The more persuasive explanation for the relative lack of young people in the anti-Trump, pro-democracy movement is that they are demobilized and demoralized. But it would be a mistake to blame them for this attitude. Older generations should instead recognize that the world we have created does not seem to offer a viable path to making change.
I’m not sure they’re examining all the angles though. More Boomers have retired after Covid and young people are struggling even more with wage suppression and overall employment. Much harder to organize if you’re living hand to mouth juggling 4 gig jobs than hand to mouth with 1 job. There’s also a lot of other organizations they may be supporting. If they’re working directly with local orgs they may be less willing or able to participate in these larger protests. It’s also possible they just are that demoralized. Really sad overall either way. The boomers should have taken the time to talk to their cohort when they had the chance. I cut ties with some boomers, but so much of their political responses were “you’re too young/you’ll understand when you’re older” even though I’m a whole adult. I’m sure they’d just pivot to something else, but still. I am still trying with people my age and it’s working every once in a while, but I know that if I don’t help my cohort they will get more entrenched. I know some boomers willing to go to a protest but unwilling to challenge their family members. I don’t want to make sweeping generalizations, but I wish they’d protest less and deradicalize more, because I can protest, but I can’t deradicalize their family for them.
The history of leftist movement is to eat shit, complain about losing, and continue the struggle for justice. This is shown time and time again, throughout the anti-Iraq and anti-Afghanistan war protest in the 2000s, Occupy movement, anti Keystone-XL protest, Black Lives Matter, and Gaza protest. Idealist young people, no matter how broke they are will show up for justice. #NoKings are just lame.
cut ties with some boomers, but so much of their political responses were “you’re too young/you’ll understand when you’re older” even though I’m a whole adult
Dw even when you’re old as shit the elderly shitting their diapers will still say this
It’s basically them just saying you’re stupid cause you’re younger. Clearly having Alzheimer’s and poop draining down your leg makes your cognition better
The article does include the following:
I’m not sure they’re examining all the angles though. More Boomers have retired after Covid and young people are struggling even more with wage suppression and overall employment. Much harder to organize if you’re living hand to mouth juggling 4 gig jobs than hand to mouth with 1 job. There’s also a lot of other organizations they may be supporting. If they’re working directly with local orgs they may be less willing or able to participate in these larger protests. It’s also possible they just are that demoralized. Really sad overall either way. The boomers should have taken the time to talk to their cohort when they had the chance. I cut ties with some boomers, but so much of their political responses were “you’re too young/you’ll understand when you’re older” even though I’m a whole adult. I’m sure they’d just pivot to something else, but still. I am still trying with people my age and it’s working every once in a while, but I know that if I don’t help my cohort they will get more entrenched. I know some boomers willing to go to a protest but unwilling to challenge their family members. I don’t want to make sweeping generalizations, but I wish they’d protest less and deradicalize more, because I can protest, but I can’t deradicalize their family for them.
The history of leftist movement is to eat shit, complain about losing, and continue the struggle for justice. This is shown time and time again, throughout the anti-Iraq and anti-Afghanistan war protest in the 2000s, Occupy movement, anti Keystone-XL protest, Black Lives Matter, and Gaza protest. Idealist young people, no matter how broke they are will show up for justice. #NoKings are just lame.
Dw even when you’re old as shit the elderly shitting their diapers will still say this
It’s basically them just saying you’re stupid cause you’re younger. Clearly having Alzheimer’s and poop draining down your leg makes your cognition better
Nah. Ultimately maga was just a reactionary nationalist movement and this thing is just rebranded blue maga, which only appeals to blue nationalists.