Advertisement
*
Reproduction permitted for personal use only. For reprints and reprint permission, contact reprints@wistechnology.com.

Presidential politics and the next generation


Why the peak in interest? And what do Xers care about?

Gen Xers will vote because they’re stepping into adulthood — finally. Today, 27 and 25 are the average ages of newly married young men and women, respectively. Pushing back adulthood means pushing back adult realities and concerns. When a young person gets married and starts family life, their priorities shift. It’s just taken Xers a little longer to get there.

Gen Xers will vote because September 11th affected them. They understand that Americans are not loved the world over, and the US’s lone-ranger approach in Iraq has further retarded our credibility. Xers are global citizens; many have had international experiences. They have international networks and relationships, and they care how the world views our country.

Environment — Why is the Toyota Prius one of the briskest selling cars in America? Yes, Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio have one. (Hint: they’re Xers.) But Gen Xers also have the highest political IQ on environmental issues. This is a generation who grew up with “Earth Day” and have vivid memories of the garbage barge floating up the east coast looking for a place to dump its cargo.
Advertisement
Relevance — The debates about Social Security and Medicare are nearly irrelevant to Gen X voters; more Xers believe they’ll see a UFO than receive social security. What’s relevant for them?

- Paying back student loans

- Funding retirement accounts that they (not an employer) control

- Small business and entrepreneurship. By the time they’re 32, most Gen Xers have thought about or started their own business. 90 percent of all new jobs in the US are created by entrepreneurs and small businesses.

- Offshore outsourcing of white-collar jobs, especially high-tech jobs. 56 percent of all computer programmers are Gen Xers.

Is Bush or Kerry doing a better job of appealing to Gen X? Goose egg. Gen X identifies as economically conservative and socially progressive. Neither candidate straddles that line.

Endnote: I find it amazing that when President Kennedy was elected — the first Irish Catholic president — he worked intensely to ensure that his faith was kept out of politics. Only 40 years later, we have a president who can’t help but mention God. Barry Goldwater, a Republican whom even Democrats loved, said that the Republican party would be in big trouble when it became a religious party. Are we there yet? God(dess) help us.

-----
Rebecca Ryan is founder and partner of Next Generation Consulting. She drinks coffee from a mug that says, “Well behaved women rarely make history.” Next Generation Consulting is a thinkubator committed to building Next Generation Companies and Communities. Her columns address the work and life trends of today's young, tech-savvy talent as well as the tools, tricks and tips for those daring hot companies they work with. Please e-mail topics, suggestions and feedback to Rebecca at rr@nextgenerationconsulting.com.

-Add Your Comment

Name:
E-mail:

Comment Policy: WTN News accepts comments that are on-topic and do not contain advertisements, profanity or personal attacks. Comments represent the views of the individuals who post them and do not necessarily represent the views of WTN Media or our partners, advertisers, or sources. Comments are moderated and not immediately posted. Your email address will not be posted.

WTN Media cannot accept liability for the content of comments posted here or verify their accuracy. If you believe this comment section is being abused, contact edit@wistechnology.com.

Advertisement

-Most Popular Stories

Advertisement

-Featured EventsMore…

-More Stories

WTN Media Presents