1851

&#8220;Millennials,&#8221; amirite? You know, that generation of 20-and-30-somethings born roughly between 1980 and 2000 who are infamously narcissistic, entitled, lazy, arrogant and politically disengaged? These days, the millennial hit-piece has practically become a literary genre unto itself, proving that this generation has become both a source of fascination and malign to older generations. Even The New York Times happily summed up these sentiments in one fell swoop: &#8220;You know them when you see them. They are tapping on their smartphones, strolling into work late and amassing Instagram followers faster than a twerking cat. They complain. They &#8216;disrupt&#8217; stuff. They simultaneously (and somewhat improbably) like both Kanye West and Kenny Chesney.&#8221; In many ways, millennials have come to symbolize what people tend to blame for the perceived American decay in the 21st century: Tech addiction and a growing culture of mistrust and individualism. But ultimately the amassed clich&#233;s used against this generation have become so commonplace that it&#8217;s all too easy to ignore the positives this demographic also embodies. According to Article Two of the United States Constitution, a candidate for presidency must be at least 35 years old to be eligible for nomination. This means that next year, everyone&#8217;s favorite generation of easy punching bags could become the nation&#8217;s next president&#8212;and they have a lot of good to offer. The significance of millennials extends beyond their numbers (currently, they make up one-third of the total population). According to a 2014 report from the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/millennials_report.pdf?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-will-happen-when-a-millennial-becomes-president-2924" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Council of Economic Advisers</a>, this is the first generation to have had access to the Internet during their formative years. Millennials also stand out because they are the most diverse and educated generation to date: 42 percent identify with a race or ethnicity other than non-Hispanic white, around twice the share of the baby-boomer generation when they were the same age. About 61 percent of adult millennials have attended college, whereas 46 percent of the baby-boomers did so. Another important marker for this demographic is that many of them have come of age during a very difficult time in the country&#8217;s economy. As unemployment surged from 2007 to 2009, many millennials struggled to find a hold in the labor market. They made important decisions about their educational and career paths, including whether and where to attend college, during a time of great economic uncertainty. &#8220;No generation has been better equipped to overcome challenges than millennials. They are skilled with technology, determined, diverse and more educated than any previous generation,&#8221; the report stated. But perhaps the most crucial contribution that millennials bring to the table is their strong desire to change the world. The numbers who volunteer for programs like the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps have risen substantially. In 2014, Teach for America received over 50,000 applications, more than twice the number received in 2008. Many talented and highly credentialed students choose to work at nonprofits after graduating. And while it&#8217;s true that nongovernmental organizations have become cool, that trend has happened for a reason: Young people today view NGOs as a valuable and worthwhile way to spend part&#8212;or all&#8212;of their lives. As much as students from any generation before them who might have gone into politics and government or volunteered for war and exploration, they want to do good and follow their principles. In a new book based on original research, Running from Office, political science professors Jennifer Lawless and Richard Fox ask more than 4,000 high school and college students if they would be interested in running for political office in America someday: A resounding 89 percent of them said &#8220;no.&#8221; Their response wasn&#8217;t surprising &#8212;teenagers and young adults have witnessed a dysfunctional Washington grow more and more each day, featuring an inept government response to a drowning city, battles over debt limits and shutdowns, multiple unending wars and innate debates over the faith and birthplace of a president. &#8220;The mean-spirited, broken system that has come to characterize American politics turns young people off to the idea of running for office,&#8221; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/book-party/wp/2015/05/20/why-we-may-never-have-a-millennial-president/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-will-happen-when-a-millennial-becomes-president-2924" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lawless and Fox write</a>. &#8220;It discourages them from aspiring, one day, to be elected leaders. It prevents them from even thinking about a career in politics. A functioning democracy needs every new generation to heed the call to serve.&#8221; Today, millennials just don&#8217;t see their values&#8212;such as improving their country and planet through activism, teamwork and compromise&#8212;reflected in current politicians. <a href="http://www.iop.harvard.edu/institute-politics-spring-2013-poll?utm_source=email&amp%3Butm_medium=pressrelease&amp%3Butm_campaign=SpringPoll2013&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-will-happen-when-a-millennial-becomes-president-2924" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A recent Harvard Institute of Politics survey</a>&nbsp;found that 60 percent of Americans age 18 to 29 believe that politicians are motivated by &#8220;selfish reasons.&#8221; In the end, Lawless and Fox believe that this resistance is a good thing&#8212;a civic-mind generation more interested in improving the country in ways not currently seen by the traditional American government will make millennials a revolutionary force to be reckoned with in decades to come. &#8220;Young people have the skills and potential to make the country and the world a better place,&#8221; Lawless and Fox conclude. &#8220;Let&#8217;s make sure they see that running for office is a worthwhile way to do it.&#8221;

1851 Franchise

These days, millennials catch a lot of flack. But as the country's largest and most educated generation, they have a lot of good to offer.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

What Will Happen When a Millennial Becomes President?    

what-will-happen-when-a-millennial-becomes-president

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue’s Home Maintenance Plans: Peace of Mind for Homeowners

trublues-home-maintenance-plans-peace-of-mind-for-homeowners

Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions Targets Peoria, Illinois, for Franchise Growth

caring-transitions-targets-peoria-illinois-for-franchise-growth

Caring Transitions Celebrates a Strong Start to 2025 With 19 New Franchise Sales and Momentum-Building Training Events

caring-transitions-celebrates-a-strong-start-to-2025-with-19-new-franchise-sales-and-momentum-building-training-events

Right at Home

Right at Home 30th Anniversary in Home Care with Right at Home Logo

Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence and Future Innovations in Home Care

celebrating-30-years-of-excellence-and-future-innovations-in-home-care

Why TruBlue is the Ideal Franchise for Multi-Unit Owners: Scalable Growth With a Purpose

why-trublue-is-the-ideal-franchise-for-multi-unit-owners-scalable-growth-with-a-purpose

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

franchise supplier award design with Locate AI logo and 1851 Franchise badge

Franchise Real Estate Services | Locate AI — Emerging Leaders in Franchise Support

locate-ai-emerging-leaders-in-franchise-support

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition — Point of Differentiation

how-to-position-your-value-proposition-with-a-point-of-differentiation

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Clarify Your Positioning – The “Why You/Why Now”

the-ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises-how-to-clarify-your-positioning-the-why-youwhy-now

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

What Will Happen When a Millennial Becomes President?

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS