaroo Banzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers are... you might be a gen Xer.

If you knew someone who reminded you exactly of Alex P. Keaton.... you might be an Xer.

If the first time you saw Tom Hanks was when he was running from his apartment to avoid getting hit with a wrecking ball.... you might be a gen Xer.

If Regan is the first President you remember.... you might be a gen Xer.

If you though Roger Moore was the "orginal James Bond"... you might be a Gen Xer.

If you remember when MTV actually showed videos... you might be a gen Xer.

I could go on, but you get the point.

[Devlzown]

7. It's not very clear.

Hope this helps......
http://www.metro2000.net/~stabbott/genxintro.htm

[tlcandie]

8. 1965-78 is the age group ...

Sorry to have left that out :(

[Bombtrack]

31. I thought it was 65-79

Because the millenials or gen Y started in the 80's, and I assume that
generation Z began in 95

[Lone_Wolf]

11. gen X is basically

the first generation to grow up with television. I am an Xer born in 1970

I beleive gen Y is basically the generation that grew up with MTV.

[vi5]

12. Generation X (my generation) is what won us 1992 and 1996.....

And all the progress that was made as a result of that was lost on the apathetic generation Y that came after us and who never had to struggle against anything other than not getting signing bonuses from the multiple job offers they had right out of college.

[SahaleArm]

40. Yep, my first two elections - Clinton x 2 :)

Born 1974.

[JasonFromWaltham]

15. Kick

I think this is an important thread, so I am kickin' it.

[ant]

16. the problem with generations...

...is that they include a lot of different people. I'm on the bottom edge of gen-x (1975), and in contrast to what others have posted: I've always expected to do as well as or better than my parents, I did grow up with MTV, and I like Dean more than Clark. ;)

Anyway, I really hate these generation analysis things, but I'll give you a funny one for gen-y:
http://slate.msn.com/id/34963/

As an aside, I tried to find voter turnout statistics for the 2000 election to see if gen-x numbers were higher there, but I couldn't. It would be interesting to see if the low turnout mentioned in the original article improved in 2000.

Edited to add: Even though I said I hate generational talk, I do think it's true that gen-xers, though probably people of all ages, are very aware and skeptical of attempts to manipulate them. I suspect part of what turns many off of politics is the phoniness of it all. While both parties are guilty of this, my concern is the Democrats, and certainly one of the most irritating aspects of the party to me these days is how managed everything and everyone seems to be. No one can get angry, or worked up - everything's about how it will be received rather than whether or not it's genuine and true. While I realize this is sometimes a necessary part of politics, I think people see right through it. The Dems would be wise to keep that in mind when they market themselves. How do you sell yourself to the cynical?

[JasonFromWaltham]

18. Cuspers

I wonder if with both you and I being "cuspers" of the X-Y generation that we might have different outlooks and there by candidates because of which side of the cusp we identify with more. It is and interesting question? What do you think of the theory?

[ant]

23. interesting...

...but I'm not sure what aspect of the next generation I'm supposed to be relating to - I assume you're saying I might identify more with the Ys than the Xs? I think I identify more with gen-xers, actually, but maybe just on a pop culture level.

And by the way, I do like Clark, too. I'd happily do whatever I can for either him or Dean. It's the rest of the lot that don't really move me, mostly because of the "marketing" issues I added in the edit to my original post.

[JasonFromWaltham]

25. You got it

Yeah I was talking cusping X vs Y.

I really wish I understood Dean's appeal. :shrug: Maybe you can explain it to me some time.

Here's to keeping us together for Gen X and the democratic party. :pals:

[Nazgul35]

24. I prefer the term vanguard...

As I am from the first year of gen-X....1965!

And I support Gov. Dean...

Having lived through the Reagan-Bush years (most of my twenties) the Clinton years were a breath of fresh air....I remember saying in 1990, that I didn't care if the dems nominated a monkey...I was going to vote Dem for the remainder of my life...

I was old enough to watch the baby boomers turn from a generation of radicals to self interested gluttons (remember the me decade!). They then turned around and raised the generation of yuppie-larvea that now brackets my generation...

I was raised up during the moon landing, vietnam, Nixon, two oil embargos (remember odd-even gas days?), disco(sucked...most of it anyway), john travolta's first career, Iran hostages, the whole wrold going up in a mushroom cloud...not just one city....Reagan's evil empire...Challenger (the first shuttle disaster)...Iran-contra, German unification, the collapse of the Soviet empire, etc....

This generation that is about to vote stare at me blankly when I explain just how nasty the world can get...the Clinton economy made them think things are always going to be ok....

How do you change that?

[JasonFromWaltham]

28. I share your fears

being on the "rear guard" of the generation I did not experience everything you did but do remember a lot of things the Yers don't.
I remember Tienamin <sp?> Square happeng before my eyes,
crying tears of joy when "the wall" fell,

knowing the truth that Regan did not defeat the Soviet Union, but rather defeated itself,

fearing for my Air Force uncle's life in the first Gulf War when I expected high casualties like Vietnam, Korea and the world wars
instead of expecting "clean war",

my cambodian friends who were so grateful to be living in the slums of America rather than to be another skull in a temple near Phonom Pen and that for many of them their escape was only made possible by the Communist Vietnamese intervention vs the Khmer Rouge.

