Young employees' perceived lack of resilience isn't a generational flaw but a result of parenting that shielded them from hardship. The decline of teenagers working difficult, blue-collar summer jobs has created adults who are less prepared for the realities of the workplace.

Pressuring individuals or brands to speak on every current event is counterproductive. This external demand often leads to 'performative activism'—watered-down, disingenuous statements made out of obligation, not conviction. True impact comes from speaking on issues one genuinely cares about and understands.

Extreme wealth inequality creates a fundamental risk beyond social unrest. When the most powerful citizens extricate themselves from public systems—schools, security, healthcare, transport—they lose empathy and any incentive to invest in the nation's core infrastructure. This decay of shared experience and investment leads to societal fragility.

A key reason for past legislative success was that leaders shared a common identity forged in military service. Reinstating mandatory national service could create 'connective tissue' among diverse young people, fostering a unified identity as citizens first and foremost, before individual identity groups.

Western education systems have spent decades teaching students that nationalism is dangerous and universal humanity is the true political community. This creates a strategic weakness, as states cannot expect these same generations to instantly adopt a strong national identity and be willing to fight for their country when a geopolitical crisis demands it.

Major political realignments are not always triggered by specific crimes but by a pervasive 'vibe' of elite entitlement and impunity. Revelations that expose a culture of being above the law can act as a societal 'let them eat cake moment,' sparking a revolutionary shift in public sentiment and policy priorities.

The core business model of dominant tech and AI companies is not just about engagement; it's about monetizing division and isolation. Trillions in shareholder value are now directly tied to separating young people from each other and their families, creating an "asocial, asexual youth," which is an existential threat.

The struggles and pathologies seen in young men are not just an isolated gender issue. They are a leading indicator that the broader societal belief in upward mobility—'we can all do well'—is eroding. This group is the first to react when reliable paths to success seem blocked.

The federal budget reflects the values of those who vote. Since young people vote at lower rates than seniors, policies benefiting seniors (like Social Security adjustments) are prioritized over those for children (like the child tax credit), effectively defunding the young.