Armageddun Loc: The show me state

Wynell Watson McCasland
May 12 ·

If you are fearful that the new generation of voters doesn’t get it, read this article written by Alyssa Ahlgren. I think her analysis of why they think the way they do is exactly correct.

“I’m sitting in a small coffee shop near Nokomis trying to think of what to write about. I scroll through my newsfeed on my phone looking at the latest headlines of Democratic candidates calling for policies to “fix” the so-called injustices of capitalism. I put my phone down and continue to look around. I see people talking freely, working on their MacBook’s, ordering food they get in an instant, seeing cars go by outside, and it dawned on me. We live in the most privileged time in the most prosperous nation and we’ve become completely blind to it. Vehicles, food, technology, freedom to associate with whom we choose. These things are so ingrained in our American way of life we don’t give them a second thought. We are so well off here in the United States that our poverty line begins 31 times above the global average. Thirty. One. Times. Virtually no one in the United States is considered poor by global standards. Yet, in a time where we can order a product off Amazon with one click and have it at our doorstep the next day, we are unappreciative, unsatisfied, and ungrateful.

Our unappreciation is evident as the popularity of socialist policies among my generation continues to grow. Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently said to Newsweek talking about the millennial generation, “An entire generation, which is now becoming one of the largest electorates in America, came of age and never saw American prosperity.”

Never saw American prosperity. Let that sink in. When I first read that statement, I thought to myself, that was quite literally the most entitled and factually illiterate thing I’ve ever heard in my 26 years on this earth. Now, I’m not attributing Miss Ocasio-Cortez’s words to outright dishonesty. I do think she whole-heartedly believes the words she said to be true. Many young people agree with her, which is entirely misguided. My generation is being indoctrinated by a mainstream narrative to actually believe we have never seen prosperity. I know this first hand, I went to college, let’s just say I didn’t have the popular opinion, but I digress.

Let me lay down some universal truths really quick. The United States of America has lifted more people out of abject poverty, spread more freedom and democracy, and has created more innovation in technology and medicine than any other nation in human history. Not only that but our citizenry continually breaks world records with charitable donations, the rags to riches story are not only possible in America but not uncommon, we have the strongest purchasing power on earth, and we encompass 25% of the world’s GDP. The list goes on. However, these universal truths don’t matter. We are told that income inequality is an existential crisis (even though this is not an indicator of prosperity, some of the poorest countries in the world have low-income inequality), we are told that we are oppressed by capitalism (even though it’s brought about more freedom and wealth to the most people than any other system in world history), we are told that the only way we will acquire the benefits of true prosperity is through socialism and centralization of federal power (even though history has proven time and again this only brings tyranny and suffering).

Why then, with all of the overwhelming evidence around us, evidence that I can even see sitting at a coffee shop, do we not view this as prosperity? We have people who are dying to get into our country. People around the world destitute and truly impoverished. Yet, we have a young generation convinced they’ve never seen prosperity, and as a result, elect politicians dead set on taking steps towards abolishing capitalism. Why? The answer is this, my generation has ONLY seen prosperity. We have no contrast. We didn’t live in the great depression, or live through two world wars, or see the rise and fall of socialism and communism. We don’t know what it’s like not to live without the internet, without cars, without smartphones. We don’t have a lack of prosperity problem. We have an entitlement problem, an ungratefulness problem, and it’s spreading like a plague.

With the current political climate giving rise to the misguided idea of a socialist utopia, will we see the light? Or will we have to lose it all to realize that what we have now is true prosperity? Destroying the free market will undo what millions of people have died to achieve.

My generation is becoming the largest voting bloc in the country. We have an opportunity to continue to propel us forward with the gifts capitalism and democracy has given us. The other option is that we can fall into the trap of entitlement and relapse into restrictive socialist destitution. The choice doesn’t seem too hard, does it?” Amen and Amen

Alyssa Ahlgren

I hope this young woman can have an empression on many of the younger generation.

rumitoid

Great naive sentiments, and I thoroughly agree with most. Anytime I go to the supermarket, anytime, I am overwhelmed by our prosperity. Endless shelves of produce and any meat or fish you want. A true cornucopia. 80% of the world would droll and go crazy at what we take as another shopping for the week. Ho-hum. But to believe that prosperity in America is enjoyed by all is desperately naive. Socialism has kept America afloat for decades. If not for Social Security after the scandalous and great ruin caused by Wall Street and Banks and the GOP de-regulation, our country would have failed. We were that close to dissolution. Obama was handed the absolute worse economy in our history. And he turned it around...slowly.

We should not view America as prosperous because millions everyday go hungry. Or die from lack of insurance and preventative care.

"Destroying the free market will undo what millions of people have died to achieve." And millions have suffered and died at its hands.

