A values consensus from Millennials?

[Eric the Green]

(07-02-2021, 11:11 AM)sbarrera Wrote:

(07-02-2021, 11:01 AM)David Horn Wrote:

(07-02-2021, 10:51 AM)sbarrera Wrote: I know the thread subject itself probably is immediately contentious. Is there really any kind of values consensus forming in our society? I do think we are gravitating towards one, if not a "consensus" per se then a dominant majoritarian set of values. And it's driven by the Millennial generation, the young adult generation with a strong need for social consensus as a guide to behavior, which is why I put this thread in this particular sub-forum. This is something I've thought about a lot, and written about a lot, over the past twenty years. Here is my latest blog post on the subject:

http://stevebarrera.com/an-emerging-values-consensus/

Rather than reproduce the post entirely, I'll just give the summary of where I think we are headed, based on my own survey of the zeitgeist, totally non-scientific of course:

• Pro-gun rights
  
• Pro-marijuana legalization
  
• Equal rights for LGBTQ
  
• “Counter-culture” mainstreamed (everyone has a tattoo these days)
  
• Pornography accepted
  
• Continued restrictions on abortion, though it will never be fully banned
  
• Justice and police reform
  
• Reform to improve the lot of lower economic classes, even if it’s “socialism”
  
• A path to citizenship for “dreamers,” but immigration otherwise limited
  
• Acceptance of a multicultural, multiracial, multi-religious society, to the chagrin of White Christian Nationalists
  

Thoughts from this group?

Let's say I'm doubtful about the first item. The most affected gun-violence generation is certainly the Millennials, with GenZ not far behind.  That would solidly argue for the opposing view.  I agrree with the other points, with one condicil: immigration is still an open issue.  I doubt our younger citizens have really thought about it that much.  

I'm surprised that Global Warmiing isn't on this list.  Anyone under 40 has to know that it's a ticking timebomb.

I should have put environmentalism/climate change on there, my miss.

With respect to gun control, based on surveying social media, I just see more support for gun-ownership than gun-control. It's unfortunate that this contributes to gun-violence, but it seems to me to be something we've settled on as acceptable. Like we accept all the risks and negatives of an automobile-dependent society as well.

I guess the Bob Dylan lyric applies. How many deaths does it take till we know, that too many people have died?

The answer, thanks to younger people, may be blowing in the wind.

Automobiles serve a purpose, such a major shopping trips, and provide convenience, flexibility, and autonomy. Guns provide nothing but death. Eventually this USA-only obsession must end, and the guns collected. Until then the USA remains a pariah among developed nations, and truly unjust.

Severe gun control, and strong environment and climate protections, are the two biggest issues of our times. We are headed toward solution on these, but how much can be done in the 2020s on these issues remains up to the voters. Democrats will put them through; Republicans will block them. The choice is blue or red. And the Republicans have a built-in systemic advantage in the Senate and Electoral College, as well as the filibuster, voter suppression and gerrymandering, so how much can get done is not a reflection of public opinion. Opinion favors movement on these and other issues; the system does not.

I think also open borders are going to be the trend. It's good to have some restrictions on the border to avoid too much immigration at once, and to limit inflow of terrorism, drugs and pandemics. But this issue is linked to climate change and the trend toward tyranny, corruption, guns, and gang violence abroad; especially south of the border. The equatorial regions are going to get more and more unlivable as people can no longer survive under global warming and the other conditions. As long as that is happening, people need a place to live, and the only place is to the north-- even though regions to the north may also become more unlivable. The USA is strongly complicit in creating all these conditions too. We are reaping the harvest, and so the winds will blow and the people will come, regardless of Trump and his fanatical xenophobic followers. We are a global society, and people will have to get used to it. Nationalism is passe.

A values consensus is still in formation as the 4T continues, and it will have to be achieved by ballot (red vs. blue) and/or by civil war in the next 8 years. 4 years from now, a trend may be visible, but not now. Even in the 1T, the consensus may not reach a 60% level.