Gen-Z is a very polarized generation. While on the whole it leans left, we've also seen a huge generational pushback against wokeism, mostly carried out by young men.
I think Gen-Z has a lot of potential for changing the country in a positive direction. Zoomers hate Biden and overwhelmingly hold views that go against the mainstream establishment framing, whether on the left or right. There's almost no such thing as a 20 year old neoliberal. This is going to create a HUGE shift in the future. From my observations and talking to politically engaged people my age, I think there will be some major changes:
Zoomers do not support Israel regardless of political affiliation. Aside from the few with Jewish heritage, Gen-Z is either pro-Palestine or completely against further engagement with the middle east.
Zoomers are oddly enough more spiritual and less materially focused. There's a generational burnout going on at the moment ("young people don't wanna work!") and Gen-Z is way more focused on quality of life than quantity of possessions. You hear a lot more women aspiring to be full time mothers one day and men putting a greater emphasis on knowledge and self-improvement. Zoomers are embracing the slow life and rejecting the fast pace of our highly competitive economy.
There's an overwhelming feeling that America is getting worse, less livable, and less worth defending as far as it's current system goes. No Zoomer thinks America is headed in the right direction under Biden. Period. Aside from the rare Democrat party activist, zoomers have no faith in the establishment whatsoever.
Gen-Z Republicans grew up watching Trump, and that's the standard they hold all politicians to. The neocons, the holdouts from days gone by are increasingly marginalized and considered indefensible. Their influence will evaporate as the newer generation of voters takes over and starts getting active in primaries.
Zoomers are revolutionaries. It's like the 60s all over again, except this time the establishment is weak and completely incompetent. Big change is on the horizon. The gatekeepers have very little influence over a generation that grew up watching peers on social media rather than a few controlled TV stations. Big ideas are popping up left and right and there's a big conversation going on that transcends our usual understanding of politics. People are discussing what it means to be a human being, what really matters in life, and how we can build a better world that takes account for what we value most. The era of accepting the status quo is over and Zoomers are on the forefront of what's to come. We're experiencing the dawn of a new vision for this country, one that's people-focused, compassionate, and a bit more understanding. If these tendencies are shaped properly and integrated in a more practical, realistic way, I think the future will look oddly bright.
My first awareness of what a President even is, was in 3rd grade. Ronald Reagan.
Life was good in the 80's. I will always remember that, and I will never forget that it was Reagan at the helm of the "good" years of my life. Its seared into my mind and soul.
I can't even imagine being a kid who's first recognition of Presidents, was Ubama.
Obama was the first president I really have memories of. I just remember how disappointed everyone was as it gradually became evident how much he sucked lol.
Yeah. At least I can remember good times.......Gen Z entered a Post 9/11 America, far less freedoms and totally devoid of any identifiable eras for the past 24 years....they entered the suck, right out the gate.
There used to be eras every 10 years that were punctuated by uniquely identifiable attributes. The 50's, the 60's, 70's...etc. All uniquely different.
That doesn't exist anymore. There's no one who talks about the good-old 2002's or the 2007's........or the good-old 2011's. They're all the same. Just Post 9/11 America.
At least I can remember a thing that I feel is worth working toward getting back. Its a motivator. But Gen Z are like "This sucks, it only gets suckier, why even bother". I can't blame them. Its biology. Man has to operate on at least SOME positive reward system.
Ok. To the point I was going to make and never did, is that I agree about holding every other President to the standard of the last (best) guy.
For me, it was always Reagan until Trump came along. Now Trump is my new standard. 👍
I somehow forgot about George Bush Jr lol..
Remembered him after seeing him in a post recently.
Thanks for this. It gives me a warm hope inside.
Overall I agree, but I'm just gonna say that the whole "leans left" thing is a myth perpetuated by social media. You only ever see the moronic liberal youths, because they want you to think that's representative of the entire generation (think silent majority). The overwhelming majority of zoomers I know (myself included in that statistic) are either very heavily right winged, or right leaning centrists.
Even in college I could count on just my two hands the number of liberals I met my age. Most were older by like 10+ years and going back to college for a career change or to work on their masters or something.
I'm not saying there are NO liberals in my generation, but the stereotype that zoomers lean left on a whole just isn't true in my experience. The exact opposite is.
I'm very hopeful of them. I feel like they're young enough that, once they wake up, they're going to make a huge change. And the waking up seems inevitable.