Students protest in 1968 against Duke University’s affiliation with Dow Chemical Co., which produced napalm used in the Vietnam War.
In case you haven’t noticed, Americans between the ages of 15 and 30 are remarkably undisturbed by the extent to which corporations and their bought-and-paid-for politicians dominate nearly every aspect of their lives. At least that’s how it appears, given the decline in youth protest and civil disobedience over the last 30 years.
So what happened? Bruce E. Levine, a clinical psychologist and author of the book “Get Up, Stand Up: Uniting Populists, Energizing the Defeated, and Battling the Corporate Elite,” takes an informed stab at explaining, beginning with student loan debt, which is expected to top $1 trillion by December—an amount greater than any other U.S. consumer debt, including credit cards. —ARK
AlterNet:
Traditionally, young people have energized democratic movements. So it is a major coup for the ruling elite to have created societal institutions that have subdued young Americans and broken their spirit of resistance to domination.
Young Americans—even more so than older Americans—appear to have acquiesced to the idea that the corporatocracy can completely screw them and that they are helpless to do anything about it. A 2010 Gallup poll asked Americans “Do you think the Social Security system will be able to pay you a benefit when you retire?” Among 18- to 34-years-olds, 76 percent of them said no. Yet despite their lack of confidence in the availability of Social Security for them, few have demanded it be shored up by more fairly payroll-taxing the wealthy; most appear resigned to having more money deducted from their paychecks for Social Security, even though they don’t believe it will be around to benefit them.
How exactly has American society subdued young Americans?
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kerryrose is right about the draft. The masters of corporate
war made a conscious decision after Vietnam to “do it right”
next time, meaning undercutting youth protest through a
professional military instead of a draft, tighter control of the
media, and more sophisticated, widespread propaganda. They
have done all that and have left Americans benumbed, scared
and confused - or just disconnected. All the while, both
parties have become increasingly beholden to Wall St, with
Dems not offering a meaningful, clear contrast to Republicans,
leaving the public unaware of possible alternatives to the
current corrupt system. Support alternative media and quit
voting for corporate Democrats who take us hostage with
threats such as a Palin Presidency.
By doublestaandards/glasshouses, August 3, 2011 at 4:45 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
They’re too busy texting to know what’s going on. Every few years there’s a new gizmo on the market. They think they’re in heaven; what’s to rebel against? This younger generation has been subjected to indoctrination unlike any other. The first words they learned to recognize were most likely corporate logos. It amounts to hypnosis. This is the best of all possible worlds. Log on. Windows will save your session.
Bruce E. Levine - You sir understand far beyond the
grasps of many - the article provides much needed
relief to those under 30 realizing the futility of a
disillusioned system. It is frustrating to see almost
all of my generation pulled into this web. I was lucky
enough to be able to escape and in turn began to cut
many of the ties latched on for years. Also, in doing
so, a new life of helping and creating bonds with many
realizing the same premises of the “web” . For many
who escape - scorn and contempt are the overriding
mentalities they will find, thus creating even more
issues within the mind than the unknowing web
dwellers. This road to reality/realization is hard,
but not impossible. There will be many, MANY attempts
to knock one of the course. Stay strong and true to
your inner being and thought - diminish the ingrained
negativity.
“The answer cannot be found
In the writing of others
Or the words of a trained mind
In a precious world of memories
We find ourselves confined” (Death “Empty Words”)
Forgot the draft. Notice that the corporate protest in the photo has to do with Vietnam. Not to be cynical, but the young would protest the war and the institutes that feed the war in order to discredit the war, and stop the draft.
Marching in Chicago: Resisting Rahm Emanuel’s Neoliberal Savagery
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By DeanOR, August 4, 2011 at 12:09 am Link to this comment
kerryrose is right about the draft. The masters of corporate
Report thiswar made a conscious decision after Vietnam to “do it right”
next time, meaning undercutting youth protest through a
professional military instead of a draft, tighter control of the
media, and more sophisticated, widespread propaganda. They
have done all that and have left Americans benumbed, scared
and confused - or just disconnected. All the while, both
parties have become increasingly beholden to Wall St, with
Dems not offering a meaningful, clear contrast to Republicans,
leaving the public unaware of possible alternatives to the
current corrupt system. Support alternative media and quit
voting for corporate Democrats who take us hostage with
threats such as a Palin Presidency.
By doublestaandards/glasshouses, August 3, 2011 at 4:45 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
They’re too busy texting to know what’s going on. Every few years there’s a new gizmo on the market. They think they’re in heaven; what’s to rebel against? This younger generation has been subjected to indoctrination unlike any other. The first words they learned to recognize were most likely corporate logos. It amounts to hypnosis. This is the best of all possible worlds. Log on. Windows will save your session.
Report thisBy flaco, August 3, 2011 at 4:20 pm Link to this comment
Most of them have already been trained well. That is scary
Report thisBy IcanDealwithHippiesbutThisGuy?, August 3, 2011 at 1:49 pm Link to this comment
Bruce E. Levine - You sir understand far beyond the
Report thisgrasps of many - the article provides much needed
relief to those under 30 realizing the futility of a
disillusioned system. It is frustrating to see almost
all of my generation pulled into this web. I was lucky
enough to be able to escape and in turn began to cut
many of the ties latched on for years. Also, in doing
so, a new life of helping and creating bonds with many
realizing the same premises of the “web” . For many
who escape - scorn and contempt are the overriding
mentalities they will find, thus creating even more
issues within the mind than the unknowing web
dwellers. This road to reality/realization is hard,
but not impossible. There will be many, MANY attempts
to knock one of the course. Stay strong and true to
your inner being and thought - diminish the ingrained
negativity.
“The answer cannot be found
In the writing of others
Or the words of a trained mind
In a precious world of memories
We find ourselves confined” (Death “Empty Words”)
By kerryrose, August 3, 2011 at 11:55 am Link to this comment
Forgot the draft. Notice that the corporate protest in the photo has to do with Vietnam. Not to be cynical, but the young would protest the war and the institutes that feed the war in order to discredit the war, and stop the draft.
Otherwise, the author nailed it.
Report this