Who Drives The Country?

[kib]

I have always thought of the country as being socially manipulated by a bunch of 40-60 year old straight white men. Sorry to everyone who falls into that category, this isn't about bashing and privilege, I'm just musing here.

When I go on various sites, I'm hearing a lot of talk from Millennials. Young women seem to be gaining a good foothold in discussions whether the males in the room like it or not. People of all colors are participating. I realize they don't have power yet, this is just a lot of talking, but it's also a new lifestyle norm coming up. Do you think we're moving toward a world where the power center shifts to a different demographic, where the world's "realities" are a reflection of more diverse (and younger) people's experience and preference? Would this be a good thing, or a dangerous one?

ETA: this was motivated by WilliamSmith's assertion that the labor movement is primed and ready to roll. It got me thinking, who is driving that, and are the young people a primary force in this, a way of having power by numbers before their expected "time"?

[Ultralight]

I have always thought of the country as being socially manipulated by a bunch of 40-60 year old white men. Sorry to everyone who falls into that category, this isn't about bashing and privilege, I'm just musing here.

When I go on various sites, I'm hearing a lot of talk from Millennials. Young women seem to be gaining a good foothold in discussions whether the males in the room like it or not. People of all colors are participating. I realize they don't have power yet, this is just a lot of talking, but it's also a new lifestyle norm coming up. Do you think we're moving toward a world where the power center shifts to a different demographic, where the world's "realities" are a reflection of more (and younger) ideals? Would this be a good thing, or a dangerous one?

Kids these days...

[LDAHL]

What do you mean by "socially manipulated"?

What "new lifestyle norm" do you see us moving toward?

[kib]

The general values and state of the union of our country are dictated primarily by the people in power, who have overwhelmingly in the past been white, male, and older. Of course every person has their own unique perspective and life, and of course there are always factions pressing for change or simply opting to be different, but as late as 1990, I'd say our ... Zeitgeist, the true course the country was taking, was driven primarily by that older demographic. Women, Blacks, war protesters all had their voice and their objections, but it was older white males with their hands on the lever who truly had the power.

Do they still, or is this actually starting to shift? Who is it shifting toward?

I don't have an answer to this, just the observation that it seems like other demographics are more visible, more vocal and maybe, primed to have some Real power they wouldn't have had a generation or two ago.

[CathyA]

LOL......Kib......I thought you were asking "who drives in the country" and I was ready to say "I do." :laff:

[bae]

http://emanuellevy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/driving_miss_daisy_1_freeman.jpg

[freshstart]

the Koch brothers and their ilk. what I want? no but I can't see a way out. Go Millennials!

[freshstart]

http://emanuellevy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/driving_miss_daisy_1_freeman.jpg


you slam dunked it!

[Williamsmith]

What she means.....
List of attendees for Obama State Dinner for China's Pres. Jinping

Facebook CEO Zuckerberg
MasterCard CEO Banga
Salesforce.com CEO Benioff
Apple CEO Cook
Motion Picture Assn of America CEO Dodd
Oracle CTO Ellison
BlackRock CEO Fink.........

..Hess, Netflicks, Morgan Stanley, Qualcomm, Microsoft, Dreamworks, Procor & Gamble....
you get the picture. If you donated or money laundered for the administration you get political favors that make it easier to make more money in the future.

Who drives the country? Debt, drugs and oil.

[Gardnr]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/09/23/jimmy-carter-us-oligarchy-and-corrupting-power-money-politics

We've become, now, an oligarchy instead of a democracy

Although I am VERY ready for the millenials and their parents to take over, I am afraid I concur with President Jimmy Carter (whom I did not vote for but have serious respect for).

$ rules this country. And until the average income American voter realizes that the moneybag conservatives are NOT looking out for their best interest quit voting them in (I live in a dangerously red state), we are friggin' hosed.

NOT that I have a strong opinion mind you:0!

[freshstart]

What she means.....



if I am 'she', I'll say what I 'mean'. Thanks anyway

[kib]

Lol. If I am "she", then you came pretty close. Zuckerberg is actually an interesting example of "under age driving". He is white and male, but not the age demographic you'd expect. Is that a one-off, or has the receont boom of cutting edge ideas in the hands of ordinary people given younger people a venue in which to take power (money) that they were missing before? It is enough power / money to shift the old guard?

[Williamsmith]

You are not "she".....

"What she means"... Is an opinion statement. People who are prone to be offended for no reason often misinterpret others and wrongly assume they are the focus of someone else's comments. I could care less what you say or what you mean.

[freshstart]

ditto

a thread flows better when names are used, not 'she'

[Williamsmith]

ditto

a thread flows better when names are used, not 'she'

Gottcha, I'll try to remember. Is this just a warning or will I be getting a summons in the mail from the thread police? cow-hi

[freshstart]

What she means.....
List of attendees for Obama State Dinner for China's Pres. Jinping

.

were you speaking of me when you said "what she means is...."? It appeared that way, especially if it wasn't kib. If you were not referring to me as 'she', I have no issue.

If I am indeed this 'she', I do indeed know better what I "mean" when I say it, than you

before you get all sarcastic about thread police, how about you saying what you "mean", so no one has to guess? Oh wait, you don't care what I say or mean. So, as I said, neither I, you

[Williamsmith]

were you speaking of me when you said "what she means is...."? It appeared that way, especially if it wasn't kib. If you were not referring to me as 'she', I have no issue.

If I am indeed this 'she', I do indeed know better what I "mean" when I say it, than you

before you get all sarcastic about thread police, how about you saying what you "mean", so no one has to guess? Oh wait, you don't care what I say or mean. So, as I said, neither I, you

okay, for whatever reason, you (meaning fresh start) are having a hard time understanding me (that would be Williamsmith). I thought I made it very clear when I (Williamsmith)said you (fresh start)are not "she" but in the interest of clarity.......I (Williamsmith)will repeat with more clarity.......You (fresh start) are not "she". I was using a phrase that opines about the meaning of the OP which would mean "she" is kib.

I look forward to exchanging ideas on a different topic but as for this one I will not be responding further out of respect for the OP. Let's just get this thing back on track if we haven't already hijacked it . :moon:

[freshstart]

okay, for whatever reason, you (meaning fresh start) are having a hard time understanding me (that would be Williamsmith).

I look forward to exchanging ideas on a different topic but as for this one I will not be responding further out of respect for the OP. Let's just get this thing back on track if we haven't already hijacked it . :moon:

clearly I did not understand, so I apologize.

I have good brain days and bad brain days. I think we can agree this was a bad brain day. It started bad, I got up, showered, got ready for work, packed my bag. OMG, my work laptop is gone! Maybe it's at work! Crap, where is my Blackberry, please let it be at work, too. Woke my father up to get his keys to move his car. Who calmly explained, "it is 3:30 ("3:30? OMG, I didn't go into work at all!) he tries again, it is 3:30 AM, middle of the night. And you have been out of work for a year mostly. Go back to bed, we'll talk in the morning."

so I could not follow you or anyone, except maybe Big Bird, with anything resembling logic, again my apologies.

[Williamsmith]

:+1: I hope you get to feelin better soon.

[freshstart]

thanks, in the future I'll stay silent if totally lost