The youth vote: Out with the olds | The Economist

Out with the olds

Oct 25th 2010, 14:50 by E.G. | AUSTIN

WHILE thinking about the youth vote in this year's mid-termelections, I've come to the conclusion that America's youngadults—people between the ages of 18 and 29—are on track to be, well,better than their parents. While the Boomers are out busting up theirmarriages and defaulting on their mortgages, the Millennialsare stoically piling up student loans, serving in foreign wars, andtelling pollsters they're still optimistic about the future of thecountry. In some areas, their confidence may be unwarranted (inparticular, they put more stock in government than any other agecohort), and I wouldn't mind seeing a little more fractious politicalbehaviour from the youth (the tea-party movement is spirited, if nothingelse, and the average age of the movement is perhaps 50). Still, theirfaith is sincere, and we are, of course, comparing them to theirparents. So I was interested to see Michael Kinsley, a Boomer, consider the case against his generation:

Theyducked the challenge of Vietnam—so much smaller than the militarychallenge their parents so triumphantly met. They made alienationfashionable and turned self-indulgence (sex, drugs, rock and roll,cappuccino makers, real estate, and so on) into a religion. Theirinitial suspicion of the Pentagon and two presidents, Johnson andNixon, spread like kudzu into a general cynicism about all establishedinstitutions (Congress, churches, the media, you name it). Thisreflexive and crippling cynicism is now shared across the politicalspectrum. The Boomers ran up huge public and private debts, whoseconsequences are just beginning to play out. In the world that Boomerswill pass along to their children, America is widely held in contempt,prosperity looks to more and more people like a mirage, and things aregenerally going to hell.

Arguably unfair, Mr Kinsleyconcludes, but the Boomers are right to feel a bit disappointed inthemselves. However, he continues, "it's not too late for a generationalgesture." They can't win the second world war, but they can make theirmark in some other area, tackle a major problem, leave the countrydemonstrably better off on their way out the door, redeem themselves alittle.

A fine goal for any generation. But what are the Boomers to do? The question had also occurred to Joe Klein at Timemagazine, who suggested that the Boomers fight to legalise marijuana.Mr Kinsley recoils at the idea: not nearly big enough, and badbranding—self-indulgent to the very end. Mr Kinsley's own suggestion isthat his generation should raise a bunch of money to pay down thenational debt:

Fair? Of course it’s not fair. That’sthe point. If it was fair, the gesture would be meaningless. Boomersare not primarily responsible for America’s debt crisis. Blame goesmostly to the World War II generation, which in this regard was not soGreat. They’re the ones who notoriously want to “Stop the Governmentfrom messing around with our Medicare,” and Boomers are the ones whohave been paying to support the last vestige of old-fashionedfee-for-service medicine—for the old folks. The Boomers themselves andtheir children are more likely to go to an HMO.

But that’s okay.You won World War II, so we are going to take care of your debts, coveryour extravagances, and go along with your little pretense that youpaid for it and are entitled to it.

That passageactually sounds like something that might come from GenerationX—independent, cynical, entrepeneurial. In any case, there are actuallytwo goals here. Mr Kinsley wants (1) his generation to redeem itself bychanging its ways, and (2) to knock out one of America's big problems.But the ability to accomplish (2) is contingent on the success of (1),and (1) is a massive undertaking. Are the Boomers meant to becomemature, magnanimous, and selfless overnight? That's not going to happen.The project will have a greater chance of success if the Boomers cantackle it as they are. Better to find a (2), that is, that doesn'trequire a (1).

My suggestion: prison reform. We imprison far toomany people for far too inconsequential reasons, warping millions oflives in the process. The Boomers, having done many things that manypeople are currently in prison for (see Mr Klein's argument above), cancredibly make the case that this is silly. It would connect to thevalues the generation had at one point, of peace, love, and sticking itto the Man. It wouldn't require much personal sacrifice on the part ofthe Boomers—just a willingness to raise and press and pursue the issuein the public sphere—and if reform were to happen, it would save a lotof money, which connects to Mr Kinsley's thinking. A reasonable goal?

• Recommend (61)
• E-mail
• Share
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • more...
• Print
• Permalink

Readers' comments

The Economist welcomes your views. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers. Review our comments policy.

Sort:

• Oldest first
• Newest first
• Readers' most recommended

• 1
• 2
• 3
• >>
• Last

There is no reason that prison reform should exclude thelegalisation of marijuana....in fact the two go hand in hand to someextent.

As to paying down the debt, once again Jefferson said it best: "It isincumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. Aprinciple which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.”

You know what, passing along a somewhat functional healthcaresystem or even half-way decent infrastructure were pretty fine goals.Shame about the execution.

My guess is the boomers are too worried about their own retirement togive a rat's behind on anything else. But maybe that's just my GenXcynicism coming through :)

Decriminalizing drugs and putting the supply under governmentcontrol would destroy the current illegal market that makes it easy forcriminals to profit and sends many to prison for relatively minoroffenses.

