We’re Not Gen-X, We’re Gen-Reagan

6/7/04 | Cinnamon Girl

[cupcakes]

And what 'greatest generation' raised the children that became the boomers? hmmmm....

[workerbee]

Gen-Reagan.... excellent. How cool it would be if that actually replaced the insipid "Gen-X" label.

I've often thought how lucky I am to have "come of age" during Reagan's presidency. I was 13 in 1980 and just beginning to have an understanding about politics, the world, etc. When I think of the kids who turned 13 in 1992, and think of them looking back at the butthead prez who formed their earliest political ideals and consciousness, I wince. How sad, that they will never really have a connection to the presidency -- to the country -- the way we did through Ronald Reagan. The sad thing is, it took us little more than a decade to go from such greatness in office to such trash. How did that happen?

[NYC GOP Chick]

Brilliant, just brilliant! If not for the fact that I'm a couple of years older than you (I was born at the *very* beginning of our defined generation), much of what you wrote was about my youth.

I am still proud and grateful that I was *finally* old enough to vote in 1984 -- and to have been able to cast that very first ballot for Reagan's re-election.

[NYC GOP Chick]

The sad thing is, it took us little more than a decade to go from such greatness in office to such trash. How did that happen?

The short answer: The end of the Cold War -- brought about, in large part, by President Reagan -- made everyone feel safe and that foreign affairs and defense were passé and that domestic issues (education, prescription drugs for old people, welfare, etc.) were more important.

I remember talking with a knee-jerk leftist co-worker back in July or August 2001. He loudly proclaimed that since the Cold War was over, we should cut the military and military budget down to almost nothing and spend it all on free health coverage and other socialist, income redistribution projects -- and called me a right-wing nut for believing that just because one known threat was gone, there were likely many more out there. Of course, he spent the month or so after 9/11 avoiding me.

[rightisright]

Beautiful. As a Gen-Reaganer myself, you managed to crystalize my thoughts and feelings about President Reagan. Nothing more need be said. Thanks

[Gillsie]

Great Post - Growing up in Massachusetts, surrounded by hippie liberal Massholes whose Volvos sported Bumper Stickers proclaiming Mass. righteousness in being the sole state going to McGovern, either natural rebelliousness led a bunch of us to Conservative Republicanism....or Reagan... My vote is for Reagan....Very Inspirational, and he had a Domer Connection (who doesn't love the Gipper and Knute Rockne...All-American)

[Cinnamon Girl]

Guess where I grew up. ;)

[jdege]

Click on the image.

And no, I don't own it. I just bought something from them, once.

[k2blader]

Unfortunately I wasn't very aware of politics when Reagan was in office. Reading and hearing so many good things about him, I wonder what things would be like if he could be President today.

"The American Dream isn't one of making government bigger, it's keeping faith with the mighty spirit of free people under God." - Ronald Reagan

[madison10]

You & I are of the same generation. Voted for President Reagan in 1980, my first presidential election. Was still in college & the year before getting married. I was also 21.

Great I have a nickname--Gen-Reagan! About time we find a nitch!

[Indy Pendance]

Exactly. I'm not a boomer, I'm not a gen-Xer, but the gen-Reagan fits us to a tee.

[qam1]

The late Baby Boomers are often called Generation Jones

[tiamat]

Oh THANK YOU!

I can finally distance myself from my evil SIL!

( and YES " Jones" fits....;)

[madison10]

That's an interesting graph.

[momfirst]

Gen-Reagan.... excellent. How cool it would be if that actually replaced the insipid "Gen-X" label.

I plan on using this label from now on, maybe it'll catch!! Has so much more meaning and substance than "X" - and we did grow up with meaning and substance in a great president.

[momfirst]

BTW, Was I the only white kid who loved watching "What's Happening"?

Nope - there were at least two more white kids! (me and my bro)

[qam1]

Yeah but you guys were responsible for this

[EmilyGeiger]

You sure didn't hear about school violence as much during that time period. Not like the 90's when clinton was President. I think President Reagan's optimism transcended to all specters of society. Oh yeah, and the gen-xers dressed better too. :)

[Dianna]

I was 11 years old when Reagan took office. I didn't pay any attention to politics, really, but I remember the gas lines and that my mother worked, that something called inflation was bad, and I remember the nightly countdown of the Hostage Crisis on the evening news.

I remember coming in from the playground one day to find that the hostages were free, but I didn't equate this with Reagan. It took an 8th social studies class, with an interesting teacher to pique my interest. My parents really liked Reagan, and tended toward conservatism, but didn't KNOW that's what they were until he explained it to them, and showed them it's truth.

My girlfriends and I were Reagan fans by the '84 election. One battled terribly with her mother, who insisted upon calling him a warmonger. Kelly retaliated by answering the phone with, "Reagan-Bush '84" every time it rang.

I find myself baffled, sometimes, at how so many people could have lived through this time with me and turned out with different ideas. Reagan explained it, then he proved it. Seems pretty simple to me.

But not so simple, I guess. No politician has been able to quite do it since then.

[Vince Ferrer]

Complete agreement bump. Good work.