Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Troy Senik, Ed. ·
April 17, 2012 at 6:19pm
The Young Guns are back in the saddle this week and, with Meghan Clyne traveling, we'll be joined by Ben Domenech and Emily Esfahani Smith.
Given the success of the audience suggestions that poured into the main podcast -- and the questions that we've solicited in the past for "Law Talk" -- we think it's high time that we do a more interactive episode. So we're seeking audience input on what topics you'd be interested in hearing us tackle or what questions you'd like us to answer (though nothing about my ill-fated turn in "Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark," please). Let us know in the comments.
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May '10
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Seems like the Young Guns are very aware of the state of conservative religion in America. (That's especially true in comparison to their clueless peers in the media at large.) I'd like them to diagnose the state of personal religious practice among their generation.
My impression is that the internet has been a profoundly sexually decadent influence, accelerating a trend that you would expect given the literally unimaginable wealth that we enjoy in this country. On the other hand, religion (and Christianity in particular) thrives when acting as a counter-cultural force, and that's exactly the role it has in western countries today.
Are there reasons for pessimism or optimism as the torch of faith is passed to a new generation?
Edited on April 17, 2012 at 7:01pmAug '10
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Skyrocketing national debt, entitlement spending, Obamacare, tax rates ratcheting upwards, increased regulation, debased currency, government intervention into every aspect of our lives...
At what point do the Young Guns take their savings, human capital, creativity, ambition, and just "go Galt"? Buy 40 acres and a shotgun, reduce your taxable income to $0, convert your savings to gold coins, and wait for the whole mess to blow over?
Edited on April 17, 2012 at 7:07pmApr '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Do conservative and Republican leaders understand the natural-born citizen question and are they at all concerned that a good chunk of the Tea Party movement might refuse to support a ticket with Bobby Jindal or Marco Rubio?
Aug '10
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Like a suspicious cold sore, bouts of egregious California bashing erupt here with alarming regularity, and mar the visage of our fair community (by which I mean Ricochet, not the 310).
So I propose the topic: California bashing- sour grapes or provincial delusion?
Apr '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Could the young guns describe their personal efforts to support Scott Walker, their hopes to engage in them in the future, or their beliefs that making calls, giving money, commenting on local Wisconsin news sites, and engaging in ground work are not good uses of their time?
May '10
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
We old bludgeons are not competent to ask questions of young guns. I am curious, however, about when this emerging generation will tell the politicians to stop the Granny>cliff demagoguery and seriously address entitlements.
May '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
I'm sure everyone's seen the videos of high school students who don't know who Joe Biden is, etc. From your experience, how representative is that of our generation?
Feb '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
This is a follow up question to Fredösphere's. I understand our Republic, and Western Civ in general faces grave challenges, so the following might be very low on Ricochet's topic list. Nevertheless, I find the comments of Creationists among the Ricochetese quite disturbing and fascinating. I don't simply mean religious people. People of all religions and no religion can embrace the theory of evolution, and should do so, since it is as close to the truth as anything else we know. By Creationists, I mean people who actually don't believe that species evolve. People who deny that I and my cat (and my lawn) have a common ancestor. I don't think such people are dangerous or malicious, and they tend to agree with me on many political issues; I just think they're wrong on a fairly basic demonstrable fact.
So I'd love a podcast debate between an opponent of the theory of evolution and a supporter. Religion can (but need not) play into it. They can both be religious.
After that, it will be time for loyalty oaths and purges. (Kidding!)
Edited on April 17, 2012 at 8:14pmFeb '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Squishy Blue RINO: Like a suspicious cold sore, bouts of egregious California bashing erupt here with alarming regularity, and mar the visage of our fair community (by which I mean Ricochet, not the 310).
So I propose the topic: California bashing- sour grapes or provincial delusion? · 53 minutes ago
California bashing is simply envy.
Aug '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
I've noticed that the "Young Guns" are less prudish about matters of sexual orientation, language in public discourse, and the like. I recall Jonah Goldberg even recently posting a highly suggestive clip of Will Ferrell announcing the sequel to Anchorman on the television show Conan. Do any of you believe that there is a generation gap within conservativism? If so, on what issues is there the gap?