Having thus reduced the population to serious criminals I'm sure there is still a need for reform.

"As to paying down the debt, once again Jefferson said it best:"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. Aprinciple which if acted on would save one-half the wars of theworld.”"

Yes, but a contradiction to the end, Jefferson died with massivepersonal debts from his own obsession with furnishing Monticello andliving the country gentleman's life. Politicians are masters atcompartmentalizing.

I do like the nod to reality of the post, as I also think it's wildlyoptimistic to expect Boomers to suddenly become selfless andself-sacrificing.

Actual health-care reform (not just health-insuranceextension/expansion, which is what "Obama-care" amounts to), orinfrastructure improvement, would actually require spending money,cutting benefits (Medicare/Medicaid), and raising taxes, or at least notcutting taxes any more. So forget about them from this generation.

Brilliant, I think. Too strong a preference for safety,security and revenge generally costs much too much in terms of policing,incarceration and forgone human capital.

Maybe I can offer a little intergenerational support to the project by mugging a boomer and copping a plea?

"I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business."

If only we all payed more heed to the wise words of Richard M. Nixon.

Give us a new tax code. Switching to a consumption tax would double tax existing savings. Let that be the Boomer's sacrifice.

I was going to make a comment about the self-centeredness of the Boomer generation, but then I thought -

"What's in it for me, huh? I mean, like who's payin' me for my comments, huh? Like, when's my ship comin' in?"

And then I bounced back to my generation.

Sorry. Got confused there for a second...

Make do with less, and thus set a good example for others.

This may hurt the Botox, golf cart, and anti-aging vanity industries, but "greater good" and all that.....

Sad that a generation that grew up with the rights and freedomsfought for by folks like Alice Paul has done so little to deserve them.

But hey, at least they smoke plenty of weed amirite?

Re Kinsley's scene-setter...I'm pretty sure most Vietnamese are grateful to every Boomer who "ducked the challenge of Vietnam".

And the claim that Vietnam presented a "much smaller" militarychallenge than the US faced in World War II is extremely silly. Vietnamwas a different and more difficult military challenge than World War II,much as Afghanistan is a more difficult military challenge than GulfWar I was. The word "unwinnable" comes to mind. Which may have hadsomething to do with the kids' desire to "duck the challenge".

"While the Boomers are out busting up their marriages anddefaulting on their mortgages, the Millennials are stoically piling upstudent loans, serving in foreign wars, and telling pollsters they'restill optimistic about the future of the country."

a) 50% of marriages end in divorce, the other half, in death.
Millennials don't get married. They "hook-up" and if they have kids,that's the county welfare bureau's problem. (Watch the Maury Show)

b)Are Boomers defaulting on mortgages because they borrowed and spentthe equity to give the brat cellphone, designer clothes, etc?
But it's okay for Millennials to have student loan debt, which a future mortgage can be added.

c) Serving in foreign wars? Wasn't the National Guard useextensively in Iraq? What's the average age of the National Guard? Iremember hearing of grandmas and grandpas serving.
Remember, this is a volunteer force, and we have to redeploy the sameunits without enough stand-down time because we don't have enoughpeople. Seems people forgot about the draft.

d) Glad to hear they are optimistic. But when they "wake up and smell the latte" they will become jaded.

As for Kinsley and the 1st quote...
Thanks for the laugh.
Those institution EARNED thier distrust, or has Alzheimer's set in on Kinsley?

As for passing something on...
Leaglize Gay Marriage
(more suppy for the Millenial lawyers, and
should increase statistical work, as we need to know that divorce rate.)

Regards

Sparkleby, "I'm pretty sure most Vietnamese are grateful to every Boomer who "ducked the challenge of Vietnam"."

Have you ever spoken to a Vietnamese? There's a reason why McCain won the Vietnamese-American vote 67 to 30.

RR -

From my understanding and conversation with Vietnamese-Americans, thegeneral feeling is that America was duped into getting involved, withan overall feeling of ambivalence/pity for being foolish.

If you want to see young people participate in "spirited"political action, might I suggest visiting the March to Keep Fear Alivethis weekend? Surely a British publication can understand irony.

I think the Boomers would say: "what do you think we had kids for?"

Well, we can't expect 'em to go cold turkey. But maybe they can ease into some sort of fiscal responsibility?

As Ender points out, legalizing cannabis would be an early "gateway"step to prison reform which could be the gateway to bigger, moresubstantial gains.

Once we no longer imprison more of our population per capita than anyother country (by far, as it turns out), we will be a step closer to"The Land of the Free" as opposed to "The Land of the Nanny/PoliceState". All well and good.

Next: Defense/Offense spending. Let's dial it down to the pointwhere we're still #1 (Go Team America!), but only spend as much as, say,the next two countries combined. It'll force us to spend a LOT morewisely and substantially trim discretionary spending.

