The Death of Conservatism?

Perhaps its time we start preparing for the burial of the big old elephant in the room. The elephant I'm referring to is the symbol of the GOP, a party that took a huge hit in the 2008 election and may continue to loosen its stronghold over American politics according to the author of this Op-Ed piece from the New York Times (May 13, 2008). Columnist Bob Herbert asserts that the rising millennial generation is poised to become the first generation to do less well economically than their parents, and that these so-called "millennials" are looking to government to help lessen the blow. According to a study composed by a progressive think tank, millennials have become disenchanted with the conservative viewpoint that government is the problem, and are instead looking for a more interventionist approach to tackle issues such as education, health care, jobs, and all-around economic growth.

What interested me most about this piece is how it corresponded with Jean M. Twenge's argument in her book, Generation Me, that the millennial generation has astronomically high expectations for themselves despite the harsh realities they face. It make sense that millennials, instilled with a strong sense of entitlement, are expecting the government to help them meet these expectations. While I support the fact that the millennials are starting to hold their government accountable for helping combat the myriad issues they face, I can't help but wonder if Gen Me is only setting itself up for disappointment by assuming that the government can provide a quick fix. The expectations on the current administration are so high that it seems Gen Me is only priming their elected leaders for failure.