The New Generation of Political Elite
Since his nomination, President-elect Donald Trump has created exactly what he aimed to eradicate: a population of ultra left-wing political elite. Trump’s hyper-conservative, homophobic, misogynistic, and racist rhetoric has sparked a passion for politics within millions of young people across the country. Without Trump as a serious contender for the presidency, millennials, especially those of voting age, might have become a little more engaged in politics, but it is the unification against Trump and his supporters that created this politically-active fire of young people. Along with every one of Trump’s ignorant comments came another enraged young person ready to rise up against him. To be clear, this movement of young people is not a pro-Hillary movement. It is a pro-LGBTQ, feminist, anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-fascist, and anti-hate movement.
For many young people, the 2016 election was the first presidential election that they were eligible to vote in. The fact that these people had to choose between Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is outrageous. What is even more outrageous is the fact that Donald Trump was even a choice. Donald Trump was a monster to people who had only really experienced Barack Obama as president. Sure, they had a brief bout with George W. Bush, and maybe a lick of Bill Clinton, but Obama was the president they grew up with. A lot of young people concentrated in the largest liberal-hubs in the country had no idea that someone so openly unqualified for the job could gain such a following. Simply put, the smart people were not aware that the dumb people existed.
Of course, I am biased. I am a nineteen-year-old political science major, born and raised in Los Angeles, and attend an exceptionally liberal college in upstate New York. I talk about politics everyday, and am comfortable saying that people who voted for Trump are not smart people. Trump has not motivated his supporters to investigate his proposed policies and decide whether they believe in them or not. Instead, Trump has motivated his supporters to put themselves first and blame others for their troubles. Financial problems? Obama. Health problems? Obamacare. Trouble finding a job? Mexicans. Trump’s campaign message was plain and simple: get on board the Trump train and he’ll take you to the top.
Trump’s campaign, and his subsequent victory, drove his critics (those smart enough to understand how empty his promises were) to become more politically aware and politically active. Young people are now faced with a president-elect whose plans for his term could have detrimental effects on their future. Sitting on the side-lines makes people complacent in the destruction of their lives, their children’s lives, and the well-being of the planet. So, they have been clicking out of Facebook and onto the New York Times and reading up on everything from Trump’s proposed immigration policy to the lawsuits currently filed against him. They are flooding the streets of their nearest city with signs that read, “My Pussy Grabs Back,” and “Not My President.” Which is great. But will it last?
I hope so. As someone who tracks congressional races for fun and subscribes to more senators’ newsletters than I can read, I hope that my friends who, six months ago, didn’t know their Putin from their Pelosi, continue on this path of political activism and involvement. I hope that we never stop talking about public policy and the latest case going before the Supreme Court. I hope that we do not let those who supported Donald Trump forget what their vote meant. I hope that those signs do not collect dust behind dorm room dressers. I hope they live to see not just the November rain but the January snow and the March clouds and the June sun every year until 2020 when someone else, be it Hillary Clinton, Cory Booker, or Michelle Obama, can grab back the presidency from the clutches of the pussy-grabber himself.
