Okay, I admit that I like Dennis Prager. I know, I know, he is a pretty conservative crazy ass talk show host, but I like him. He tends to go on a little bit about the whole moral thing - and he defines "moral" very conveniently, but in general I agree.
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But with his latest article, I think he might have rounded the bend. I don't know if this will be the Republican line or not, but it is odd. After years of complaining that young people today don't pay enough attention to politics - he is now saying that it's too bad young people like Obama and can vote.
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Really.
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We regularly hear about Barack Obama's appeal to youth, about how he has been able to excite and mobilize a generation of young people to become politically involved, his rare ability to excite young people, and about how many new voters will register (and vote Democrat) as a result.
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All this seems to be true. The question, however, is whether it is a good thing for the country and not just for Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.
All this seems to be true. The question, however, is whether it is a good thing for the country and not just for Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.
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The answer is that it probably is not. With a few exceptions -- and those exceptions are usually those rare cases when young people confront dictatorships -- when youth get involved in politics in large numbers, it is not a good thing.
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Why you ask does he think this? It is a valid question. I think the real reason is that he is afraid they are going to vote Obama into the office. He struggles for a reason that makes him not look like a cranky old Republican.
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For those of us who view the late '60s and '70s as the beginning of a downward spiral for American society, however, the mobilization of many young people on behalf of Barack Obama is not encouraging. It is only the latest example of young people getting excited as a result of their unique combination of naivete, lack of wisdom, romantic idealism and narcissism.
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Most adults throughout history have recognized that young people are likely to be unwise given their minuscule amount of life experience. After all, most adults, even among baby boomers, believe that they themselves are wiser today than 10 years ago, let alone than when they were 20 years old. It is remarkable, then, how often adults romanticize youth involvement in politics -- "Isn't it heartwarming to see young people getting involved?"
Most adults throughout history have recognized that young people are likely to be unwise given their minuscule amount of life experience. After all, most adults, even among baby boomers, believe that they themselves are wiser today than 10 years ago, let alone than when they were 20 years old. It is remarkable, then, how often adults romanticize youth involvement in politics -- "Isn't it heartwarming to see young people getting involved?"
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Actually, for a wise adult, it is not heartwarming.
Actually, for a wise adult, it is not heartwarming.
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For a change I don't feel like the crankiest old man in the room. Nothing to make you fell young like the rant of the elderly.