Will Generation Y Redefine What it means to be Conservative or Liberal?
In Yesterday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Concordia University Professor and former Republican Congressional candidate, Jim Burkee, had an interesting op-ed discussing role “Generation Y” could play in re-shaping American politics.
In the first few months of his presidency, Obama has continued his full-court press for young voters, breaking protocol by giving Queen Elizabeth a loaded iPod, appearing on television and radio and expanding the White House’s Internet presence.
But the political loyalties of that coveted demographic are not yet decided. While they seem to lean to the left, they’re actually more libertarian than liberal, a fact that will reshape the way we think about liberalism and conservatism in decades to come.
America’s Generation Y (born between 1980 and 1995) is the first to have grown up with the Internet, which leaves it the most liberty-loving generation since the era of Andrew Jackson. Liberty, the root of what meant to the founders’ generation “liberal,” describes freedom from control and interference, particularly by government. And there is no domain so free from government as the Internet.
What does it mean to have been weaned in an environment – the Internet – virtually free of government interference? Millions of Gen-Yers have grown accustomed to making purchases online tax-free. They download movies and music (much of it pirated), read their news online for free (to the detriment of print media), find recipes online and network with friends and relatives online.
In short, they love their freedom.
While I agree with much of what he is saying there, I do have to point out some disagreement with the beginning of his op-ed:
If exit polls and surveys prove accurate, there will be one demographic deeply underrepresented in Wednesday’s conservative “taxpayer tea parties,” to be held at capitols across the country: Americans between the ages of 18 and 29.
While in the eyes of many Americans that might seem like a safe assumption, personally, I don’t think it could be further from the truth.
The fact of the matter is that if it wasn’t for this demographic (and those who come close to falling in it), the tea parties that have been (and will be) held around the country wouldn’t have been as successful.
It was the Internet (the tool that Burkee rightly points out as one that has given our generation a unique footing politically) that has led to these movements becoming what they are today.
Luckily, most of us “Gen-Y” folks haven’t been politically active enough to be completely indoctrinated by one party or another. This means that if anyone is going to be able to call bullshit on those in Washington and in our states, it’s going to be us.
We’re young and we’re not huge donors, so most politicians don’t give us the time of day (unless they want free labor or websites built). This inherent bias and neglect gives us a perspective that many older Americans simply aren’t able to see… at least without our help.
Simply put, we get to see politicians for who they really are, first hand, because so many of them still don’t take us seriously.
While every generation was once young and had similar experiences, with the Internet, we have the advantage of being able to share our frustrations with millions of people in seconds, and quickly organize to yield change.
Yes my friends, change is coming America, and it’s going to come from us, Generation Y. Yes we can.
Let the classical liberal revolution begin
Card Check to be introduced today
From CongressDaily:
Democrats will introduce contentious labor legislation in both chambers today even though Senate Democrats do not yet have the support necessary to overcome a certain Republican filibuster.
This is all going to come down to the Blue Dogs in the House of Representatives. Those 51 Members, all self-proclaimed conservative democrats, have the power to block this in the House.
Obviously, there will be more updates to follow.
Even Warren Buffett opposes Card Check:
And a concise commercial regarding the legislation:
The difference between conservatives and liberals
This video has been around for awhile now, but if you haven’t seen this yet, it’s definitely worth checking out.
In this video features Psychologist Jonathan Haidt examines the various foundations of moral values that form the way we think politically.
This video is definitely one step closer to helping answer the question of “what’s the difference between conservatives and liberals?”
What do you think? Do you think this is accurate?
Video: Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the New Deal (1933)
It’s sickening how many parallels have been observed between President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Barack Obama. As the video below shows, even the tone Obama is using now is almost exactly the same as Roosevelt’s.
Will Kadima maintain power of Likud?
According to the latest exit polling from Channel 1, Channel 2, and Channel 10 (Israeli Television stations), it appears that Kadima (center-Left), led by Tzipi Livni has the lead over Likud (right wing), led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Since returns are still coming in, I don’t want to delve too deep into any likenesses between their election and the one we just had in November, but please check back over the coming hours as I post updates and any other observations.
If you haven’t followed Israeli politics before, I strongly urge you to try and become immersed in this election as the final results come in.
What’s great about Israel’s electoral system is that unlike the United States, you only need to receive 2% of the vote to be a viable candidate, courtesy of a well organized multi-party system. This means that there is no “absolute control” of government, and alliances are usually a must in order for the government to be successful.
What’s also unique about this election is that this year two parties have been banned from the election: United Arab List-Ta’al and Balad, both Arab political parties. It’ll be interesting to see where that voting block decides to go.
Here are some early updates (from Ha’aretz):
Channel 1:
The Channel 1 poll gave Kadima 30 seats, Likud 28 seats, and Labor 13 seats. Yisrael Beiteinu is predicted to win 14 seats, according to the poll.
Channel 2:
According to the Channel 2 poll, Kadima will hold 29 seats, Likud will take 27 seats and Labor 13 seats. Yisrael Beiteinu will have 15 seats in the new Knesset.
Channel 10:
The Channel 10 poll indicated that Likud will take 28 seats, Kadima will hold 30 seats and Labor 13 seats. Yisrael Beiteinu will have 15 seats.
Real-time Updates: