I don't know that a single vector exists for someone developing shit/good politics in the US, but there is definitely some kind of trend where, as people age and [some] "buy in" to get the comforts and protections that buffer us from the grinding gears of capital, it seems like the will to radicalism tempers and/or withers into an aesthetic.
the people my age are mostly assholes. I was slow to the table and as a result, most of my cohort are 7-12 years younger than me.
there was a time we were all pissed at the corruption and wanted to live with compassion, integrity and authenticity, and I was the old head who was like "yeah, the olds have lost the plot." now little by little, people have gotten bought off, b'treated, mortgaged, HELOC'd, small business tyrants, new cars, conspicuous consumption, and repeating the lies of the meritocratic myth making to justify their rise above.
not everybody, but many. I prefer to be affable over insufferable (the 69th form of liberalism), so I hold my tongue. but it's lame to witness the shift.
I take comfort in the people I do know who pop up in every age group and keep to the same values of anti capitalism, anti imperialism, and universal human rights. we're out there and we look like anyone, though we're rarely in charge of anything lol.
as people age and [some] "buy in" to get the comforts and protections that buffer us from the grinding gears of capital, it seems like the will to radicalism tempers and/or withers into an aesthetic.
What seems to be happening for millenials I know is the addiction to money and treats. I hear a variation of "I hate my job, capitalism is terrible obviously but I've never made this much money before." They support radicalism and 'burning down the system' in the abstract but fear or attachment keeps them from actively resisting the structure.
But like you said I know plenty that foregoe those pleasures or use their job to attack the system of all ages, that gives me some optimism. Not everyone needs to take serious action, I don't really blame any individual for being scared or unsure.
I don't know that a single vector exists for someone developing shit/good politics in the US, but there is definitely some kind of trend where, as people age and [some] "buy in" to get the comforts and protections that buffer us from the grinding gears of capital, it seems like the will to radicalism tempers and/or withers into an aesthetic.
the people my age are mostly assholes. I was slow to the table and as a result, most of my cohort are 7-12 years younger than me.
there was a time we were all pissed at the corruption and wanted to live with compassion, integrity and authenticity, and I was the old head who was like "yeah, the olds have lost the plot." now little by little, people have gotten bought off, b'treated, mortgaged, HELOC'd, small business tyrants, new cars, conspicuous consumption, and repeating the lies of the meritocratic myth making to justify their rise above.
not everybody, but many. I prefer to be affable over insufferable (the 69th form of liberalism), so I hold my tongue. but it's lame to witness the shift.
I take comfort in the people I do know who pop up in every age group and keep to the same values of anti capitalism, anti imperialism, and universal human rights. we're out there and we look like anyone, though we're rarely in charge of anything lol.
What seems to be happening for millenials I know is the addiction to money and treats. I hear a variation of "I hate my job, capitalism is terrible obviously but I've never made this much money before." They support radicalism and 'burning down the system' in the abstract but fear or attachment keeps them from actively resisting the structure.
But like you said I know plenty that foregoe those pleasures or use their job to attack the system of all ages, that gives me some optimism. Not everyone needs to take serious action, I don't really blame any individual for being scared or unsure.