todd.tokubo.com

I keep thinking back to my junior high school years, when our teachers were trying to inspire us by letting us know that at some point, “you (collective) will be running the country.”  That day is here.  I’m at the tail end of Gen-X (Star Wars in the movie theater is my first real memory… scary).

I figure there is a ton a Gen-X people running the entertainment world as evidenced by decisions to make Transformers, G I Joe, Voltron, some movies that generally look like John Hughes flicks, revamping of Batman into the Dark Knight, rebooting Spider-Man as more of the McFarline-esque version.  Also, growing up with D&D, the popularity of Lord of the Rings was a big deal.

Even TV shows like Heroes and things that made Joss Wheden a name (Buffy and FireFly) are cornerstones for Gen-X geeks.

We have a Presidential Candidate and a Vice Presidential Candidate (for opposing parties) who are in the ballpark of being Gen-Xers (especially when compared with their counterparts).

That day that my teachers said would come is nearly upon us… Am I really getting that old? 

here…

So the economy is messed up, gas is expensive, people are generally unhappy…

So who’s fault is it?  Dubya is an easy target on many levels.  But let’s look at the facts:

• All time gas prices at a high, while most Americans drive SUV and minivans.
  • American car companies had good profits and revenues from these large vehicles (which were most costly to import: edge US companies)
  • Why were so many Americans buying expensive SUVs and minivans?
    • Because we need to have car seats for our kids until they are 7 years or 70 pounds
• Everything else being messed up and generally unhappy:
  • GWB is elected due to the incredibly tight race in Florida
  • What would have made the difference?
    • Votes for a big name 3rd party candidate
    • Maybe someone who got big by advocating automotive safety

That’s right… this is all Ralph Nader’s fault.

While there’s been a lot that right about Nader:

• ex. We now have proof that GWB is indeed “a giant corporation”
• However, I think Al Gore has figured out who he is.

In general, I think that the 1960s Ralph Nader was a pretty good guy.  He wanted to genuinely make a change based on criticisms that he had.  However, the Nader in 2002, looked like a guy who was just badmouthing people.  Is it a sign of the times?