The Young and The Hopeless - Young people are imagining a different future.

[erronis]

I found this to be a very powerful piece. I'm baby-boomer but understand the difficulties and angst for all the younger generations. My situation late in life is also precarious - but that's understandable at this phase.

https://jessicawildfire.substack.com/p/the-young-and-the-hopeless

Anyone who still cares about the future has given up on the system. They get it. There’s no FDR coming to the rescue this time. Even if they still vote, they regard politics as a useless pantomime. It’s all driven by corporate interests, dark money, and fossil fuels. They aren’t buying vote blue anymore. They understand voting for what it is—keeping fascists out of power a little longer.

They’re working in the margins now. They’re working at the local level. They’re building communities. A lot of them aren’t trying to stop the worst of climate change anymore. They’re focused on survival. They don’t mean their own survival. They mean the survival of humanity, or even life itself.

Teenagers cry for help on TikTok.

They beg their leaders for action.

What do their leaders do?

They ban TikTok.

They try to raise the voting age while lowering the working age. You can serve them beer if you’re sixteen, but you have no say in the future. All things considered, it’s no wonder young people feel depressed and hopeless.

Nobody listens to them.

There’s a revolution underway, but it’s not a violent one. What’s the point? We’re long past the time that would’ve made a difference. Besides, I don’t know anyone who wants to get mauled by a robot or gassed by a drone.

Do you?

Unlike previous moments in history, the rich and powerful have prepared for massive social unrest. They’ve got private armies. They’ve got bombs. They’ve got robots and assault weapons. They’ve got a militarized police force with armored vehicles. A conventional uprising doesn’t stand a chance.

I think young people get it.

You can relax.

Some of us have discovered the secret.

Capitalism is going to fall apart on its own. It doesn’t need us to overthrow it. The collapse is already well underway. The billionaires can fight it all they want. They can spew out propaganda 24/7.

It won’t matter.

Meanwhile, young people are biding their time. They’re doing the bare minimum. They’re taking care of those around them. They’re building local ties. They’re saving what they can. They’re getting rest.

They’re waiting.

[Sky Jewels]

1. My Gen Z kids feel like this. Very much so.

[Sky Jewels]

2. I feel like everyone on DU should read this article.

Would you consider cross posting it to GD?

[erronis]

4. Thanks, Sky Jewels. I thought about originally posting in GD but I will cross-post

assuming I know how to do so......

[flamingdem]

3. Mixed feelings

Seems like a recipe for depression.

"What’s the point? We’re long past the time that would’ve made a difference."

[erronis]

5. Yes - it is a bit of a downer, but many of us feel a sense of hopelessness.

[flamingdem]

7. Hopelessness powerlessness

Some are choosing to become more empowered through organizing etc.

I hope it doesn't catch on to simply detach.

[emulatorloo]

6. "Discover more from OK Doomer. A safe place to doom and chill. Over 14,000 subscribers"

That’s how the author describes their substack. I guess there is an audience for that.

But to me, the majority of Gen Z recognizes there is lot they can do to make things better.

[erronis]

9. I think there was a lot of hopefulness expressed in this piece.

While the situation is grim, they (and we) need to figure out how to survive.

I work with several families that are being evicted in my little rural state. The rents have doubled in the last year+ and many live on SS. Our state has decided to not try and continue the covid-era housing support. Food costs are rising dramatically.

For the younger generations, there is just no housing. Period. People are looking for sharing rooms and these include well-paid individuals like nurses, teachers.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread erronis

[OldBaldy1701E]

10. Yep.

Capitalism is going to fall apart on its own. It doesn’t need us to overthrow it. The collapse is already well underway. The billionaires can fight it all they want. They can spew out propaganda 24/7.

It just is not happening fast enough. That, and it sure looks like most of the population is going to go down kicking and screaming like a spoiled five year old who does not want to eat his vegetables. We need a new societal system. The old one is too easily corrupted and useless because it has already been corrupted. Badly. Too badly as far as I am concerned. But, as usual, there are so many that are too afraid of change.

[3Hotdogs]

12. Is there evidence that it is happening at all?

[OldBaldy1701E]

13. I feel that the disparity between the classes is evidence.

There seems to be no effort to 'balance' the insane drive for money with those who just do not see the importance of working themselves to death for the green god. Or for those who just are not interested in being 'rich'. (Those words might as well be blasphemy in this country. I will be surprised if my door is not kicked in over this post.

[3Hotdogs]

14. My household is not rich. Retirement income of $110k. House is paid off. 75 and 80 years old.

Major worry is heath (good now) and how and when we will die. We are happy/content with our lot.


So this brings to the remote chance of being rich -- winning the lottery rich. The last couple of times the lottery approached $1b, I bought 1 ticket. Then, thinking on it. I really hoped I would not win. It would change my life and probably ruin it.

If I were younger, I might feel differently about it.

[OldBaldy1701E]

15. Compared to about 40-45% of the population, you are quite wealthy. (n/t)

[erronis]

17. So, most of the people I deal with have no retirement income other than SS.

As far as "wealth" - they usually have none, other than a car and personal belongings.

Part of the problem of defining "rich" is whether this is a measure of fluid funds from accounts or fixed assets (real estate, etc.) I do know quite few poor people living in homes that could be sold for $200-800,000 but they would not have anywhere to live, except in very expensive VC-owned long-term care.

There's no quick solution and, I fear no long-term solution. Too many cash-strapped people and too few ways to support them.

[appalachiablue]

11. Important issues, thanks for posting.

[Oneironaut]

16. I would never have kids. Climate change is going to kill most of the world.

That, nuclear war over dwindling resources, and, creeping Fascism in the US. I don’t think humans will become extinct, but, we’re about to enter a dark age.

I have no hope left. All we can do is enjoy life now before everything falls apart.