The War Against the Millennials

We the Millennials, have been battered, beaten, and torn down by this economic crisis, and this is only the beginning. We will inherit by far the most challenging choices that have ever been faced by our nation. From the economy to the environment, we can easily become discouraged and disillusioned at our current plight.

However, we can fight back. We are the most interconnected portion of the population and we can persuade the establishment on both the local and the national level that our interests matter.  If you don’t think so, look at the nation’s that have fallen to interconnected networks of youth.

The Progressive commitment to the Millennials could not come at a more opportune time. To unite our sometimes apathetic generation the Progressives must present a bold position on principles and policies that ensure that our youth never again face the prospect of poverty and destitution. We, as Progressives, must present a path of stability and long term growth.

These are the challenges that we face:

Education in the form of student loan debt is probably the most visible on the war against the Millennialls. I would also point to Wall Street (for-profit) secondary schools such as the University of Pheonix, Concord, and others. Wall Street makes a profit through student loans, GI Bill benefits, and other forms of federal assistance. These institutions’ return on investment (ROI) to students is low, while ROI is high for CEOs and their shareholders.

On the economy, we are among the highest in unemployed (probably ranking third next to African Americans, and Latinos). The Progressive position on the economy is this:

• Repatriation of overseas corporate profits to fund job growth, not shareholder wealth. For every $1 that is repatriated $3 must go to programs that fuel job growth.
• Reforming the tax code to ensure maximum Progressivity. Top earners are taxed at a rate of 50%+ or the equal amount donated to non-profits that invest in American skill upgrades.

Retirement security is one of largest programs of the federal budget. The growth rates are skyrocketing because of the aging of the baby boom generation. How do we preserve for our current seniors without throwing millennials under the bus?

This is a tricky question because we need to seriously have a conversation about elderly longevity (death) in this country.

We cannot have a 2 tier system where the young are the slaves to the elderly, it is morally unjust. In addition, transferring all of the risk to the individual might benefit Wall Street, but the day of reckoning will come when we need medical care and it will not be there.

The most beneficial plans will tie our health tax dollars to ensuring maximum outcomes in health.