Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Real Meaning of Today

David Brooks, former writer for the neo-conservative Weekly Standard and now one of the stable of conservative columnists for the NYT, writes a very thoughtful column today on the challenges facing the post-boomer generation about to take over the political leadership of America. It is remarkably free of bombast or resentment at the electoral revolution about to take place and is well worth reading for what it tells us about the coming years of struggle ahead. Here is just one paragraph:

Nov. 4, 2008, is a historic day because it marks the end of an economic era, a political era and a generational era all at once. Economically, it marks the end of the Long Boom, which began in 1983. Politically, it probably marks the end of conservative dominance, which began in 1980. Generationally, it marks the end of baby boomer supremacy, which began in 1968. For the past 16 years, baby boomers, who were formed by the tumult of the 1960s, occupied the White House. By Tuesday night, if the polls are to be believed, a member of a new generation will become president-elect.

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