Traditionally, young people have energized
democratic movements. So it is a major coup for the ruling elite to have
created societal institutions that have subdued young Americans and
broken their spirit of resistance to domination.
Young Americans—even more so than older Americans—appear to have
acquiesced to the idea that the corporatocracy can completely screw them
and that they are helpless to do anything about it. A 2010 Gallup poll
asked Americans “Do you think the Social Security system will be able to
pay you a benefit when you retire?” Among 18- to 34-years-olds, 76
percent of them said no. Yet despite their lack of confidence in the
availability of Social Security for them, few have demanded it be shored
up by more fairly payroll-taxing the wealthy; most appear resigned to
having more money deducted from their paychecks for Social Security,
even though they don’t believe it will be around to benefit them.
How exactly has American society subdued young Americans?
