Health & Fitness
Barack Obama, One Big Fad
While the national unemployment rate continues to stay at 8.2%, the unemployment rate for ages 20-24 is 12.9%. Was "Hope" and "Change" accomplished, or just used as a fancy campaign line?
What do MySpace, Chia Pets and Sea Monkeys all have in common with President Obama? They were all fads. That’s right, fad, the three-letter noun defined by Webster’s as “a temporary fashion, manner of conduct, one followed enthusiastically by a group.”
Four years ago, while I was a wide-eyed freshman at West Chester University then, Senator Barack Obama was everywhere. He was the biggest fad on campus; every building you walked into had his posters, every schoolbag you passed in the academic quad had his button attached to it; every class you attended, from Math to Biology, liberal professors sung his praises.
Like past fads such as Chia Pets and MySpace, it was impossible to avoid Mr. Obama. It was also impossible not to notice when election day finally arrived how large Barack Obama’s army of young voters was.
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But, my friends, that was four years ago, and as with all fads, they come to an end. Some, like the Fanny-pack, thankfully end sooner then others.
Today, my friends and I have graduated from college. Instead of being wide-eyed freshmen in total awe of college life, we are now trying to figure out how to pay off our student loans, getting adjusted with our old roommates (our parents) and, of course, looking for jobs.
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Out of my close group of six friends, I was the only one who voted for Senator McCain, the others all voted for President Obama. Today, the conversation is very different, both among my friends and with many on college campuses and recent college graduates, they will not be voting for President Obama for a second term.
One of the reasons why? While the national unemployment rate continues to stay at an all too disgustingly high level of 8.2%, the unemployment rate, as of May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for ages 20-24, was 12.9%. Just as James Carville said, “Its the economy stupid.” Four years ago, President Obama used my generation for votes and has since left us swinging in the wind.
Well, Mr. President, just as fashionistas don’t want to be seen in public with last season's Prada or Louis Vuitton fashion fad, the same can be said about you and your administration. Don’t expect to see many of your posters or campaign buttons among the youth. We have thankfully opened our eyes and have seen what you have done for us over the past four years absolutely nothing.
