Generation Y, Gen Y, the Me First Generation, the Entitlement Generation, the Selfish Generation; call them whatever you want but they may rescue America from its slide further into socialism and crippling debt. Yes, the same group you saw protesting at Occupy rallies may actually do something useful with their lives after all.
Liberal politicians have been playing upon the naivete of this impressionable group for the last decade. The constant message: Your mere existence entitles you to have everything you want and someone else will pay for it. They have bought into this message for years with little regard for the consequences of this mentality.
Here is the profound revelation that is startling pollsters: Gen Y is growing up.
In a cruel twist of fate, Gen Y is finally figuring out who the ‘someone’ is that will be responsible for the bills. Reality is rearing its ugly head and shining a spotlight on their fantasies of life without consequence. The reality is so profound that they are now spreading the word to the younger segment of their generation.
In what may be the factor that tips the 2012 election to Romney/Ryan, the youth vote is trending away from President Obama and moving towards Romney. The word is out; “these guys might save us from a lifetime of paying off someone else’s debt”. With Paul Ryan articulating the debt argument, the youth are finally starting to learn math and are beginning to teach others. A new awakening to the realities of uncontrolled spending and debt accumulation is hitting Gen Y.
I find it very encouraging to look at older Tea Party members, concerned about the debt their grandchildren will inherit, joined now in their protests by the grandchildren they are trying to protect. This dynamic is a game-changer in election politics.
It’s Gen Y to the rescue; motivated to save their own butts I am sure, but it’s a start. This small beginning will create a groundswell as the youth in America share with their friends the reality of unsustainable debt, and the fact that they will have to pay the bill eventually. This dynamic proves the power of one person with both the courage and the ability to articulate an idea.
The groundswell has found its beginning, but we cannot rely on Gen Y alone to spread the word. It’s up to all of us to find one person and open their eyes about the future bill that will have to be paid; then motivate that person to share the reality with another. Gen Y is waking up and sharing their new found fear. Time for the rest of us to do the same.
by Jack Woodward 8/18/12
