Brace Yourself: The
Political "Norm"
Faces a Major
Transformation
By Matthew Elias
Morley Winograd and
Michael D. Hais are
stepping in somewhat of
a "pioneer" like role in
introducing mainstream
America to the new, and
notably sizable group of
people energetically
joining the American
electorate population.
In their new book
Millennial Makeover (if
this interests you,
simple click the image
to the left, the cover
of the book, for more
details), Winograd and
Hais brilliantly capture
the sheer magnitude in
which a new, young, and
refreshed generation of
American's are shedding
the old mantra of "the
youths lack of
involvement" in the
political landscape, and
are in fact fixing to
change the face of
American politics as we
know now it.
Throughout the pages of
Millennial Makeover
Winograd and Hais tell
us more about what this
new generation thinks
and what it expects than
anyone has done before
or is likely to do
again. This is not the
political punditry of
"talking heads" who
merely spout trendy
theories without
analytical substance.
Rather, it is a well
researched and well
written review of the
factors that have helped
shape the Millennial
Generation (1983-2003)
now coming of age,
together with some
insightful commentary on
the impact this
generation is likely to
have on our country and
our world. Michael
Barone wrote about the
monumental release in
last Friday's Wall
Street Journal:
"Unlike Generation X
(born mid 1960's-1980)
the Millennials grew up
swathed in Attention.
They're optimistic and
less inclined to
substance abuse and
premarital sex. They've
performed community
service, and tend to
have lots of friends
they stay in touch with
through myspace and
facebook. They are
technocrats and should
be read with careful,
worried attention by
Republicans."
Benjamin Franklin once
referred to a stable
American government in
blunt terms when he
boldly proclaimed "A
republic, if you can
keep it." This statement
came after being asked
at the close of the
Constitutional
Convention what type of
government the Framers
had fashioned, and it's
through this book that
we are introduced to a
fascinating take at how
this new generation of
laptop toting, MTV
watching American's are
not only interested in
getting involved, but
are actively doing so
while at the same time
remaining informed on
the issues.
And with that most
Millenials set to reach
voting age in 2012, and
we are beginning to see
this new force already
at work in 2008 and
moving inexorably to
crowd the baby boomer's
off the political stage.
On a side note I should
mention that I have
taken a particular
interest in this book
for the simple reason
that I am in fact part
of the generation it's
about.
