Take one young Pittsburgh man I met in a recent focus group. A college graduate working part-time as a bartender, he felt weighed down by hopelessness, adrift in a country where rising costs, stagnant wages and lack of affordable housing have made even the modest ambitions of other generations feel out of reach for him. “Hope is great,” he told me, “but I see nothing for the future.”

The young man’s experience reflects a broader crisis of confidence and purpose, rooted in economic insecurity and social disconnection. The Covid pandemic exacerbated the alienation, with many first-time voters spending thousands of hours isolated and online in their formative years.

While these struggles affect the whole country, they weigh especially on young men of all educational, racial and ethnic backgrounds. Nearly three-quarters of Gen Z men report feeling regularly stressed by an uncertain future, stirring painful memories of the Great Recession they witnessed as children. These feelings erode self-esteem and diminish their interest in personal relationships and long-term planning, leading many to describe their future as “bleak,” “unclear” and “scary.”

Today’s young men are lonelier than ever and have inherited a world rife with skepticism toward the institutions designed to promote and defend American ideals. Men under 30 are nearly twice as likely to be single as women their same age; Gen Z men are less likely to enroll in college or the work force than previous generations. They have higher rates of suicide and are less likely than their female peers to receive treatment for mental health maladies. Most young men in my polling say they fear for our country’s future, and nearly half doubt their cohort’s ability to meet our nation’s coming challenges.

The rest of the article is garbage. It makes it seem that it was easy for Trump to be a Pied Piper. And the text entirely ignores the bipartisan failure to address the issues of younger voters. I wonder why the writer would have that POV and ignore the democrats' failure?...

By John Della Volpe

Mr. Della Volpe is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. He runs a research firm that conducted polls for a PAC supporting the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris campaigns.

Here's a suggestion by the brain genius.

To reignite the hope of the emerging generation, Ms. Harris should make a sweeping national call to both military and civilian service — name it the Generation Z Compact to Rebuild and Renew America. Such a plan would offer a sense of identity, community and patriotism, while providing economic stability and skill-building — things many young men feel they are missing.

Comments are off because of course they are.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] DragonBallZinn@hexbear.net 27 points 4 weeks ago

DragonBallZinn hate-read? DragonBallZinn hate-read.

Take one young Pittsburgh man I met in a recent focus group. A college graduate working part-time as a bartender, he felt weighed down by hopelessness, adrift in a country where rising costs, stagnant wages and lack of affordable housing have made even the modest ambitions of other generations feel out of reach for him. “Hope is great,” he told me, “but I see nothing for the future.”

Well dems, there you have it. Tell porky he has enough and your little guy trouble is solved. Who knew it was as easy as slapping the rich's undeserved piles of cash out of their fat trotters?

Oh wait....there's more to the article?

While these struggles affect the whole country, they weigh especially on young men of all educational, racial and ethnic backgrounds. Nearly three-quarters of Gen Z men report feeling regularly stressed by an uncertain future, stirring painful memories of the Great Recession they witnessed as children.

Well what did you expect? You kowtowed to Wall Street and made it crystal clear that the rich can do whatever they want because "muh freedumz! Muh property rights!" This young man already told you, force these businesses to make some jobs and so much will be solved.

These feelings erode self-esteem and diminish their interest in personal relationships and long-term planning, leading many to describe their future as “bleak,” “unclear” and “scary.”

Not really a hate-read comment but moreso confirming. Porky's pickiness if not outright refusal to make jobs has ruined my life. I feel like I have been infantilized by absurdly high expectations. "But it's hard mode bro, doncha wanna prove you're a badass?" No, I just want to survive.

Today’s young men are lonelier than ever and have inherited a world rife with skepticism toward the institutions designed to promote and defend American ideals.

AND WHO'S FAULT IS THAT!?!?! It's CHUDs AND liberal's fault because their oh so precious corporations ain't hiring, and also I realized what "American ideals are" pampering the pampered and violent omnicidal fascism.

Gen Z men are less likely to enroll in college or the work force than previous generations.

That's not our choice, dipshit. You pigs aren't LETTING us work. Maybe when we come to you with applications, you stop being so picky and just hire us all. Boo hoo, your business will expand.

Mr. Trump has tapped these anxieties by weaving a hypermasculine message of strength and defiance into his broader narrative that undermines confidence in democratic institutions. And it’s working. Aware that boasting about “killing” Roe v. Wade drove away young women, Mr. Trump zeroed in on capturing a larger share of the young male vote.

Yes yes, we are aware that our well-moisturized lad is doing a classic divide and conquer. Well what have you done, thumb-twiddler? Absolutely nothing. This is like stupidpol leftists. By not addressing a cultural and social issue, you're letting the right win by default. Oh boo-hoo, they will call us unattractive and claim we have blue hair.

His playbook? A master class in bro-whispering: championing crypto, securing the endorsement of Dave Portnoy — the unapologetically offensive founder of Barstool Sports — and giving U.F.C. President Dana White, who embodies the alpha-male archetype that appeals to many young men, a prime spot at the Republican National Convention.

Hold on, dems you can capitalize off of this and if you're feeling particularly edgy. Turn JD Vance's Hillbilly elegy book against him by at least pointing out republicans are promoting the same self-destructive behaviors that Vance said are reasons to give up on "rednecks". This is a self-destructive culture that is promoted among the working class to keep them in the state they're in. I should know, I'm a "redneck" myself and right-wing cultural bullshit fools the white working-class they're fellow elites with the rich and promoted the sabotage of any institutions to help get us out of the situation we're in.

Is this rightward drift among young men simply a short-lived, Trump-inspired episode or a more permanent transformation? The answer lies partly in Ms. Harris’s ability to connect with and motivate young voters as the campaign nears its end.

This has always been the case. 4chan got started in 2003 and has been a digital Republican HQ since its inception. Hell, look at Reagen

But to win more votes from young men, Ms. Harris must address their fears head-on and present a bold vision that speaks to their desire for purpose and strength.

Does this mean you guys are going to pressure companies into hiring again?

Here’s one way. To reignite the hope of the emerging generation, Ms. Harris should make a sweeping national call to both military and civilian service

FUCK! YOU!

Our youth’s appetite for civic engagement is strong and growing.

We just want businesses to hire again. That's it. Yet here you go trying to choose our jobs for us again. Who knew it would be the capitalists that are the "dig the fucking hole" crowd?

Kamala Harris can frame national service as a pathway to rebuilding America’s strength from within, addressing growing concerns about military recruitment and bridging political divides with a renewed sense of shared responsibility.

I'm not a goddamn Pokemon.

Kamala Harris can counter that narrative by listening and recognizing their fears but also by offering something more profound: a vision of hope, strength and shared purpose.

"Hey young men, is porky getting you down from his refusal to hire you? Are you upset that college and having your own place to stay are now luxuries for the rich only? Have you considered.......being porky's personal attack dog? You macho macho meatheads love kicking ass, right?"