Her words sound so reasonable that to refute them seems so base and ugly. But she is wrong!

sisboombaa

Nice post. It's so foolish to believe that everything we have has no end. The truth is everything is temporary; our way of life, our health, our loved ones, even physical life itself. We take for granted our sight, hearing, mobility, touch, ability to think, remember and communicate until it is threatened or taken away.

We have collectively become so spoiled that we complain over the price of things instead of being thankful that it is available. Most humans discover truth through experiences which follows with age; generally to late. We should all evaluate what we have now and appreciate it. To ignore our blessings is to set ourselves up for big disappointments. The choice is ours independently to take things for granted-or- enjoy the blessings now given us.

waltmoreno

You lose all credibility when you sing praises of Obama’s handling of the economy. The guy who never had to meet a payroll for one single person. Entrusted with the economy of the US.
Predictably, he fell back to all he knew - community organizing. Which is another way of saying fanning RESENTMENT. Nothing productive about that. Resentment is a killer! But Saul Alinsky would be proud.
Capitalism isn’t perfect. But there’s no other system of government that can hold a candle to the virtues of capitalism.
Unless you admit that capitalism is by far the best system you’re just another hopeless lefty. And there’s no point in having a rational dialogue with a brick.

Lonewolf

Trumps ecomney is starting to fall below obamas were looking at gdp below 2% wares the 4,% trump promised! All Trump does is run business into the ground.

The Critical Critic Loc: Turtle Island

Speaking of bricks....

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/economic-growth-reached-3-percent-first-time-decade-thanks-president-donald-j-trumps-policies/

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

Wouldn't it be nice if just once we could have just one page where we could all agree on the simplest thing?

The Critical Critic Loc: Turtle Island

Indeed it would, sir.

I read your post long before Mr. Wolfe’s contribution, and I was going to post a response but decided to hold back and just watch/read. But as I continued to read various other threads to include other posts by Mr. Wolfe, I just couldn’t let slide his lies any further. I apologize for bringing contention to your excellent article, I will make a more concerted effort to restrain myself so as not to sully a well intentioned thread.

My original comment was going to let you know that I am a millennial, same age as the female author, and that there are a great number us out here. Though we are forced to some degree, to lay low with our opinions so as not to suffer the new technological forms of retaliation by those that share a differing opinion, social media retaliation is real and it’s effective. I have a lot of admiration for that young lady for being able and willing to provide her real name.

Thank you for posting that.

rumitoid

Blah, blah, blah: support what you so badly said. Capitalism without a degree of social programs, is just exploitative and abusive.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Says the Karl Marx wannabe.

rumitoid

What is possible and exceeds possibility does not manifest with acceptance of what is now. We need to raise our consciousness. Supermarkets overflowing with all manner of food and other products, while millions of young people have not enough to eat. Income inequality is massive in the States. The Elderly, disabled, and veterans have to jump through hops to get a meager existence. It is not being spoiled to complain; it is being aware of injustice.

rumitoid

Blade, please look at those presently on social programs. Is it American to reduce or eliminate benefits keeping them alive and healthy? We are talking children, the disabled, elderly, and veterans. Am I Karl Marx wannbe to want to give them aid? How do you see the poor? A prosperous nation like ours should see it as a right for health care, decent housing, education, food, and whatever helps our disadvantaged. We cannot claim to be a Christian nation otherwise.

rumitoid

Like so may things that sound so nearly true generated by emotions and false dichotomies, that is the substance of her writing. It has a strong allure to the passionate Conservative. But lacks any heart or compassion. It is stone cold denial of the reality of American citizens.

waltmoreno

From your idiotic comments I can see that there's no intelligent life here. You're just another brick. And I refuse to waste my time persuading bricks.

For other readers here on OPP, 'income inequality' is the new buzzphrase for communists who can't sell communism outright.
Here's the issue, overly simplified for clarity:
Person one diligently applies himself throughout his life by getting a solid education, delays gratification by getting advanced degrees in his field, and gets experience by working diligently for other similar employers.
Person two is a ne'er do well, Johnny-come-lately, sluggard who works in the same field as person one.
Their income is not equal. Boo Hoo.
BFD. That's capitalism. Meritocracy. Throw your BS about 'income inequality' into the garbage where it belongs. There are as many variations of this example as there are people, but the point is still the same.
Income inequality is meaningless phrase which excites idiots like rumi.

BTW, I'm also a vet and extremely pleased with the care I get from the VA.

The Critical Critic Loc: Turtle Island

Your opinion is noted. In my opinion, your writings could be described in the exact same way, except short on substance.

I don’t believe the intent of her writing was to express either of those things. I think she was expressing her befuddlement, annoyance, frustration, exasperation, and perhaps a touch of contempt.