Allow me, for a moment, to speak for my generation.
President Obama, Governor Romney, members of Congress:
We don’t want your economic recovery.
We want a real change. We want to embrace the recession for what it is: an opportunity to recreate this economy from the ground up.
We want to redefine the American Dream. We want to reinvent our values system.
We don’t want your manufacturing jobs, your easy credit, your handouts, your false sense of security.
We’re seeking true freedom. We’re making our own choices. We’ll do what it takes to live a fulfilling life on our own terms.
We’ve watched our parents & Gen X friends suffer through debilitating credit card debt, underwater mortgages, and forced productivity at jobs they hate. We’re tired of unsustainable consumer spending, work habits, and family lives. Frankly, we want something more. And we’re willing to try and try again until we figure out what that is.
We’re not alone. We Millennials don’t want your economic recovery but neither do the countless Boomers and Gen Xers who have been waking up to new possibilities for decades. All of us, we’re ready to make different choices. But those choices won’t create your economic recovery.
We refuse to be bullied back into the past. We’re here to claim the future.
We’d like your help. But you’ll have to talk with us, listen to us, collaborate with us. We don’t things any other way. But if we don’t get your help. We’ll build it ourselves.
Would you, could you, consider a new strategy? Would you, could you, listen to the countless individuals who are speaking up against your status quo politico-economic pandering and choose a different path?
Would you, could you, help us create the future we want to live in?
President Obama, Governor Romney, members of Congress: what say you?
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RT @scoutiegirlblog: We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/hb5Y8RYJ
AGREED!!! We want real change…not the regurgitated rhetoric of generations past. If more politicians listened to what the people wanted and not what they think we want to hear we could achieve real change. If people were willing to do what is needed to change (create on their terms) and listen to each other instead of talking over and arguing…a lot could be achieved….I love this…without taking a political side…you have taken a stand!!!
Ding ding ding – listening. Is it really so difficult for our nation’s policy makers to practice a skill they insist their 3 year olds master? I think not.
Thanks, Angela!
Actually, I think it is really hard for them. But not to worry, everybody take a deep breath, because the real shift — energetically — has already happened. Now we are working out what comes next. May take a while.
We don’t want your economic recovery.: http://t.co/WFMwuCZD
Manifesto! So many of us want the same things… time to start discussing this on a much bigger level. If we only realized the power we have as citizens to make real change in this country and not go backwards. We don’t have to choose sides, only choose a new direction. As long as we are kept fearful, dumb, and fighting amongst ourselves we have little strength. I think the likes of you and Chris Guillebeau need to consider getting yourself to Washington.
(yourselves)
This just made my heart sing: “We don’t have to choose sides, only choose a new direction.”
Love this! No, we don’t have to take sides. I’ve been saying this for years and it hasn’t been well received. It’s what I believe though and I’m so happy to see I’m not alone.
<3 U @taragentile “President Obama, Governor Romney, members of Congress: what say you?” http://t.co/9K5UQA2e
Tara….. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Well thanks! I love you too!
Next step: email this to congress and the White House.
YES! I am weary of all the rhetoric from the politicians. As a Boomer, I have been waiting my whole life for the system to finally breakdown. It has been having mini-breakdowns since the late 60s early 70s, and has been taped back together to keep it running. Now the breakdown is so huge, it has opened enough space for something new and, I hope, better to emerge.
This is an amazing opportunity for us all to become engaged citizens -to remind politicians, they are “public servants” to the people, not corporations. It has become a radical statement to ask people to put the well being of the whole ahead of their special interests.
There are millions of us who are tired of the lipservice from our public servants, both local and national.
I am inspired because there are so many groups coming together to make things better for their communities and the world. Organizations like A Small Group-Peter Block, Open Space, World Cafe, Occupy Cafe, Conversation Cafe, the Art of Hosting, Compassionate Listening, and the list goes on…
I now know my mission. I am standing as a midwife to the birth distinct from our past, helping others transition through this historic shift in our world! This what my HeartWork is about..
