The Katrina Generation

BBC

This editorial compares the events taking place around Katrina to that of the Great Depression where a government still adhering to Social Darwinism refuses to take steps to relieve suffering when the people call for assistance. The writer believes that current events will lead to a desire for a more socially-focused government, one that the Republican Party refuses to put forward. Thus the Republican Party faces the same situation it did in the 1930's when it refused to change its course, leading to the Democrats dominating the government for decades.

Wikipedia
Fourth Turning

This comparison reminded me of a theory that every four generations there is a major crisis that profoundly alters the cultural landscape of America. The authors of this theory stated that a major crisis would take place sometime around 2005 and 2006. A few adherents held that it came early with 9/11, four years ago, but the events of 9/11 did not lead to a change in the course of American politics or culture, instead it amplified the divisions that had been growing since the 80's.

So will the events that come as a fallout of Katrina lead to an altered America? It has been shown my generation (Generation Y or Millennials) is much more political than Generation X. Also, of all the generations, my generation will be the most affected by these events as our understanding of the world is currently being developed.

It is this point in history that will shape my generations view of America. For the older ones, we remember the surge of the internet and the subsequent market crash and the various business scandals that followed. We remember 9/11 and the patriotic outburst. We saw international relations at an all time high suddenly plunge in a few short months as American patriotism led us into conflicts that we saw as just actions. We now see these conflicts stretch on and the patriotism is worn thin. We have now seen a major disaster in America, one not surprising in that it happened, but in the response. It showed that despite all the rhetoric, America is no more prepared for a large-scale disaster than it was before 9/11. All the energy poured into installing a government in Iraq, done so to protect American lives, has probably cost more lives than we can imagine as war deaths continue to mount and funds to other protective measures continue be diverted to baseless threats like removing a toothless regime from an incredibly anti-American society. Amongst all this, our president continues to support the institutions that have led energy cost to soar and has made little offer to support alternative forms of energy.

We will be a generation that is distrustful of big business, war, and patriotism. We will support a more socially conscious government that believes that protecting America requires something other than removing anti-American, but harmless dictators from power.