My opinion is that younger conservatives are more libertarian about social mores.
Another angle on the same question:
Most headlining contemporary conservatives organized around a common experience of state incursion on personal liberties and Constitutional limits while also demanding a strong state to defend America from communism. It was, in other words, a choir of religious, traditional, and libertarian voices--never quite in harmony--singing against state centralization at home and state weakness abroad. What, if anything, unites the future of conservatism, which finds itself in a very different political, cultural, and international context? Or does it?
Edited on April 17, 2012 at 8:40pmMay '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Troy Senik, Ed.
(though nothing about my ill-fated turn in "Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark," please) · · 3 hours ago
Wait, I haven't heard about this. Please?
May '10
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Younger conservatives did not experience American life before the introduction of most federal agencies, so it it difficult for us to imagine life without them. Are younger conservatives more or less likely to support the elimination of these agencies than older conservatives?
Also, how disturbing is this picture?
Dec '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
A couple of weeks ago on "Mad Men", Don Draper was backstage at a Rolling Stones concert and began interrogating a teenager/Baby Boomer as to her outlook on the world&life&c. I would like to propose something similar for this podcast: for those of us who are older, what are some of the general views of young adults in America 2012?
By way of background, I'm late 30's/tail end of Generation X and am similar to Don Draper in that, as 40 is almost here, realize that I am no longer "young" (similarities to Don Draper end there, unfortunately). I also know that our upbringing was completely different in that I experienced a childhood similar to a cross between the (original) Bad News Bears and E.T. (sans alien) and you guys had... something else.
How does the generation that never really knew a time when you had to look things up in books, 99+% of people did not have a cellphone (maybe not even an answering machine), and the "M" in MTV stood for "music" look at America, what America means, and America's place in the world?
Edited on April 17, 2012 at 9:23pmApr '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
As someone who has been reading National Review since I discovered it in the PX in Long Binh, I would like to know whether the young sno... guns
Loosey-goosey answers expected and acceptable.
Jan '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Has the dog graduated to stronger drugs yet?
Dec '10
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Peter's post today about gay rights/civil rights has me wondering how much of the indoctrination of the left has set in with younger conservatives. Are there areas of conservatism where the Young Guns looks at the old hands like Peter or James and think, "get with the program, old timers"?
May '11
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Last time Ben boasted of his skill at political prediction and took the field vs. Romney.
Request follow up and predictions for November so I can bet the other way on InTrade.
May '10
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
1. To test your conservative bona fides, how many of you own guns (or a gun)?
2. I see people all over walking around with shirts that say "Hollister." Where is this place? Who is this person?
3. Troy, when is Belmont ever going to win in the NCAA tournament? The 30-win seasons will get you only so far.
4. Ben, is Francis Cianfrocca really just a souped-up computer with a highly advanced voice application?
Edited on April 18, 2012 at 1:22amAug '10
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Grendel:
I was actually shocked this slogan didn't make a huge comeback during the Obamacare debates, when we were all promised lower health care costs, universal coverage, lower deficits, and free unicorn rides.
This suggest a simple question for the Young Guns: is the time of brainy slogans over? Are we consigned to a future of t-shirts with only monosyllabic words and pictographs?
Jun '10
Re: Crowdsourcing the Young Guns
Fredösphere: Seems like the Young Guns are very aware of the state of conservative religion in America. (That's especially true in comparison to their clueless peers in the media at large.) I'd like them to diagnose the state of personal religious practice among their generation.
My impression is that the internet has been a profoundly sexually decadent influence, accelerating a trend that you would expect given the literally unimaginable wealth that we enjoy in this country. On the other hand, religion (and Christianity in particular) thrives when acting as a counter-cultural force, and that's exactly the role it has in western countries today.
Are there reasons for pessimism or optimism as the torch of faith is passed to a new generation? · 8 hours ago
Edited 8 hours ago
Gen X right through the Millenials are far less credulous in religious matters than our forebears were, in part due to the widespread and general ambivalence to religion of our parents. This spells doom for the mainline faiths if they can't catch up.