Yeah, Tara! Great post. I will pass it on.
oops – mission statement is:
I am standing as a midwife to the birth of a future distinct from our past, helping others transition through this historic shift in our world!
Perfection. This is exactly what needs to be drilled through the business as usual politician’s heads. As a Boomer I wholeheartedly agree. For myself as well as my children!
Agree! I keep wondering where the support is for true self starting self employed entrepreneurs. My husband and I are both self employed and paying $1400/ month for family medical and dental. How is that suppose to work?! I’m not looking for anyone else to create a job for me. But some collective action to make basic health care affordable would help.
yes! America is supposed to love small businesses, but apparently only small business owners who don’t mind paying a huge chunk of change just to be healthy (if you actually need surgery and have to use that deductible…forgetaboutit!)
*Stands and applauds*
Bravo!!!!
I don’t know what the name is for my generation, I’m old enough to have been a mother for 30 years….soo ..that one.
I’m totally 100% with you on this one and I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Awesome post!
Well said! And love how it cuts across “platforms”, party lines, and boils it down to the “bottom line”! And to re state what you have been saying for some time now – we really don’t have to wait for the policy makers to legislate reform…we can “re-form” our own individual economies – the true American Dream!
Yes! Our government has become SO bipartisan, and I do consider myself a liberal, but at the same time I look on with dismay at an economy heavily financed by debt, both in the form of trillions in loans to the United States, and also the encouragement of living beyond your means (or, if you want to look at it another way, a middle class income that has remained stagnant when adjusted for inflation since the 1970s while the rich get exponentially richer). “Economic Stimulation” has come to mean “more loans!” – I don’t want loans! I don’t want to be locked into a desk job for 40 hours a week, just to get some lousy healthcare! Fortunately I live in Massachusetts, where we have subsidized healthcare that I can purchase independently but not all states are so lucky.
totally agree! and reposted on my own facebook wall
RT @taragentile: Politicians: we don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/mnKUKdv0
I liked it, +1′d it and tweeted it. If I had a megaphone I’d be on my roof top right now. Do they sell megaphones at Home Depot?
Fantastic post! I wholeheartedly agree. I’m an Australian and although I love the USA for its eternal optimism and pioneering spirit, I can’t help but compare my homeland where consensus-building rules and the result is unquestioned universal healthcare, low-cost college educations, a booming economy and low unemployment. There has to be a massive paradigm shift and I think things will have to get a lot worse before they get better. But I have complete faith in my adopted people and country to live up to the challenge!
I couldn’t have said it any better myself! That’s right on the money!!!
RT @taragentile: We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/uHcGlwQa (my open letter to politicians — please pass on!)
We don’t want your economic recovery.: http://t.co/wGKejetD – Great post whether you consider yourself a conservative or a liberal-read it!
@OnvervuldeKwens Bovendien had ik dit gelezen. “@scoutiegirlblog: We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/btMDv8em”
We don’t want your economic recovery.: http://t.co/5bkWm6fO
More great stuff from @taragentile: We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/wEqHmiHo
We refuse to be bullied back into the past. We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/EG9XcW1F
YES: We don’t want your economic recovery.: http://t.co/kmCl2bw6
RT @taragentile: We refuse to be bullied back into the past. We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/EG9XcW1F
RT @taragentile: We refuse to be bullied back into the past. We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/EG9XcW1F
Brilliant. RT @taragentile: We refuse to be bullied back into the past. We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/3aELJsNQ
Yes! RT @taragentile: We refuse to be bullied back into the past. We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/VTsm3UQp
Aust Pollies…Are you listening? We don’t want your economic recovery.: http://t.co/jXwykg12 via/ @taragentile
Tara, I love this. We all need to remember that the power lies in our hands. We as a society got ourselves into this position by relinquishing our power to men and women in suits who {as has been shown time and time again} care not about us, The People.
Real change comes when every single individual takes responsibility back and taking responsibility back does not mean casting a vote at the ballot box – that may seem like a drastic measure but drastic change calls for drastic action.
