Of all the storylines emerging from the historic 2008 elections perhaps none has more impact on the future of our country than the rise of the Millennial Generation. These young 18- to 29-year-old Americans born between 1978 and 2000 represent the largest and most diverse generation in American history. Last year, their record turnout and overwhelming support for Barack Obama—as well as Democrats up and down the ballot— delivered a decisive victory and signaled a turning point in our country’s political history.

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The 2008 election saw strong shifts toward progressives among almost all growing demographic groups in the United States. Conversely, conservatives typically retained strength only among stagnant or declining groups. The result is a demographic landscape sharply tilted toward progressives, a tilt that is only likely to increase in years to come.

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By KRIS MAHER
Wall Street Journal
September 1, 2009

Many younger workers don't see unions as relevant. This week, Richard Trumka, a third-generation coal miner likely this month to assume the helm of the nation's largest labor federation, is launching Big Labor's latest effort to change that.

Release of National Survey of Young Workers: 1/3 of Workers under 35 Live with Parents, After "Lost Decade", Young Workers Less Likely to have Health Care, Economic Security and Confidence in Future than 10 Years Ago September 01, 2009. Report at end of this entry.

Liz Shuler, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO writes that "in the past 10 years, young workers have suffered disproportionately from the downturn in the economy:

• One in three young workers is worried about being able to find a job--let alone a full-time job with benefits.


• Only 31 percent make enough money to cover their bills and put some aside--that is 22 percentage points worse than it was 10 years ago.


• Nearly half worry about having more debt than they can handle.
  One in three still lives at home with parents.


• Young workers are living the effects of a 30-year campaign to create a low-wage workforce. It has succeeded.


• For decades, the far right led an anti-government, anti-investment, feed-the-rich-and-starve-the-poor drive that gave us an era of deregulation, privatization and job exporting."

[The Huffington Post; December 2009]

According to a recent joint study from San Diego State University (SDSU) and the University of South Alabama, a generation of Americans are entering the workforce with an unfounded sense of entitlement.

The study, led by SDSU psychologist Jean Twenge, sought to settle a hot debate in psychology over mixed results of studies examining the prevalence of narcissistic personality traits among tens of thousands of American college students.

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