I think Gen Y has been too safe, and worry if they are willing or able to make the sacarfices and the tough choices to preserve democracy or are simply going to vote who ever sells them the best short term story, who keeps them "safe" now. I wish I knew how to convince them to look at the world through our eyes, and see how much worse things can be if we don't stand up for what is right.

[Lone_Wolf]

21. I'm teaching a social problems course

One thing I have noticed with the students in my class is the Xers are much more cynical than Y's, and, on average, Xer's tend to be politically moderate, while Y's tend to be much more conservative.

I'd hate to say it, but many of the Y's have little in the way of critical thinking skills. My guess is Y's have been much more indoctrinated than the X'ers.

[JasonFromWaltham]

29. A great summation fo the difference

and why I fear.

[mrgorth]

17. 1969 here

and Dean brought me in. I think the Xer population is split. Lot of Deaners, Clarkies and Bushies. again, Dean/Clark or Clark/Dean takes it.

[JasonFromWaltham]

22. Now if we could just

... get our Bushie generation members to put down their decaf half cap lattes and trade in their SUVs, we might just have a chance in this election. I honestly do not see the appeal of Dean, but I know it is there in our group. Maybe someone can someday help me "get it", especially if he gets the nomination... so I can feel good about my vote in the GE. There is definitely a large number of us out there who like Dean. For me the choice is Clark, and I really believe he is the best man for the job, the best I will ever see for the job. I am currently planning on working for Congressional candidates I like in the GE if my guy doesn't get the nod. Lets agree to disagree and get out there and convert some of our gen X Bushies. I already converted one this weekend. What is your tally?

[mrgorth]

30. LOL

trying not to keep score but several. I think I converted a boomer aged Itaian imigrant tonight. Now that's impressive. I'm not sure I understand your post. Will you not support Dean if he gets the nom and Clark isn't on the ticket? If the situation is reversed I have a big fat check with the general's name on it. I'm down with ABB. (Clark is my #2)

[JasonFromWaltham]

32. I'd support him

I just don't have the same fire in the belly feel for him that I have for Wes. I hope if Dean gets the nod, I can find away to light that fire. He will get my vote, but right now I think my efforts with volunteering and money would be focused on the congressional races, not the Pres if that happens.

[PretzelWarrior]

37. I was established in 1969 as well.

I'm politically active. I'm not checked out of the system. I'm not overly cynical. Can't categorize me which is why I hate the whole labeling thing. Some from the "greatest generation" started categorizing "boomers" and it went to the boomers' heads. so the boomers decided they wanted to put their offspring in their place by calling them X. they stood for freedom and rebellion. we stand for an unknown. typical selfish bastards.

now they are feeling sorry for their parents so now their parents are saintly "greatest generation". it sucks, really.

[JanMichael]

19. 1968 here. I'd say that we're awfully Left-Libertarian.

On personal issues like drugs, back off. On Societal issues like Healthcare, bring it on.

[camero]

26. This article almost describes me to a tee.

36 year old Xer. 1967 here. I like the idea of pollution taxes. That puts the level of taxes at the polluters hands. Pollute less, get taxed less.

[Lone_Wolf]

33. Pollution tax

Personally, I don't like market-based solutions. They basically commoditize pollution, as polluters will be able to buy and sell these tax credits on an open market. It will basically, allow the richest companies to pollute the most. If it tells you anything, Enron was pushing for this "solution."

Pollution needs guidelines that are strictly regulated and enforced. These guidelines need to be set up by the scientitific community who are not in the polluters back pockets.

[camero]

34. I didn't mean, nor the article

As credits, but a progressive taxation depending on how much of the natural resources corporations use. They will have to innovate.

It would help if we set the bar very high.

[tlcandie]

35. I was talking with my husband about this article..he's much more

political savey than myself and he said that the pollution tax is a regressive tax and would not work. So, I asked him if they wanted a class affirmative action why not a class tax and he said that might just work!

Could add a pollution tax on possibly, but the overall might be a class tax.

:shrug: Up for discussion truly...I'm a grandmother, but I do care about a NEW perspective because what we have is going down the tubes!

[camero]

38. If it was a corporate tax, it would not be regressive

It could be tied to fuel mileage in autos, the amount of coal used in electricity generation, or the amount of wilderness in the national forests cut down.

Though I agree it would probably lead to price hikes in oil, power, and home construction, which is probably why he thinks it would be regressive. Maybe the return of price controls?

[tlcandie]

36. Lone_Wolf agree with your last sentence totally!

n/t

[camero]

39. The last line I agree with

Maybe they should also help set the tax.

[tlcandie]

41. New Zealand and somewhere like Holland....

has it right!! There is a super plan in New Zealand for sustainability that is awesome and has worked for corporations as well as the environment lovers! I've been trying to get a copy of it to send to Kucinich...