Some of that blame can be laid at the onslaught of digital media that has replaced the ability to think for one's self for 'belonging' to one online group or another, with everyone falling into the trap of groupthink. Some of that can be laid at the feet of our educational bureaucrats, replacing the curriculum that taught our young our history with pseudo-intellectual claptrap that in no way exposes our children to the roots of our country, our society, or our form of government. Writes Bauerlein:
In colleges, for instance, U.S. history general education requirements have given way to some version of a "History, Society, Culture" umbrella which covers copious identity and diversity offerings, in part because my colleagues have lost faith in American greatness and feel that it would be chauvinistic and authoritarian to impose a core tradition of events, figures, texts, and values upon the rising generation. In high school, too, instruction in the Puritans, the Founding and Founders, natural rights, World War II, the Cold War, and other accomplishments of the nation has diminished, and when they are taught, the manner of presentation is often skeptical and critical, highlighting the sins and victims of the past. Students leave school feeling little pride in their country. The Gettysburg Address is just a syllabus assignment, that's all. Youths complete their homework as quickly as possible, then get back to reading and writing the 3,500 text messages they rack up each month.When they are thus uninformed it is unlikely they will be able to discern for themselves what is and is not good for them, particularly when it comes to things like the economy and government. They can't tell the difference between a good idea and a bad idea because they have no frame of reference. Why do you think so many of them believe giving government even more control over the economy is a good thing? Because they haven't been exposed to the historical examples showing why this is a bad idea. What's worse is that even when they are exposed to these examples, they are explained away with a glib “They just weren't committed/smart/ideologically pure enough to make it work!” They are never shown just how morally and ethically bankrupt the concept is and how much misery and poverty such control has spawned. Even modern day examples like Cuba and Venezuela are glossed over.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how unprepared and intentionally ignorant the Millennial Generation is. About the only ray of hope is that some of them are waking up to the reality of how they have been betrayed by their 'betters' and they have some to realize their betters are nothing but con men.