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Generation Gap





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Mariana van Zeller looks at the impact of the youth involvement in the 2008 presidential election.
MarianaVanZeller

20 responses // Generation Gap

  • I think that we're certainly on the edge of a 'political realignment'. The changes taking place, not only in the US but around the world, are so immense. I'm an American living in Dublin, Ireland. Currently, Ireland is being swamped with immigrants because there are jobs. There's an economic boom taking place here and as a result a rise in multi-culturalism. Through Irish eyes, Dublin does not look or feel as it once did. The economy is much more dynamic. The 1980’s are referred to here as the ‘Evil 80s’ because there was no work and emigration was huge. But transformation of the economy, demography and psyche is not only happening here. South Korea, for example, reported in 2007 that it then had over 1 million non-Korean immigrants living within its borders. This is in a country where homogeneity is cherished. China is the obvious example of change on all different levels. Peaceful areas of the Middle East and even South America are experiencing economic revolutions and levels of interconnectedness brought about by technologies like the internet but also by civil society which are unprecedented in the history of wo/man. And that interconnectedness of regions is bubbling over and connecting us all. Especially, the United States. We grew up with an identity of ourselves as the melting pot of the world. And we’re still melting. And the world is beginning to become more united, partly because it does not have any other choice. Other aspects of this change have been described by Farid Zakariya (editor of Newsweek International) as “the rise of the rest”. And that’s what we’re facing in this new election, an interconnected globe where the United States does not need to act as parent. We need to act as partner. That’s why I, for one, will vote for the candidate who promises to engage with all world leaders on a platform of respect and cooperation.
    noumenonmc
  • yup, the view from over here in the UK is that a re-alignment is just what the U.S needs right now. Roosevelt swept into the White House with the promise of reform and change having had a period of unprecedented poverty and pessimism. Obama, one feels can unite and be the face the 'Millennial Generation' can identify with themselves, I for one can. I just hope you guys choose wisely. What a way to stare down apathy and despair; with hope and inspiration.
    Imix_Diaspora
  • http://crab.rutgers.edu/~goertzel/fourthturning.htm
    If you're interested in learning more about the different types of generations, such as "generation x" vs. "millenials," you should check out this research paper by Ted Goertzel of Rutgers University. I was really glad that someone did a pod on this phenomena - it is something that I've been reading a lot about lately.
    brandonjackson
  • This was a fantastic pod. I've been expressing as much as I can about the "millenial" generation, also called "indigo children", to as many people I know. Not many people, including most of the "indigos" I've met, realize who they really are, nor how much they can really do for the world, let alone, our country. And it makes me happy to hear I am not the only one my age who is active as I can be to help the change for the better in this country. Barack hits a lot of belief systems, fundementals, and wisdom that our generation lives and strives for. The lack of morality and lack acceptence of difference that currently exsists in our world has never really been adressed politically, let alone acted upon (i.e. Bush's law against same sex marriages). If there is not political reformity and we have another Bush scenario, the world, ecspecially America quite possibly might be thrown into economical and social chaos, which could, in turn, create more wars around the world.
    Scoutblah
  • Excellent journalism. If the mainstream media doesn't understand the political impact of Millennials now, they sure will after the general election.
    blueflame
  • I'm working for the Obama campaign in DC later this summer and I'm SOO excited!
    lemonsun12
  • Excellent pod. I think the flood of new voters proves that there are changes afoot. Thank goodness! The ONLY good thing about Bush and company pushing the pendulum so far to the right is that now is must inevitably swing just as far to the left!
    PoliticalGeek
  • Nice job Morley. I do a lot of work on strategic alliances in the technology development world. well, there is a phrase that I use a lot in that work seems to fit the ethic of the millenium gen, that is, "Cooperation, not Competition". peter
    pkostopulos
  • Mariana does a great job again exposing the true facets of our world. She is pushing the envelope into the next room with heads up reporting. Youth and internet are intermingled anymore and not recognizing a powerful force is foolish. I was impressed and stunned with the edgy African backwater rebels last week and now this honest reality check of current politics is right on.
    You rock Mariana!
    wolftop
  • It is interesting that the United States went through a very similar election where we elected Bill Clinton. Most of the generation you have decided you are do not know about that election or the point at which our nation was at then, and you have no idea in the US for most people what poverty is. The generation that is so excited over voting and changing things is for the most part college kids who have never paid a bill for themselves and who still turn to mommy and daddy for everything. The smart kids I know have actually read about the candidates and are not just jumping on the Obama bandwagon with their eyes glazed over. We will see what happens, and how the US will vote. Not everyone is so niave as the youngest voting generation, there are a lot of people who have spent their lives working and providing and creating change and all these children have forgotten to appreciate their elders, instead they are just acting ugly to people, just because they don't support Obama. I have been threatened on this site as well as in public for having a bumper sticker on my car. Who are you children to speak to me this way, grow up. If you want change fine, but don't try to ram it down my throat I dislike Obama on the issues. Maybe you should look at his voting record, on gay marriage he voted "present".
    dcrc9596
    3 responses to this
  • A fool can grow old but will always remain a fool, Age has never been the Barometer for wisdom :) Go young ones!
    beefcurry
  • dcrc9596,

    While I may not agree with you on some things..I do agree with you on this...

    I think if you are voting, you shouldn't be voting
    "Present" it makes me wonder what the man is saying?
    Is he afraid of voting what he believes or does he want to hide it?

    I've seen some flak here and a lot more at Huffington Post from these younger...college..age folks.

    And some have been quite nasty ...which is sad because it's no reason to hit someone over the head with a baseball bat if he or she just has a different viewpoint.
    PatrickEdwardMurray
    2 responses to this
  • Seems to me you can show me all kinds of crap about a person and I could go differant places and read about it. But ultimatly I cant ever realy verify if its true or not. Its the same when you meet a person you hear what they have to say and how they act when they are in your eye and you base your trust of them on that, not on the gosip and spin storys of others. I watched and heard from all three senators, one of them stood against the war in Iraq from the start, one would not repent the mistake of supporting the war in Iraq for fear of looking weak, and one flip-flopped his principles to fit with the partie's and have anouther chance at the presidency. I've watched and heard Obama and have given my trust to him and not the other two based on that. oh and im a 32 year old student .... so whatever to your logic. ppffffff!!!! lol
    hombre76
  • After the 3rd time watching, I still get something new out of it. Younger voters and first-timers will make the difference come November.
    Thanks.
    huntre
  • 20 years ago there was no myspace nor youtube; now these social networks are helping us (new generations) become more informed with the elections! Facebook has links where you can get news about elections, your presidential candidate and stuff like that. It is really important that these younger generations are actively participating in this year's presidential election since we are the future of our nation...so mind as well become informed and choose the right candidate!
    enriquechiabra

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