Comments on: Silent Generation lives up to its name

By: Steve jones

Steve jones — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:50:26 +0000

I subscribe to Howe and Strauss’s definition of generations; however, I believe Obama is a Boomer. It is unlikely the first X-er elected president be a Harvard educated media savvy American. Time will tell if the American electorate was truly wise to elect another credit card boomer vs. practical depression era Silent.

By: Don Coote

Don Coote — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:02:25 +0000

Early in a politically-active life, one is required to decide to be a king or a kingmaker. In times of opportunity, the answer is generally king maker. In times of less opportunity the answer is king. The period referred to is an era of opportunity. So the bright political lights become king makers, not kings.
Therefore, no presidents from this era-group.

By: Mike Dover

Mike Dover — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:25:44 +0000

EG, thanks for the post and the video.

Many agree with you including David Foot, author of Boom, Bust, and Echo.

Personally, I go by Neil Howe and William Strauss’ definition which lists Gen X starting in 1961.

By: ElectionGazer

ElectionGazer — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:58:23 +0000

Obama is not a GenXer. As many influential experts and publications have repeatedly pointed out, Obama is part of Generation Jones, born 1954-1965, between the Boomers and Xers.

Here’s a recent 5 minute GenJones video which features many top pundits (including David Brooks, Clarence Page, Dick Morris, Juan Williams, Karen Tumulty, Howard Wolfson, Michael Barone, etc.) specifically talking about Obama membership in Generation Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ta_Du5K0jk

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:27:30 +0000

Illiterate generation, more like. “It’s” with an apostrophe is a contraction of “It is”. The apostrophe stands in for a missing letter. “Its” without an apostrophe is the possessive pronoun, akin to “his” or “hers”. Please use it correctly. Even we generation Y folks notice.