It was with a mixture of amusement and nausea that I observed
young Americans throwing a post-election fit in the wake of Donald Trump’s
stunning victory in the 2016 election.
It was even more bewildering when I read about college professors all
over America postponing exams and cancelling classes to help alleviate the
stress and trauma their students were going through.
Give me a break.
I should begin by saying that I voted for the Libertarian –
and geographically-challenged –candidate, Gary Johnson. I also feel compelled, lest Sentinel readers
judge me too harshly, that I spent large portions of this fall semester
explaining to my students why Donald Trump’s policies on trade, immigration and
entitlements made no economic sense whatsoever.
That said, I want to offer some words to the millions of
Millennial voters (and non-voters) who are now crying, stamping their feet and
smashing their participation trophies in fits of rage over this outcome.
First, get over yourself.
In case you learned nothing in your public K-12 schools, there is a
system in place that Hillary participated in and lost fair and square. Spare me the complaints about the Electoral
College. Most of you do not even know
what it is. Those of you who do would
have been totally fine if Mr. Trump won the popular vote and lost the
election.
Protesting the outcome of a legitimate election - one where your age group failed to turn out
in the same numbers that helped Mr. Obama get elected – is totally
fruitless. Walking out of class,
chanting simple slogans about our offensive new president and screaming for a
different outcome is like the proverbial locking the barn door after your
organic cows have run away. You
lost. Deal with it and regroup for 2020.
To your professors and teachers who cancelled tests and
classes – what bunch of enabling, pathetic examples of adulthood you are.
I would be willing to bet that the day after Adolf Hitler
became Chancellor of Germany, students in Germany had to take exams. The day after Pearl Harbor and September 11th
people had to get up and go to work. In
the future, your precious students you are trying to protect will have to
function the day after other upsetting or horrific events have taken place. Letting them go home or cancelling their
obligations simply trains them to fall apart and abdicate their roles as
students and future workers, spouses or leaders of this nation.
Now to some good advice for the nearly 80 million Americans
who are part of the 18-35 year-old demographic. It is time for you to revolt. I do not mean burning tires or smashing the
windows of the coffee shops you hang out in.
I mean revolution in your thinking and actions about Washington, D.C.
In 2008 young people rose up in staggering numbers to support
the Libertarian-leaning Ron Paul. Eight
years later you jumped on the Socialist bandwagon of Bernie Sanders.
My recommendation is that you combine these two movements
into a new Millennial Party that represents intelligent change to American
politics and policies.
You have shown us older folks that you are very
individualistic when it comes to social issues.
You do not want 50-something year old people like me and others to tell
you whom to marry, what to put in your body or what faith (or lack thereof) you
should have. Good for you. It is none of my business – or anyone’s
business what you do to yourself or with another consenting adult. Keep telling us to mind our business and get
out of your lives.
You also shown (at least in 2008) that you are aware of the
fact that our economic system of crony capitalism, entitlements and debt will
ruin your futures. Many of you have
shown that you are capable of running businesses that practice compassionate
capitalism, sustainability, a deference to small and local suppliers, etc. in
an attempt to be more socially responsible.
This is beautiful. Keep it up –
because the lobbyists and giant corporations out there are going to keep trying
to rig the economy to suppress competition and plunder us for subsidies,
bailouts and other anti-free market goals.
You need to organize your economic thoughts around the notion
that the same government you do not want in your bedroom should not be in your
wallet. If you fight for your right to
your property and your money with the same zeal you fight for gay-marriage and
recreational marijuana you will be able to get people elected who will leave
you alone. This will mean social and
economic prosperity – and an end to the duopoly of Republican and Democratic
tyranny.
So, stop crying and get to work.
