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David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.

  • October 23, 2007 10:57 AM

    The Bourgeois Blogosphere, Part II

    Last week, I wrote a post about how many of the progressive blogosphere's leading voices tend to write about things from a very narrow, bourgeois point of view. Here is just one example of that, from Kevin Drum at the Washington Monthly:

    "The 60s generation was in the right place in the right time, and had more than its share of triumph — or a feeling of triumph, in any case — but by any other standard today's generation of 20-somethings seems to be doing fine to me. Maybe better than most, in fact."

    I don't mean to pick on Kevin - I actually like a lot of his writing very much. But this is such a good example of what I am talking about. I'm not sure how anyone could write this out of anything other than a very narrow, isolated, bougeois view of the world.

    Just last year, USA Today reported that "this generation of twentysomethings is straining under the weight of college loans and other debt, a crushing load that separates it from every previous generation." The paper added that, "nearly two-thirds carry some debt, and those with debt have taken on more in the past five years, according to an analysis of the credit records of 3 million twentysomethings." Similarly, the New York Times reports that "The 45 million young people in the U.S. work force face a choppy job market in which entry-level wages have often trailed inflation, making it hard for many to cope with high housing costs and college debt loads." The Washington Monthly itself, in fact, wrote a review of Daniel Brook's new book that touches on many of the ways this generation of 20-somethings is seriously struggling.

    So sure, 20-somethings in the bourgeois world - whether on cable television or hanging around at Washington parties - probably "seem to be doing fine." But the objective data suggests precisely the opposite.

    UPDATE: In the comments, Kevin clarifies that he was referring to 20-somethings' level of political activism, not their economic status. I reread the post - I think what tripped me up was the part about how today's problems are more complex than earlier eras' problems. I don't think that's true at all. But I do think Kevin probably was referring to activism, not economic status. Thanks for clarifying, Kevin - as I said, you are one of the people I read most on the web.

    Posted by David Sirota
    Permalink | Comments (4) | del.icio.us | digg
    Tags: netroots, war on the middle class

Discussion

  • RivetHeretic [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    I think there's a really pathetic lack of focus on economic issues on the left. And that's how people are getting screwed the most. That's why economic populists are winning.

    I myself am furious over the Enron-esque accounting going on with the bank-mortgage stuff. And the US treasury department hosts a meeting so that three huge banks can create an off-the-books entity so that it doesn't have to show up on their balance sheets.

    Public assistance for huge banks. No money for health care. And Pete Stark hast to apologize for telling it like it is.

    Posted on October 23, 2007 2:46 PM
  • Kevin Drum [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    David, I wasn't making a comment about how well 20-somethings are doing economically. I was saying that in terms of being involved in politics and working for change, today's young people are doing as well as practically any other generation.

    Maybe it wasn't clear from the post itself, but if you click back through the links I was responding to, I think it will all make sense.

    Posted on October 23, 2007 4:02 PM
  • waltc [TypeKey Profile Page] :


    "The 60s generation was in the right place in the right time, and had more than its share of triumph — or a feeling of triumph, in any case — but by any other standard today's generation of 20-somethings seems to be doing fine to me. Maybe better than most, in fact."

    Kevin my little Friedman unit. You are full of shit just like the 60s generation were. And they didn't get squat accomplished. They got loaded, fucked like rabbits, practiced bad hygiene and protested and then became the yuppie sellout scum of the 80s and 90's.

    Some legacy.

    As for the 20 somethings today a lot of them have very rough not all of them but a majority. With a shrinking job market of well paying jobs thanks to trade treaties and off-shoring. And many of them won't live as well as their parents did.

    Still its sad to see a so-called liberal blogger channel Friedman.

    Posted on October 23, 2007 4:13 PM
  • GrantBurkeVT [TypeKey Profile Page] :

    Speaking of FRIEDman, the fucker showed up on a movie titled "Energy Wars" where he's supposed to give alternative energy solutions. The motherfucker sits in a nice and cushy mansion throughout the entire film I heard.

    http://www.frif.com/new2007/ener.html

    If I saw that motherfucker, I'd happily greet him with my bazooka.

    Posted on October 23, 2007 8:18 PM

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