As of 2012, the estimated population of Americans belonging to the so-called “millennial” or Generation Y numbered around 80 million, making those born between the mid-1980’s and late 1990’s approach one-third of the total population. Of these 80 million, only 41.2 percent that were of voting age bothered to cast a ballot in the 2012 national elections, according to the Census Bureau’s 2012 Voting Report. As a member of this generation and a friend or colleague of many who abstained, I can hardly blame them.
About Tevan Goldberg
The Case for Gun Control
Each recent shooting, from Tucson to Aurora to Newtown, bears a frustratingly obvious similarity to the others: a socially inept, mentally ill but untreated young man legally purchases highly powered assault weapons originally designed for military use, then turns them on a large group of innocent people in a public place.
The Most Powerful Organization You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
ALEC was founded in 1975 by a group of mostly junior Midwestern politicians, due to concern among conservative Republicans that there was a trend towards “big government” in Washington. It wasn’t until the far-right ideology of the Republican Party gained prominence in the 1990’s that ALEC began to take root throughout the country.
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The Blight of Consumerist America
When I drive by this area, I’m struck by how incredibly similar it looks to almost every other suburban location I’ve been to in the entire country – paved, beige, and offering the same products. Proponents of the developments point to “job creation” and “affordable merchandise” as the logic behind their construction. I point to something slightly less tangible: cultural and economic death. [Read more]
Why the Presidential Election Might Not Matter
Well, that seems like a strong thing to say. Entire eras of American history have been defined by and named for certain administrations, and certainly there have been unique, exceptional actions performed by the individual officeholders. So why might it supposedly not matter? A lot of it has to do with Congress.
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Energy Independence? Give Me A Break
Corporations and politicians say a lot of stupid things. Sometimes people can swallow them, but often they’re so unabashedly fictitious it takes only the slightest of research to disprove them. Some of the more notable claims have been made recently in reference to the disputed Keystone XL pipeline project, but the one that really stands out is “energy independence.”