I am observing the biggest leftward cultural shift since 2008

[Anonymous]

Just my observations here. I am seeing a leftward cultural shift that rivals that of the Great Recession. This time is different, it is certainly not a "woke" culture (which has been resoundingly rejected) but profoundly anti-capitalist and anti-corporate. It has populist elements that also appeal to the New Right.

For reference, I am a millennial married to a Gen-Xer with Gen Z stepchildren. All of us are gainfully employed...for now.

What I am seeing isn't necessarily Marxist or socialist (although the Bernie Sanders/AOC left still takes this label) and it isn't obvious across the board. Americans are still divided within the working class such that there is still strong resentment of people "below" you getting something that they didn't "earn," and there is still a (very healthy, IMO) distrust in Big Government and dislike of taxes. However, I am seeing a distrust in American capitalism and especially, corporations, at an all-time high, or at least since 2008.

Young people especially HATE this economy. They hate graduating with debt (and yes, even trade schools incur debt) and not finding a job, because of AI, offshoring, or companies just wanting to extract as much profit as they can with as few resources as they can get away with. They hate private equity buying up homes... and hospitals! They hate AI-generated rejection letters (for job postings that require multiple resume formats and cover letters and essays and all these hoops), and "Ghost Jobs," and benefits disappearing, and job security being a joke even when they did "the right thing" by majoring in STEM, etc.

Silicon Valley is no longer seen as a center of innovation, but as a center for global control, market manipulation, and just plain evil (for example, the latest trend in billionaires genetically designing their own offspring). More and more are seeing tech companies not as innovators but as exploiters, especially since the tech jobs with comfortable salaries are disappearing. If you aren't up there with Musk or Thiel, you're one of the peasants to their feudal lordships.

The anti-corporate sentiment extends to the cultural Right, too. They hate how corporations get away with hiring illegal immigrants, or the 2010s trend of "woke" virtue signaling capitalism. They hate fake virtue-signaling marketing campaigns and forced diversity.

Save for a few podcast bros that still salivate over cryptocurrency, most Gen Zs are turning anti-capitalist, in a uniquely modern way. It's really interesting to see. We're all tired of being scammed, rug pulled, hoodwinked, whatever you want to call it when you are told all your life to work hard and do the right thing only to be screwed over to no fault of your own.

[Anonymous]

I am a moderate - voted for several republican presidents (but none since Bush 41) and find myself rooting for AOC and her type of progressive agenda.

It is clear whatever 'conservatism" has been in this country hasn't worked and now been completely hijacked by MAGA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a moderate - voted for several republican presidents (but none since Bush 41) and find myself rooting for AOC and her type of progressive agenda.

It is clear whatever 'conservatism" has been in this country hasn't worked and now been completely hijacked by MAGA.

The country has been dragged so far right that the pendulum has to swing fairly hard to the left just to get us back near the center.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. We’re going to have 100 Mamdanis. Lifelong GenX Dems like me need to see the writing on the wall. I really wanted a Whitmer, but now I’m all in on AOC.

That’s because I’m a progressive. I’m not afraid of change and really believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. There’s research showing that more generous people make money, and right now under MAGA the US is acting like a poor person cutting AIDS $$ and public broadcasting.

I’m ready to burn it all down so my college-aged kids and their friends might have a future they actually look forward to, instead of worrying about instantly and corruption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a moderate - voted for several republican presidents (but none since Bush 41) and find myself rooting for AOC and her type of progressive agenda.

It is clear whatever 'conservatism" has been in this country hasn't worked and now been completely hijacked by MAGA.

The country has been dragged so far right that the pendulum has to swing fairly hard to the left just to get us back near the center.

As a conservative, I disagree with this. MAGA are extremists, radicals. The opposite of conservative.

They have dragged the country, but not to the right. Just down.

[Anonymous]

Won’t worry about INSTABILITY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. We’re going to have 100 Mamdanis. Lifelong GenX Dems like me need to see the writing on the wall. I really wanted a Whitmer, but now I’m all in on AOC.

That’s because I’m a progressive. I’m not afraid of change and really believe that a rising tide lifts all boats. There’s research showing that more generous people make money, and right now under MAGA the US is acting like a poor person cutting AIDS $$ and public broadcasting.

I’m ready to burn it all down so my college-aged kids and their friends might have a future they actually look forward to, instead of worrying about instantly and corruption.

Everyone is abuzz about Mamdani but the other two big (bigger IMO) elections this year feature moderate Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill.

[Anonymous]

Why does MAGA think Trump is going to be the one to push back on corporate greed? Are they seriously idiots?

The budget they passed mostly helps the corporations and the rich. If MAGA really wanted an anti-establishment, anti-capitalist leader, they should vote for AOC or Bernie, and I don't support either.

[Anonymous]

Right. So the fact that Republicans won the White House, House, Senate and more governorships is clearly an indication of a shift to the left. Survey says? NO. It is a clear rejection of the lurch to the left. Open your eyes…. Migration away from Blue states to Red is even more evidence as people are literally voting with their feet and their dollars. Private schools cannot meet the need as people flee disastrous public schools hijacked by unions. I mean honestly what are you even talking about. Good lord you are delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just my observations here. I am seeing a leftward cultural shift that rivals that of the Great Recession. This time is different, it is certainly not a "woke" culture (which has been resoundingly rejected) but profoundly anti-capitalist and anti-corporate. It has populist elements that also appeal to the New Right.

For reference, I am a millennial married to a Gen-Xer with Gen Z stepchildren. All of us are gainfully employed...for now.

What I am seeing isn't necessarily Marxist or socialist (although the Bernie Sanders/AOC left still takes this label) and it isn't obvious across the board. Americans are still divided within the working class such that there is still strong resentment of people "below" you getting something that they didn't "earn," and there is still a (very healthy, IMO) distrust in Big Government and dislike of taxes. However, I am seeing a distrust in American capitalism and especially, corporations, at an all-time high, or at least since 2008.

