Free Press –
The Millennium Generation
Dear Friends,
Good morning. About a month ago, I heard Marty Moss-Cowain interview Michael Hayes, the author of the “Millennial Makeover.” This fascinating hour long broadcast on Radio Times (Feb. 26) was a perfect primer for the Pennsylvania primary on April 22, just weeks away.
Young people all over America have been turning out for both Democratic and Republican primaries and caucuses in record numbers. And Pennsylvania promises to continue the pattern. Who are these young voters and are they the driving force for the 2008 presidential election?
“What role are young voters playing in this year’s Presidential election?” WHYY asked in its preview. Marty Moss-Cowain interviewed Michael Hais of Millennial Makeover: MySpace, YouTube, and the Future of American Politics. Later, the audience heard how the Internet is playing a much larger role in campaigns.
Moss-Cowain also talked with Joshua Levy, associate editor of Tech President, an Internet based project that is tracking how candidates are using the web and how voters are creating blogs, songs, and videos to influence the election. Mike Turk, a contributing editor to Tech President and former E-Campaign director for the 2004 Bush/ Cheney re-election campaign, joined them as well.
The millennium generation belongs to those born between 1982 and 2003 so they’re in their early to mid twenties. Most interesting to me, 40 percent of them are non-white. Hais told us that this generation is not divided by gender, race, or family wealth, as previous generations were. “This generation is unified in its interests,” he said.
“The millennium generation is anti war in Iraq and concerned about public education…its quality and cost,” Hais continued as he identified the two issues which young voters care most about.
If Hais is correct, that would explain the remarkable enthusiasm that this generation has for Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries.
Later in the program, Joshua Levy made a comparison between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials. I always thought that a generation was about 40 years.
Not so according to my search on Google. Baby Boomers were born after World War II…1946 to 1964 (just a span of 18 years). Generation “X” is from 1960 to 1982 (22 years); Generation “Y” is from 1980 and 1995 (15 years…the generations were getting shorter as more young women were having children). But in the newest generation, the so-called Millennium Generation, the span is 21 years.
Joshua Levy called Baby Boomers the “Moses Generation,” the generation of idealists, but definitely not doers. He says that the Millennials are the “Joshua Generation” because they are the doers. “They are active in civic affairs,” Levy said.
“Baby Boomers rebelled against their parents and were quick to join political demonstrations,” he continued. “Millennials are similar to those who grew up in the 1950’s…those who were very protected by their parents.”
“Millennials are friends of their parents,” Hais added. “They are optimistic and collegial, not combative. They are opposed to the war in Iraq but use the Internet to protest instead of demonstrating.”
Hais used the Barack Obama campaign to show the differences between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials. He also compared the Obama strategy to his rivals, Hillary Clinton and John McCain.
“The campaigns of the past were top down,” Hais explained. “Hillary Clinton’s and John McCain’s campaigns are top down strategies. The candidate gives the word and lieutenants and foot soldiers spread it.
“But the Obama campaign is organized from the bottom up,” Hais said. “It’s a two way communication system. Obama’s campaign uses the Internet and blogging for two-way communications. The styles are studies in contrasts…one-way versus two-way.”
Obama’s contributors far outmatch Hillary Clinton’s both in numbers and amounts of money. Clinton’s support comes from fewer donors but higher dollars from each. Although his campaign attracts less money per contributor, Obama has thousands more participating. And the results are startling. The Clinton campaign is struggling financially whereas Obama has been outspending her.
Regardless of party, voters have turned out in record proportions. The GOP and Democratic primaries will set records this year. Young voters and independents are driving this phenomenon. That’s a very good sign for American politics.
Personally, I’m an Obama fan. But Pennsylvania primaries are closed. The only way I can help him is to change my party registration from Republican to Democratic. So I will.
Speaking of which…did you read in the Morning Call (Mar. 2) that voters who’ve changed their parties since the end of 2007, in advance of the Pennsylvania primary, are overwhelmingly registering as Democrats, often by margins of 2-1 or 3-1…over those switching to the Republican Party. And it’s that way throughout America, which does not bode well for John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee.
After the Pennsylvania primary, I’ll return to the GOP…although the Bucks County Republican organization would probably be delighted if I left the GOP permanently.
It’s certainly more fun this way.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith