Here’s something I haven’t heard anyone consider when wondering why Trump is so popular to angry, white, male baby-boomers: ageism.
The baby-boomers are a large section of our population. They (“We” I should say; I’m 64) have changed our society as we have gotten older, to our advantage.
We’ve hit a wall, though. America’s love of youth. Notice how the elder members of any cast on t.v. are, at the most, in their 40s, usually in their 30s. Models for clothing advertisements are almost always young — not too many models of my age and size out there. Even AARP has embraced youth; now, their magazines are full of people in their 50s, not so much with older folks. The articles addressed towards them are usually about how they are falling apart and need help; not so much about the positives of growing older (and yes, there are positives). People over 70 are pitiful victims, doncha know?
So it is no wonder these (mostly) men in their 60s and 70s are so irate. American society has deemed them to be irrelevant. It has nothing to do with the economy or any of the other hot topics that the media has chosen. Instead, it has to do with their self-esteem. They have been emasculated, and like little children, are throwing temper tantrums because no one is paying attention to them anymore.
This is an issue that is more serious than it first seems. It is an indictment on our society as a whole. We have sacrificed the wisdom of our elderly for the beauty of youth. This started innocently enough when advertisers realized that there was money to be made by pitching to youth. Unfortunately, things went crazy from there, and now we’re at a point where advertising is geared ONLY to the youth. Somehow, they’ve forgotten we have money to spend, too.
This is the dilemma we have found ourselves in. Regular people, who once had some personal power and prestige but are now on Medicare (remember the guy lashing out at Gore: “Keep the government’s hands off of my Medicare!”), getting ignored by check-out clerks becomes very frustrating. They don’t know where to lash out because of this societal problem. The real answer lies somewhere in giving these people their autonomy back and helping them find a sense of purpose. People who only worry (thanks for that, Fox) about themselves will never be happy people.
Oh, and, god forbid, if a WOMAN were to be elected President, that would just send them over the edge.