photo via erin_m
Generation X may still be the most dubious generation when it comes to trusting government, but based on the civic health index study by the National Conference on Citizenship, Gen Xers outdistance Baby Boomers in volunteering and even outperform retired seniors. In addition, Gen X is .4 (please note that point) percent behind Gen Y, who in many cases were required to volunteer in high school and college, and certainly had more opportunities to volunteer.Most stunning of all, however, is that according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau, in the November 2008 election Gen Y trailed every generation in percentage turnout, and was only 1 percentage point higher than Generation X's percentage turnout in 1992. That was the election that kick-started Gen X as a politically disengaged generation.
Pete Peterson, executive director of Common Sense California, a multipartisan organization that supports citizen participation in policymaking, has an opinion editorial about the study in City Journal based in New York City. It's a fantastic read, and I highly recommend any Gen Xer even halfway sick of the cynical-slacker label, take the time to read it. Peterson, who also lectures on state and local governance at Pepperdine’s School of Public Policy, is so smart and thrifty in his evaluation of Generation X: "skeptical, not apathetic."
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9 comments:
You know, I have never understood this so called "disengagment" of gen x. I and all my friends have voted in every presidential election we've been old enough for. Although, I am friends with alot of teachers...they are certainly community and service minded, so maybe my group is skewed. ;)
@BALLERINA TOES - I know!!! My friends and I aren't disengaged either!
Jen...Go look at my Blog and check out the last of the three vintage images I'm sharing with my blogger friends. She REMINDS ME OF YOUR SWEET Bridgey...
More soon...much to share.
B
If Gen X truly distrusts government, they're a lot smarter than the rest of us give them credit for. :)
Interesting - especially about the volunteering.
I would argue that you can be a slacker but still involved in things that are important to you. When you label someone, that person is not that label 100% of the time. And as individuals we have grown up and have added responsibilities which cut into our slack time such as kids, spouse, taking care of the house, and all that “stuff”. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t still be a slacker at heart! Sure, I’ll mow the lawn and all those other things, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it and can’t put it off until the last possible moment!!
So I guess my argument is that you can do all those things you need to do, but its ok to be slacker at heart! Just my $.02 ;^)
@CGHILL - Thank you for pointing it out. =)
@CHRISTIAN GODBOUT - Slacker Pride! I love it. Have you heard the Chinese proverb - By doing nothing all things are accomplished. Maybe it's not so slackerish afterall - to not be gunning all the time. Besides, slackerdome was created by boomers who didn't want to let go of work because they didn't want to share credit. so gen x stared off into space for 10 years. then, we got labeled slackers. wow. what a win-win for boomers. forgive me, my boomer friends.
JenX - a very zen perspective on slackerdom! I hope you will check out our new attempt to be motivated enough to put this together but remain true to our slacker roots at theslackerfactor.com! Its a work in progress but hope to be up and running soon! :)
JenX, I just decovered this site. As a gen xer myself (born 1971) I like it.
I'm wondering what you and others think. I am thinking of writing a book on Generation X being the last hope of American greatness (thus the research led me to this site).
My theory (based on my personal experiece) that some of our earliest memories included the Iran Hostage Crisis, the dismanteling of our manufacturing industry, gas lines, inflation but then a subsequent resurgence in greatness and hope (yes, I do admit my Ronald Reagan conservative tendancies).
I think we fondly remember our grandfathers (who fought in WWII), and thought that Woodstock and the Hippies (our parents) were a little weird and self absorbed. Don't get me wrong, we were not immune to social ills or mores (of our own doing) but we also have enough of a memory of really bad times but also really good as well. We helped shape the amercan expereince through our quirky but traditional experiences and have helped to create great businesses, particularly in the Tech area.
I think we MUST get involved in politics and civic affairs (as painful and stomach churning as it sometimes can be) and keep America on track to create equal opporunity and justice for all (not the "social justice" aka "spreading the wealth" that the boomers talk about, but that of truly living out Dr. King's dream of everyone having a shot to make what they will of themselves in America based on who they are, not their racial background).
Anyways, the post is long, my thoughts are still cementing.
FTI, I do NOT trust the millenials at all (except for a handful of good young men and women I lead in a reserve unit). BTW, praying for your nephew from TN who id now in Iraq. God bless him.
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