I always enjoy author and NY Times columnist Tom Friedman's writing. It's insightful and thought provoking. Here's a summary of recent Friedman thoughts, interspersed with my own comments & views.

Young people today are more optimistic and idealistic than they should be, and also much less radical and politically engaged than they need to be. Friedman calls them "Generation Q" - the Quiet Americans.

Generation Q is not paying attention. They should be angry. They are being dumped on - with huge budget deficits, Social Security deficits and ecological deficits. They will likely spend their entire adult lives digging out from the holes that this present generation - Generation G (for Greedy) - is leaving them.

Generation Q would be doing itself a favor, and America a favor, if it demanded that every candidate for political office answer 3 questions: What is your plan for climate change? What is your plan for Social Security reform? What is your plan for dealing with financial deficits that will make us China's slaves?

Generation Q is the most technology savvy group that this country has ever produced. They're always connected to iPods and Blackberries, and keep text messaging, e-mailing and blogging. They're on MySpace, YouTube & Google. They've got Nintendo Wiis, Game Boys, Play Stations.

But Activism cannot be uploaded to a blog. It can only happen when young voters speak the truth to power, face to face, in big numbers, on campuses or in marches to Washington. Generation Q needs a jolt of the idealism, activism and outrage that Kent State students showed when they rioted to changed the course of the Vietnam war.

Gen-Q must get organized in ways that will force politicians to pay attention. Beyond just blogs that are drowned out by a cacophony of competing conversations, we need their practical Idealism and dynamic Activism. We need in-your-face Change!

In the words of Buffalo Springfield's 1967 song:

There's somethin' happening here,
What it is ain't exactly clear.
There's a man with a gun over there,
Tellin' me I gotta beware.
I think it's time we stop,
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down.

Tom Friedman - Generation Q

Defending 'Generation Q'

The Generation of Generation Q

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