Instead of being sucked in by the drama of another election that guarantees more of the same – turn off your TV, put down the newspaper and start taking small or large steps to create change that you and those around you will see and feel.
We don’t need to petition the government. We need to reclaim our power, each and every one of us. The exciting thing is it’s already happening and I know those in your community will attest to that.
Thanks for being a real changer Tara and sharing your blunt perspective with all of us!
So eloquent Tara! These have been my sentiments long before there was an economic downturn. While I love my country, I have come to completely disrespect those who govern it. Both political parties lie, are tainted by special interests and straight up greed. each offers only more of the same old solutioyns which haven’t worked and never will. I’m with you in wanting to control my own economic recovery. This is from a senior citizen who ywas laid off 8 months ago, discovering I was born to be an artist. Thanks for zing
RT @taragentile: We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/uHcGlwQa (my open letter to politicians — please pass on!)
“@taragentile: We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/Onc9ixsq” let’s do something new and different.
Yes! Yes, Tara! I’m 52, so I guess I’m a boomer. I’ve been going through a real change of mind over the past 6-8 years. I thought everyone had to go out and work for someone else and just deal with it. Deal with the poor pay. Deal with the jerk of a boss. Deal with the ho-hum mundane existance.
I don’t want that any more. I’m tired of working for people who treat me as less than. I want to make my own way. I want to make a difference in this economy. I want to make a difference in my world.
I’m afraid saying something like this to the politicians is not going to make much difference though. Those boys don’t want to give up their power. Those boys don’t want to give up their money. In the big scheme of things, I don’t think it really matters that much who is president. Yeah, I guess they affect us some, but we all CAN build this thing with or without them. We don’t need their stinking politics. We have the real power. They don’t. Not really.
I grew up in the 70′s and 80′s when there was a continued shift to the boss-man mentality. Work for a good company and you’re set! Get a good federal or state job and you’re set! My grandparents, great grandparents and their parents were entrepreneurs, not because it expressed their creative side so they could do their own thing…it was a necessity. At that time you didn’t go out looking for a job, you created it! If you need food, you grow it! If you need clothes, make them! If you want to provide for your family, figure out something you can do and create a business! We’ve gotten so far away from our traditional way of living (starting a business and the whole family pitching in) that we’ve forgotten why America is so great. Here you can do anything! It’s not a new concept…it’s why America is America. We’ve just veered off course and in the last 80 to 100 years have looked to others (boss at a company or government) to provide the benefits we think we deserve instead of going out and creating our own destinies. This was something that was instilled in the generations before me, but sadly we’ve not continued to carry on that natural spirit to younger generations. I’m glad to see people are beginning to get that spirit back again (:
WOW. Yes, yes, yes.
RT @Elle_Roberts_ More great stuff from @taragentile: We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/QGW1dHYl
We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/JKhzkkfu
Love your expression about your fellow Millenials. Music to my ears! But please don’t draw it too finely along generational lines. I’m an early boomer, and the ideas you are offering have been my ideas, too, from my earliest days. I was just talking to myself and only a few others for a long time. Thanks for your clarity. Keep including all who are of the same mind.
Totally agree — this is not a generational issue. I only call attention to my generation because 1) we’re often maligned as being lazy when many are trying to forge a new path and 2) Milliennials have been disproportionately hit by the economic crisis and bare the burden for the rest of our lives. But I think the expansiveness of this message is its beauty!
@scoutiegirlblog AWESOME: “We Don’t Want Your Economic Recovery” http://t.co/pL6C1WeB
We want to embrace the recession for what it is: an opportunity to recreate this economy from the ground up. http://t.co/6D4z8UiG
We don’t want your economic recovery from @taragentile: http://t.co/U9C9TeSr
via @taragentile We don’t want your economic recovery. http://t.co/nsCz1y5J
We don’t want your economic recovery.: http://t.co/6ftxFEfi
!!!!!We don’t want your economic recovery.: http://t.co/9kSqbzEc !!!!!
powerful words on economic recovery from @taragentile http://t.co/nrWNRmud
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