GENERATION Y OR THE MILLENNIAL-ITES!

GENERATION Y OR THE MILLENNIAL-ITES!

(Rush Limbaugh, N.P.R.)

(Center for American Progress)

(Robert Lanham, Frazer Chronicle)

 

Talk about a subject that Rush Limbaugh is completely out of touch with, it would have to be Generation Y, or the Millennia’s. Let’s get a few things straight right up front, trust me, it’ll make things easier to understand…..and there won’t be any spin.

 

Rush Hudson Limbaugh the 3^rd was born January 12, 1951 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the son of Mildred Carolyn “Millie” (Armstrong) and Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Jr. The elder Limbaugh was a lawyer and a U.S. fighter pilot who served in the China Burma Theater of World War 11.

 

Limbaugh has a lineage that is made up of lawyers, judges, prosecutors, people who served in Missouri politics, and the Cape Girardeau Courthouse is named in honor of Limbaugh’s grandfather, Rush Limbaugh Sr.

 

So saying that Rush Hudson Limbaugh came from a favored background would be an understatement, his conservative thinking, and his opinions regarding politics would, in later years, come to the forefront of his talk radio programs.

 

Limbaugh was a college drop-out, which isn’t really a big deal; there are lots of hugely successful people without that diploma hanging on the wall. The early Limbaugh seemed to be fascinated with radio and started his career in radio at the tender age of 16. Cape Girardeau served as the testing grounds as well as the place that Rush honed his broadcast abilities.

 

LIMBAUGH’S CLIMB IN THE RADIO INDUSTRY AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME

Between 1972 and 1978 Limbaugh bounced from several radio stations, working as a music Disc-Jockey before moving to Kansas City, and landing a job with the Kansas City Royals baseball team as the clubs Director of Promotions. It was during this time that Rush developed several important baseball related friendships that to this day he maintains.

 

Limbaugh returned to radio in 1984, replacing Morton Downey Jr. at KFBK radio in Sacramento, California. By far the biggest change in Rush Limbaugh’s life was the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, which had required that stations provide free air time for responses to any controversial opinions that were broadcast.

 

The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission, (FCC) that was introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission’s view, to be honest, equitable and balanced.

 

The FCC, in 1987 decided to eliminate the doctrine, and in August 2011 formally removed the language completely that implemented the doctrine. What it did for hundreds of shock jocks around the nation was to give them free reign to express an opinion, no matter how fictional without any fear of retribution from a differing opinion.

 

 

 

 

In short order, Limbaugh, armed with his success replacing Morton Downey Jr. and drawing the attention of former ABC Radio President Edward F. McLaughlin, left Sacramento (bag and baggage) and moved his act to New York. He was additionally armed with the FCC action regarding the Fairness Doctrine…..and like the old man said, it was “Katy bar the door.”

 

Between about 1989 and 1992 Limbaugh groomed his listenership and inspired a wide (Ditto-Head) group of like minded individuals who were faithful almost to a fault. His shows were spiced with earnest political talk and political vaudevillian. I know, I listened, and was entertained, and at the time, (1993-94) agreed with some of his opinions.

 

TODAY LIMBAUGH IS…..INTERESTED IN HIMSELF

Today Rush Limbaugh can be heard on more than 600 radio stations throughout the United States; his raise in popularity is truly amazing. Rush Limbaugh in 2013 has turned into some sort of radio evangelist; he sells anything and everything, and takes himself way too serious.

 

EIB, and half my brain tied behind my back are actually microcosms of what Russ Limbaugh is today, he’s forgotten what he is, and for that the masses will be forever cheated. In the early 1990’s Limbaugh was a fun show to listen to, it was during this time that for whatever reason Limbaugh lost his way and we are saddled with the dribble that he now talks about.

 

HIPPIE’S TO GENERATION Y TO THE MILLENNIAL-ITES’S

Apparently Limbaugh went right by the Beatniks, missed the Hippie’s, their love-ins and pot parties, and swooped down on Bill Clinton, his sex escapades, from which he made some radio airwave coin, and stopped in 2003 to confess his addiction to pain killers.

 

Rush Limbaugh has made his reputation, and his success’s mostly on his own, I’m sure that along the way his family members gave all the support that they could…..after all, that is what family is all about. However his opinion about the Y Generation or the Millennial-ites is way off base.

 

Two of my three children are from this era, 1980 through 2000, and neither falls were Rush Limbaugh said yesterday that they did. The last generation of the 20^th century is different than any other generation in the history of the world. Every generation can lay claim to that ideal, there are unique from one another…..it’s the way it’s always been…..and thank God, hopefully each generation learns from their predecessors.

 

The Millennial-ites have grown up with the inter-net and associated devices, and are said to be the most technologically savvy generation…..to date. They are diverse, many come from at least one immigrate parent, a large percentage is African American, Latino, Asian or of racially mixed background. In addition that are about 80 million of these Millennial-ites that we’re simply going to have to adjust to.

 

Millennial-ites, or Generation Y are more likely to support universal health coverage, they think government should spend more money on health care, even if there’s an increase in taxes. These Hippie types also want to see an increase in educational spending, more than half figure that the Federal Government should provide more services…..and this groups of U.S. citizens support organized unions, heavens to Scott Walker, say it ain’t so!

 

 

 

 

Limbaugh talked yesterday, 8-21-13 about the Y Generation, Millennial-ites, and how, during Rush’s 20’s and 30’s nobody took you serious because you didn’t have enough experience to offer an opinion that was weighted with that coveted experience. Limbaugh praised his era, the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, the hard work, the driven to attain personal goals…..you know, the material things in life.

 

I can’t fault Limbaugh for his thinking, how could I, he was brought up with lawyers, judges, and politicals, and they helped to mold his thinking, his outlook, and in fact is a big part of what conservatives listen to everyday on the radio.

 

THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE…..

What they are is (discounting the technological abilities and influences), strapped for cash, strapped for meaningful employment…..with a future, and pressured with the everyday rituals. An attitude like Limbaugh’s does one thing, and actually one thing only, his rhetoric, and the platform he posses, and the meaningless crap he expounds drives a wedge between the generations.

 

Our system does need change, as long as there is one homeless, one hungry child, or one senior citizen without the means to have the proper medication needed…..because they can’t afford it, we are a nation in domestic trouble.

 

As long as our fossil fuel consumption remains a major factor, we run the danger of global warming, pollution and a degradation of our land. To want to ease away from the use of such an agent of human pestilence in our lives, our kids, and their kids…..to me seem like a pretty smart thing to do.

 

Sorry Rush, you strike out on the Millennial-ites not wanting or needing cars, trucks, busses, and motorcycles. I think it’s strange, that these young people (not all) don’t see the need for automobiles, but what the hell, to each his own.

 

Rush, you and your research staff need to dig a bit deeper on this subject, these young people are, our future…..unlike generations past…..maybe we should start listening to these young technos  before it’s too late for all of us.

 

HAVE A NICE DAY!