It should also be pointed out though that the so-called Silents are inaptly named, because the musicians, poets, artists, and other cultural leaders (like Abbie Hoffman and Bobby Seale) that we remember from the Sixties were not Boomers but mostly from that generation that preceded the boom. The Boomers at Woodstock were not on stage but just anonymous masses out in the mud.
I think you misunderstood his point. He compared today’s 65 year olds to Reagan’s 65-year olds, not the then-octagenarians. He’s comparing the ‘freshman class’ of today’s 65ers to the now-senior class that are today dying off, who used to be freshmen in 1984.
In other words, you have to compare the political beliefs of those coming into the poll (now 65) to those leaving it (85ish), not to those just two years older than them.
But the name fits well into S&H’s theory, as they classify the Silents as an “Artist” generation in their cycle of four types. Artists get things done – quietly.
Not that they’re all silent . . . TR was notably noisy . . .
When it comes to social issues I believe much of the shift is due to a more open society where gays are out of the closet and cohabitation prior to (instead of) marriage becomes more common. Seniors realize that anti-gay measures have a real impact on someone in their own family and that even though it was unheard of in their day, marriage and childbirth are not required.
I’m retired, but don’t consider myself to be a sr citizen :). My children and grandchildren and their well being has caused a shift in my political views.
I wonder how the change breaks down, elderly women vs elderly men.
Either way it’s very good news that suddenly makes me optimistic. Seniors are probably much slower than the young to follow news closely or to grasp nuance. But they do have much accumulated wisdom and compassion: If they’ve finally caught on to Republican malice and hypocrisy, perhaps we should hope this dark episode in American politics will be put behind us in the not-too-distant future.
Escept, half of them spent those times wearing nice short haircuts, wearing suits and slacks, graduating in 4 years or going straight to work and marriage and a Chevy Nova, instead of doing the “counter culture” trip.
Senior citizens are old people with old ideas on how do to do things. They have been subject to more pro-government propaganda than any other group. They watch the news on tv. Which is chock full of pro-establishment bias (including Fox News). They have been taught their entire lives that civil society is created by government and should be manipulated by the “experts” in charge. Democrats tap into the senior citizens’ love of fascist New Deal ideas which are old as dirt now. Democrats are basically running on iterations of Wilsonian foreign policy and Rooseveltian economic policy, with some Huey Long rhetoric thrown in for good measure. Of course the oldest group in the country is going to move to the Democrats as the GOP moves toward a position of reforming the system old folks love so much.
With all deference to those already in, or facing admission to retirement homes who might willingly reenter the workforce in exchange for some youth & vigor–I am so ready to make that trade.