Next: Medicare. This one is really the biggest, due to its potentialto explode in coming years. It may seem counter-intuitive, butuniversal Medicare with basic coverage levels could dramatically lower overall costs.

No fancy patent drugs, generics only. No fancy experimentalprocedures, only high bang for the buck procedures. No coverage forlifestyle choices (I know, tough to determine, but we should at leaststart to try). If you want more coverage, pay for it yourself on theprivate market. The FedGov isn't there to cover your every desire, butto "Promote the General Welfare".

In other words, the government is there to build a floor and remove the ceiling, but the rest is up to you.

Lastly: Social Security. Index the retirement age to the nationallife expectancy, index benefits to inflation rather than wages, andphase in serious means-testing, starting with the boomers. The bestinsurance is the kind you never need to make a claim on. SocialSecurity is social insurance, to prevent citizens from living underbridges, not to upgrade the Champagne for wealthy retirees.

Not holding my breath, of course. But substantial change could beimplemented piecemeal, without catastrophic affects to our SacrosanctLifestyles. The American Way can live on, but in a slightly more humblefashion...

@Hedgefundguy

1) Playing the blame game won't make your hipster trustfunder bratsstock prices rebound from the permissive parenting that Boomers indulgedthemselves in.

2) Speaking of parenting, what about the current state of publiceducation in this country? How many childish parents expect their localschool system to do their parenting for them? Thomas Jefferson also hadplenty to say about the importance of education for the constituency...Can we fix that before loosening our prison gates?

3) Yes. The youth wants marijuana to be decriminalized. But not asmuch as the Boomers do for their retirement parties. Prison time forpossession is obviously overkill, totally illogical, and the youth seethat clearly.

4) Right now, can we just reinvest in infrastructure so the'Millenials' don't have to deal with falling bridges on their way totheir third job to pay back the student loan that never resulted in thejob their parents insisted they would get? And transcontinental highspeed rail. Is it that hard?

How about raising taxes on the over 50's and means testingsocial security and madicaid... let the offending generation reap whatthey sow... oh and raise retirement age, I am already resigned to thefact that it will be 70 by the time I get there.

As a Boomer I was thinking that after I have paid off thecollege loans I took out for my Millenial children, I would then pay offthe college loans they took out but I cosigned. Maybe if I'm stillalive I might then help pay off the college loans they took out in theirnames alone.

Retirement is for DINKS.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• >>
• Last

• Comment (47)
• Recommend (61)
• E-mail
• Share
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • more...
• Print
• Permalink

About Democracy in America

In this blog, our correspondents share their thoughts andopinions on America's kinetic brand of politics and the policy itproduces.

Advertisement

Economist blogs

• Americas view
• Asia view
• Babbage
• Bagehot's notebook
• Banyan's notebook
• Baobab
• Blighty
• Buttonwood's notebook
• Charlemagne's notebook
• Daily chart
• Democracy in America
• Eastern approaches
• Free exchange
• Gulliver
• Johnson
• Lexington's notebook
• Multimedia
• Newsbook
• Prospero
• Schumpeter's notebook

Most commented

1. Germany's role in the world: Will Germany now take centre stage?
2. China's succession: The next emperor
3. The integration debate in Germany: Is multi-kulti dead?
4. A country's welcome rise: Is Turkey turning its back on the West?
5. Free speech versus equality: Is firing Juan Williams good for democracy?
6. Mass murder: History and its woes
7. The Nobel peace prize: The laureate behind bars
8. Israel and Palestine: We built this city on rock'n'roll
9. National stereotypes: Mayhem, masochism and immobility
10. Poland and Lithuania: Poland, Lithuania and self-centredness goes nuclear (updated)

Over the past five days

Most recommended

1. China's succession: The next emperor
2. A country's welcome rise: Is Turkey turning its back on the West?
3. Germany's role in the world: Will Germany now take centre stage?
4. Brazil's presidential election: Second round, second thoughts?
5. The integration debate in Germany: Is multi-kulti dead?
6. Succession in China: Next in line
7. KAL's cartoon
8. Mass murder: History and its woes
9. The Nobel peace prize: The laureate behind bars
10. National stereotypes: Mayhem, masochism and immobility

Over the past seven days

Advertisement

Latest blog posts - All times are GMT

Mid-terms in America: the economy

From Multimedia - 19 mins ago

Vikram Pandit on banking regulation

From Multimedia - 47 mins ago

Do the math

From Buttonwood's notebook - 14 mins ago

The foibles of modern life in a borderline rogue state

From Democracy in America - 29 mins ago

Stuck in the middle

From Gulliver - 8 mins ago

The lessons of Mrs V

From Prospero - 39 mins ago

Debossed, yes. Debased? Maybe

From Babbage - 34 mins ago

Products & events

Stay informed today and every day

Subscribe to The Economist's free e-mail newsletters and alerts.

Subscribe to The Economist's latest article postings on Twitter

See a selection of The Economist's articles, events, topical videos and debates on Facebook.

Advertisement