May the Force Be With ... Who?

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Hillary Clinton's final words in Saturday night's Democratic debate were, "Good night and may the Force be with you." Big smile. Big applause.

According to my Jedi research and for those not quite so familiar, Clinton's closing line refers to a "Star Wars" phrase that wishes "luck or good will when individuals parted ways or the object of the expression was facing some sort of imminent challenge."

On the other side of the political spectrum, Donald Trump's closing words in the last Republican debate were, "Nothing works in our country." Doing my Trump research, that indicates everything in our country is a dangerous mess except "me, Donald J. Trump.”

Therein lies the choice. As we come down to the last days of the 2015 campaign season, two things are becoming clear. Clinton and Trump are positioned to be the candidates nominated for president of the United States. What a race it will be. We definitely will need the Force to be with all of us.

People have been talking about how much money Clinton has raised to finance her campaign almost from day one. She's going to need it.

The Republicans will throw every piece of dirt they can find on her and husband Bill Clinton in an effort to win while Trump, the man with the deepest pockets, stands ready to continue slinging more than arrows. But Trump has enough of his own mud to be dug up and thrown right back. Coupled with his constant fear mongering trying to masquerade as substance, we have quite a year ahead of us.

Despite the best attempts of Democratic National Committee to bury its last debate of the year on the Saturday night before Christmas, the candidates overcame their scheduling handicap with a strong performance that in the end strengthened Hillary's position. 

I found irony in ABC network's programming decision to use the game show "Jeopardy" as the lead in to the Democratic debate. When that show ended, the debate bizarrely popped up almost as if it was another game show. That category, unfortunately, could best describe too much of the Republican presidential campaign that was not playing that night.

2016 Presidential Debate Winners - The Public

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The five Republican presidential debates and two Democratic debates have produced a clear winner. The public. The debates, for better or worse, have generated more interest, anticipation and dialogue among potential voters than any time in recent history. Because of that, there is no clear loser.

The Pew Research Center reports that seven in ten people have watched some part of the debates prior to last night's Republican debate. That's 69% of the public. Almost three quarters of them say they have given some thought to the candidates. One year ahead of the election. 

The current level of engagement by the public has been generated by a confluence of the large numbers of media involved and the politicians themselves. We’ve been instructed how to watch the debates, who's on first and who's rounding up last place. We’ve been angered by the outrageousness of some of the candidates’ remarks and perhaps found a comforting comment here and there.

Whether it's the negativity, anger or touted political policies, this year's debates have created a unique learning curve that has changed the political process in ways totally unexpected.  

While some have felt there have been too many debates, and others have described them as "fun" to watch as if they are a spectator sport, there are few people who say they don't have some kind of opinion. The smaller Democratic field with fewer debates has created a calmer approach, but the sheer number of Republican debates is providing substantial exposure. They have enabled us to get to a point previously unseen. Last night’s debate showcased Jeb Bush actually standing up to Donald Trump when the New York businessman attacked him. The crassness of Ted Cruz met head on with ripe for the fight Marco Rubio. And John Kasich's young daughter unexpectedly became one of the best focus groups, saying she doesn't like politics because "there's too much fighting, too much yelling."

The winnowing out process has begun. Substance is starting to sneak through. The more we see of the 2016 group of politicians running for president of the United States, the more we learn. The key will be turning our current level of engagement and interest into actual votes.

The New "Founder Generation" Challenge

The generation born near the end of the year 2000, previously known as "Gen Z," has formally announced a name change - "The Founder Generation.” More than 1000 young people, ages 13 and 14, were recently surveyed by MTV, the cable music network, and given an opportunity to more clearly define themselves. When asked what they would like their generation to be called, the group boldly responded with a surprisingly clear sense of identity. 

Aside from new naming rights, the study revealed insights into their generational ways of thinking that provide a small window into our potential new order. Our youngest teens apparently feel they're following on the heels of a disruptive millennial generation, putting them in line to be the ones responsible for building a "better world."

That's what the rest of us could call a heavy lift.

These teenagers are the post 9/11 generation that was uniquely born into a world where terrorism has been a constant and real domestic threat. Where families have lived and raised them amidst the worst financial crisis since the Depression. And where technology is a significant and faster driver of life than ever before. 

That's what could be called a triple challenge.

We've left it to MTV to shine a light on common threads in young people's thinking. 90% of those surveyed said they are "going to start a new society where diversity is accepted and encouraged." 91% said they're "optimistic our generation can build a better world," and they've expressed a "pragmatic" approach to making their way through that world. 

Optimism and pragmatism coming from the minds of today's youngest teens could be one of the greatest gifts they bring to a society badly in need. Add to that a real acceptance of diversity, because they themselves are the most diverse generation in history. Imagine if world leaders, politicians and business people would actually hear those words and begin to put them into effect as they work toward tomorrow. That's a momentary optimistic thought that refreshes the mind and spirit.

While there are ruminations and some attempts beginning, broad-based positive social activism has not been a cause taken up by the millennial generation. A hands on approach for effectuating real societal change will, in all likelihood, be left up to both the millennial and Founder generations. Working together and building on the strengths of their foundations and numbers could well set the stage for the emergence of a different kind of "New World," as long as they don't get pulled into old traps. Perhaps it's time for the adults to take notice and begin tuning in.