There is a revolution occurring in this country that is evident from the trends that we see in the current race for the White House. And, I don't mean Donald Trump. The revolution is taking place in the young, as evidenced by their support for Bernie Saunders. He is preaching what they want to hear.
I don't think he has much of a chance to unseat Hillary as the Democrats nominee for the Presidential race, but the trend is evident. The young want a security blanket wrapped around them and they're going to get it. Probably not this time, but just wait a few years.
The millenniums are growing older and they are starting to get involved in the political process. Where, before they didn't have a significant impact, their voice will be heard in the future. Some of the Socialist sentiment will wane with time, but not enough of it to sidetrack the basic thrust. They have been raised at home and educated in the liberal public schools and colleges to expect that some one should provide them with security and that the government should step in a solve all their problems.
One payer medical plans, heavily subsidized college admissions, high minimum wages, liberal work rules, such as extended maternity leave and other perks that this generation is demanding will happen. The trend is there now and I don't see any reversal coming. Think about what has happened since the great depression of the 30's. The nation has adopted more and more security blanket programs that resulted in greater and greater government involvement in the everyday lives of the people. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, the involvement of the federal government in education and a host of other "entitlements" and regulations dreamed up by a mostly Democratic congress and President.
They will attempt to pay for all of this by "taxing the rich" and try to even the playing field for American workers by enacting high tariffs on imports. The problem is, they don't review history to see what those kind of policies have produced in the past. They should read about the counterproductive steps that were taken during the great depression to get an idea of history should be teaching us.
The trend might be, and probably will be, interrupted temporarily by the election of a conservative. But, that will only be a hitch in the general trend.
It is true that the economic picture is dire, to say the least, for the young people entering the job market today, even those who graduated from college. The global market has resulted in huge loss of the middle class jobs that are the backbone of the thriving economy. We are living in dynamic economic times. The industries and job skills that were pertinent one day might very well be obsolete the next. So, instead of our public schools and colleges teaching the skills that are marketable in this global economy, they are spouting a philosophy that encourages the growth of government and the increased involvement in the lives and businesses of the citizens.
I think the future of the American economy will look more and more like what we see in Europe. There are a host of academics who see that as a good thing. And, they have influenced a whole generation of students to think along the same lines. The future will see that social programs will consume more of the federal budget than ever. It is projected that in 15 to 20 years the social programs and interest on the federal debt will take over 85% of the budget, leaving the balance for all other programs such as defense and infrastructure development and maintenance.
The millenniums and their children will have to face the rising debt that is accumulating. The federal debt now stands at 19 trillion dollars, that's TRILLION. But, as Dr. Ben Carson points out, if you take into account unfunded obligations of the government such as government pensions and retirees health benefits, the actual national debt is closer the 200 trillion dollars. I don't know how the millenniums can have all, or even some, of the things they're demonstrating for without throwing the country into bankruptcy. In fact, it seems to me, we've already reached, if not passed, a critical point and have to cut back somehow. And, I'm not sure there is a way out of this spiral of ever growing debt. I don't think the folks in Washington have the desire or even the ability to really tackle it.
