Why, Oh Why, Do I Love Millennials?
The Muckster could not answer this question so he did what he always does: research. Start clicking on every site that Google has to offer. Here’s the result. I typically use so many articles and sites that I never give any one site credit. But this time I found some interesting stuff from The Wire.
How did this “generation” nonsense start?
Tom Brokaw made up the name “Greatest Generation.” That generation ended when World War II ended. Can’t really dispute that Grandpa wasn’t a hero and that he’s not the greatest. Especially if you want to continue to receive birthday and Christmas presents. That era started about 100 years ago and ended in 1946 when everyone got back from the war. Hey grandkids, I’m one of them. Be nice.
Greatest Generation. These are the people that fought and died in World War II for our freedom, which some of us appreciate. But it's a little over-the-top as far as names go, isn't it? It made a lot of noise and sold a lot of books. Personally, I agree, but there were other great generations as well.
Baby Boomers. The only generation that the Census Bureau defines is the “Baby Boomers.” Their births range from 1946 to 1964. It began when the Greatest Generation came home and started having sex with everyone. It lasted until women started using “The Pill.”
Generation X. A nice, neat 20-year era from 1965 to 1984. It’s sometimes called the "baby bust." Don’t criticize me over the start and stop dates. I don’t make this stuff up and I think it’s all a bunch of stuff.
Generation Y. Somewhere from the mid-1970s when the oldest were born to the mid-2000s when the youngest arrived. Generation Y is a made-up generation when it became obvious that young kids didn't really fit with the cool Generation X aesthetic but not enough of them had been born to make a new generation designation. (Generation Y is a fake, made-up thing. Comes after X – original?)
Millennials. In October 2004, researchers Neil Howe and William Strauss called Millennials "the next great generation." Really? Born in 1982 through 2012. In 2012, they affixed the end point as 2004. See what I mean! Nobody agrees.
F Generation. I know, I know, “Z” is next. Our children born in the last 4-12 years don’t have a generation to call their own. So. I gave them one. They are not Millennials. Earlier this month, Pew Research asked what the group should be called and offered some terrible ideas. Why do I say Generation F, you ask? What else would you call those who have to pay off our $20 Trillion in National Debt and are faced in the most dysfunctional federal government since before the “Greatest Generation?”
What about these Millennials?
They’re screwed as well. Not really their fault. Blame it on Generation X. Most say the Millennials are the “Worst Generation.” But what is a Millennial? Some say they can’t communicate face-to-face. They can only text. They need regular naps. 5,000 years ago they would have been considered elderly. Now they live in their parent’s basements. They are well educated, but they can’t get a job. They have an enormous amount of student loan debt that can never be paid.
The media, consisting of some millennials, made all of this up and now they are more confused by it than “We the People.” Are the millennials in as much chaos, insecurity and uncertainty as their Gen X ancestors? The rise of technology and social networks has surely created turmoil in people's lives in many ways.
The media wants definitions and identities. The millennials need an identity. What else do they have? They have a lot going for them, if only the government will get out of their way. Sadly, they are being programmed in our “Government Indoctrination Centers” to believe the government is here to help them. They believe Bernie Sander’s message of socialism is the best economic system. They don’t have the experience to competently analyze these messages because they are not taught critical thinking. Below is a passage from an article I wrote in 2015:
“America is an ideological battle. Hate is consuming us. Congress is now moving to expand this insanity ever further. Class envy is part of it. The terror against anyone who dissents from Political Correctness is part of it. We see it in China, North Korea, Russia and the Middle East. Terrorists want to kill Americans and tolerance is mandated, as they cut off the heads of our fellow citizens. We must recognize political correctness will destroy our republic and leave no hope for our children and grandchildren.”
Finally, an author who brings you solutions, instead of problems.
Americans have lost faith in their overreaching federal government. “We the People” don’t need to be overregulated or have their taxes misspent. Americans are victims of a crumbling economy, high prices and stagnant wages. They view government as bloated and politicians as corrupt.
They do not trust the leadership at any level. They see politicians of both parties as self-centered narcissists whose only objective is re-election. The author is like you, with one principal difference and 20 reasons for optimism. His “Vision” of America is “clear.” It is a vision of the Constitution and America the way it could be, the way it should be. The author’s eyesight is twenty-twenty.
charity Fields
Great blog!!! Keep them coming.