Editor's Note: Anyone who has read his work can attest that Hedgeye demography guru Neil Howe is one of the brightest bulbs out there. In the brief bullets below, the man who coined the term "millennials" cuts through recent news headline noise and shares some observations on topics people are talking about across America.
Roughly half (51%) of all college students believe that it is "acceptable" to shout down a "very controversial speaker" so that he or she cannot be heard. Furthermore, nearly half (44%) believe that hate speech is not protected by the First Amendment—a novel re-interpretation of the Constitution that is raising eyebrows even among left-wing faculty. (Brookings Institution)
- Neil Howe: Prioritizing teamwork and consensus--and expecting to be sheltered against "hurtful" statements--college-age Millennials don't see much purpose in tolerating (much less listening to) unpopular points of view. When President Truman was asked why the public called him Give-Em-Hell Harry, he explained that "I just tell the truth, and they think it's hell." Millennials, apparently, believe that if they think it's hell, you shouldn't be allowed to tell the truth. (See our pieces: "Is the Public Square Disintegrating?" and "Are Millennials Giving Up on Democracy?")
Following AfD's strong showing in Germany's national elections (at 12.6% of all voters), an overtly right-wing party will be represented in Germany's parliament for the first time since the defeat of the Third Reich in 1945. AfD’s surprising finish is the latest manifestation of the spread of Euroscepticism—and is a damaging blow to the reputation of incumbent Angela Merkel. (National Public Radio)
- NH: As is true in most of the rest of continental Europe, the vote for the Eurosceptic AfD tilted young, not old. Older Millennials and younger Gen Xers led the advance, with 15% of voters age 30-45 voting AfD. (The AfD got the largest share of votes, roughly one quarter, from voters who had never voted before.) Meanwhile, older Boomers and Silent (age 60+, at 9%) were least inclined to vote AfD. Merkel's CDU-SCU registered the biggest loss (-8.5%), throwing a shadow on her gigantic reputation on the eve of her fourth chancellorship. The liberal mainstream SPD also lost further ground (-5.2%)--so much for benefitting from a "grand coalition"! The younger Green and Left parties showed little change. The other big gainer, other than the AfD (+7.9%), was the free-market FDP (+5.9%).
Contributor Casey Williams notes that, throughout their lives, Boomers have always been the biggest influence on the auto industry. Whether they’re driving cars to get away from their parents or to transport their grandchildren, Boomers have always wanted to be behind the wheel. (Chicago Tribune)
- NH: Yes, all their lives Boomers have set the tone in the auto industry. In 1965, the runaway success of the Ford Mustang set the tone for the young Boomer muscle car. In 1983, the runaway success of the Chrysler Minivan (along with the appearance of baby-on-board Millennials) set the tone for the midlife Boomer family vehicle. Today, the marketing of a 1,000 HP Chevy Camaro and a $100K F-450 pickup truck sets the tone for the opulent nostalgia of Boomer seniors. It's not just the large Boomer numbers. It's also how this generation's passionate lifelong attachment to independence, risk taking, and mobility have been thematically embodied in the auto industry's biggest brands. Early-wave Xers (born 1960-70) share partly in the sun-setting glory of this car-nut enthusiasm. But younger generations? The data don't lie: They just look on and wonder what the hell that was all about.
Gen-X contributor Rosa Silverman marvels at Millennial teetotalers and light drinkers. In contrast to Silverman’s own formative years, during which “everyone I knew was binge-drinking weekly by 14,” today’s young adults are more interested in living healthy lives than getting wasted. (The Telegraph)
- NH: Juice crawls rather than bar crawls in the Big Apple? See our article on this: "Where the Wild Things Aren't." Since this is reporting on the U.K., see also our account of the lagged arrival of Millennials in Europe: "Here Come the Global Millennials." Let me close with an excerpt from this Xer reporter: "Research by Heineken last year found 75 per cent of millennials said they limited their alcohol consumption on most of their nights out; self-awareness and staying in control were found to be the motivating factors... Living life with reckless abandon is hardly compatible with the new, calculated style of life-as-performance. But as I walk past the gender-neutral toilets at the King’s student union, I’m reminded how non-drinkers were once regarded with suspicion on campus and were definitely not cool. Now, it seems, truly anything goes."