Young people especially HATE this economy. They hate graduating with debt (and yes, even trade schools incur debt) and not finding a job, because of AI, offshoring, or companies just wanting to extract as much profit as they can with as few resources as they can get away with. They hate private equity buying up homes... and hospitals! They hate AI-generated rejection letters (for job postings that require multiple resume formats and cover letters and essays and all these hoops), and "Ghost Jobs," and benefits disappearing, and job security being a joke even when they did "the right thing" by majoring in STEM, etc.

Silicon Valley is no longer seen as a center of innovation, but as a center for global control, market manipulation, and just plain evil (for example, the latest trend in billionaires genetically designing their own offspring). More and more are seeing tech companies not as innovators but as exploiters, especially since the tech jobs with comfortable salaries are disappearing. If you aren't up there with Musk or Thiel, you're one of the peasants to their feudal lordships.

The anti-corporate sentiment extends to the cultural Right, too. They hate how corporations get away with hiring illegal immigrants, or the 2010s trend of "woke" virtue signaling capitalism. They hate fake virtue-signaling marketing campaigns and forced diversity.

Save for a few podcast bros that still salivate over cryptocurrency, most Gen Zs are turning anti-capitalist, in a uniquely modern way. It's really interesting to see. We're all tired of being scammed, rug pulled, hoodwinked, whatever you want to call it when you are told all your life to work hard and do the right thing only to be screwed over to no fault of your own.

Awww bless your heart. You actually want others to believe this. Nice try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right. So the fact that Republicans won the White House, House, Senate and more governorships is clearly an indication of a shift to the left. Survey says? NO. It is a clear rejection of the lurch to the left. Open your eyes…. Migration away from Blue states to Red is even more evidence as people are literally voting with their feet and their dollars. Private schools cannot meet the need as people flee disastrous public schools hijacked by unions. I mean honestly what are you even talking about. Good lord you are delusional.

Do you not understand the concept of time? OP is talking about now and elections in the near future.

More than half a year has passed since Election Day. Just about half a year has passed since January 20.

People rejected the Democrats and they see what the GOP has done with the chance to govern. As usual, it's total shit for everyone not in the 0.1%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right. So the fact that Republicans won the White House, House, Senate and more governorships is clearly an indication of a shift to the left. Survey says? NO. It is a clear rejection of the lurch to the left. Open your eyes…. Migration away from Blue states to Red is even more evidence as people are literally voting with their feet and their dollars. Private schools cannot meet the need as people flee disastrous public schools hijacked by unions. I mean honestly what are you even talking about. Good lord you are delusional.

Do you not understand the concept of time? OP is talking about now and elections in the near future.

More than half a year has passed since Election Day. Just about half a year has passed since January 20.

People rejected the Democrats and they see what the GOP has done with the chance to govern. As usual, it's total shit for everyone not in the 0.1%.

Biden and his open borders and dei stuff and the lies about his mental capacity have done damage on a level you can’t even comprehend. My teenagers openly mock democrats when they don’t think parents are listening. And this is with other kids whose parents are also democrats. It’s amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right. So the fact that Republicans won the White House, House, Senate and more governorships is clearly an indication of a shift to the left. Survey says? NO. It is a clear rejection of the lurch to the left. Open your eyes…. Migration away from Blue states to Red is even more evidence as people are literally voting with their feet and their dollars. Private schools cannot meet the need as people flee disastrous public schools hijacked by unions. I mean honestly what are you even talking about. Good lord you are delusional.

It’s a clear indication of a rigged election. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right. So the fact that Republicans won the White House, House, Senate and more governorships is clearly an indication of a shift to the left. Survey says? NO. It is a clear rejection of the lurch to the left. Open your eyes…. Migration away from Blue states to Red is even more evidence as people are literally voting with their feet and their dollars. Private schools cannot meet the need as people flee disastrous public schools hijacked by unions. I mean honestly what are you even talking about. Good lord you are delusional.

Do you not understand the concept of time? OP is talking about now and elections in the near future.

More than half a year has passed since Election Day. Just about half a year has passed since January 20.

People rejected the Democrats and they see what the GOP has done with the chance to govern. As usual, it's total shit for everyone not in the 0.1%.

Biden and his open borders and dei stuff and the lies about his mental capacity have done damage on a level you can’t even comprehend. My teenagers openly mock democrats when they don’t think parents are listening. And this is with other kids whose parents are also democrats. It’s amazing.

Sure, Jan. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right. So the fact that Republicans won the White House, House, Senate and more governorships is clearly an indication of a shift to the left. Survey says? NO. It is a clear rejection of the lurch to the left. Open your eyes…. Migration away from Blue states to Red is even more evidence as people are literally voting with their feet and their dollars. Private schools cannot meet the need as people flee disastrous public schools hijacked by unions. I mean honestly what are you even talking about. Good lord you are delusional.

Do you not understand the concept of time? OP is talking about now and elections in the near future.

More than half a year has passed since Election Day. Just about half a year has passed since January 20.

People rejected the Democrats and they see what the GOP has done with the chance to govern. As usual, it's total shit for everyone not in the 0.1%.

Biden and his open borders and dei stuff and the lies about his mental capacity have done damage on a level you can’t even comprehend. My teenagers openly mock democrats when they don’t think parents are listening. And this is with other kids whose parents are also democrats. It’s amazing.

Sure, Jan. 🙄

You are demonstrating the same stubborn refusal to listen that caused you to have Biden run again and to believe Kamala could win. To anyone even mildly self-aware, both of these ideas were obviously foolish and ridiculous. But go ahead, stick with your own plans. Works for me!