Yeah, I think you are right. But, I can’t deny there are a large number who are. There are very well educated people in their late 20s and 30s who seem to have a strong grasp. While my age here is arbitrary, I do think 25 and under is too green to really understand the world. Again, that is my observation, I could be wrong. And certainly there would be exceptions. But, given fairly equal levels of education and intelligence, the older will be wiser, I think.
The Native Americans talk about elders, as sources of wisdom. Of course, this assumes they follow a spiritual path (AKA Native American spirituality).
In this book:
The author says it takes about 30 years, to develop wisdom - via the Native American way. And about 20 years, by the Christian mystical way. Hypothetically, since I have spend at least that amount of time…in both ways (and other ways, like Zen, Yoga and Japanese light modalities - like Sukyo Mahikari and Johrei)…Then hypothetically, I would be considered an elder and wise Holy Fool.
But I describe myself as someone who follows:
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The Christian mystical way
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The contemplative and healing, wisdom tradition paths
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The theology of the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
And I mentioned this book, in another thread.
Gen x and Y and maybe even Z - have been committing suicide and dying from overdoses for the past 20 years, and increasingly, to the extent that they have brought down the average life expectancy in the USA.
I have a number of nieces and nephews that I cherish. And they are getting along. Erin is an actress and teaches acting in Seattle, and her husband has had a few good tv series, as an actor, under his belt. But really - they are lost and without direction - and that’s not imo, it is obvious as you watch their life and listen to them. Successful in a sense, monetarily. My nephew Evan is a minister and doing pretty well. Nephew Eddie is 50 and lives in San Francisco and has no idea what reality is - he lives in that bubble, and does not know the rudiments of what is happening in the world, and has swallowed so many lies about the world; but has noone to bounce those things off of in his circle. He makes $200K+ a year as an IT guy. My nephew Emery teaches 5th grade in Portland, is apparently gay, and led an Occupy movement here in Ashland a number of years back. He’s a smart guy but a lost lamb as well - not the gayness, it’s his warped view of humanity. My niece Jessica lived here a short time with her hubbie Jason and their wee child; they were by choice barely squeaking by, but stood in my living room and claimed that my generation could not understand what their generation is going through. We talked about it and it turns out - they were just mouthing a phrase that they heard from their friends. I pointed out that my generation has lived through everything theirs has - plus a lot more. 15 years later and they are unfortunately a mess.
For all of those stories sure, their are others who have done better. And I don’t claim that these are ‘bad’ people. Life is a struggle for each one of us, and for each generation. But there is not much new under the sun - excepting technology and science - and what has appeared under the sun since almost the beginning is that ‘without a vision the people perish’ and that there is a way of non-thinking that leads to Lewis’ Abolition of Man, and ‘men without chests’. We old farts need to water the desert of their thought and impoverished world views. IMO. We have that gift to give if we are able. But it really is BS to think that they are onto something new - the sad fact is, as suicides and untimely deaths from overindulgence in pleasure show - many of this generation are onto something old - forgetting God, having no idea about the necessity of regeneration, the gift of immortality, the resurrection of the dead, judgment and mercy. Those huge truths, if lacking, leave impoverished souls, as ‘active’ and ‘inquiring’ as they may be into other concerns.
Doggone it, that darn fool Trump STILL hasn’t caused the recession that Don and others have so fervently desired.
Yes, when I argued that the Dems should consider presidential candidates who aren’t baby boomers pushing 80, I wasn’t thinking of 25 year olds, more like 45-65!
And pushing 73, I agree and do like to think my years of experience make me wiser. The one compensating liability I see is that we older folk with our identity quite formed may tend to become more hardened in our paradigms and thinking, and thus feeling more threatened by change, we get cynical of the next generation, and it may be more difficult for us to incorporate new input and learning.
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U.S. life expectancy has DECLINED three years in a row (unique among wealthy nations)! Suicides, drug overdoses, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and obesity are escalating (despite spending 2x Canada’s health costs).
Such present unhealthy trends here suggest, rather than touting our superiority, we may learn from societies enjoying less dis-ease.
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And another good thing: the hits keep comin’
Very true!
Touting our superiority? I must have missed that show?
That’s the age old and groundless imo lib rant. The warts, which are real, are empirically eclipsed by the glory of this country, which is a good thing not because America is an idol, but because it protects - for now! - the rights of freedom of expression even for those that disparage it continually. Even for Antifa thugs, or BLM thugs, or white supremacy groups. That same group (Far left) is shutting down free speech as fast as it can, so we are not assured of being able to praise or run down this country -using our own minds and opinions - once the totalitarians take over. If they do. Here’s hoping they don’t.
OOPS - that was aggressive, oh my!! 
But that just brings us back to the oil-and water don’t mix situation. What I mean by that is:
My goal, and if you stop to think about it, is really a good one - is to recognize the high road as to the constitution, and maintaining freedoms, and and voting for those that will strive to strengthen those freedoms. And protect our rights and our country etc. Maintaining the framework of the founders.
Other discussers like to think about improving important programs and such but instead of staying with that, criticize the country on those issues - oblivious seemingly to the greatness of the country (or belittling it as not as enlightened as others - yeah right) and I agree there are things that can be better.
But I see no reason to bad mouth the country for that - or to fundamentally change America into something else. My contention is: protect the country that protects your ability to speak and to act - don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Keep things in focus.
Though I do believe America is the greatest country. Obviously, just my opinion, dangit.
Steve, I was thinking of reactions such as those above. "THAT is groundless… any ‘warts’ are eclipsed by the glory of this country… America truly towers in the world, one of a kind, the ‘greatest’ of them all." Such responses, especially about our alarming declining mortality rate, do sound like we must so cockily excel, that it’s “groundless” to think we can learn anything.
I’m glad you agree that on healthy living, we may be able to learn a thing or two. That’s my only point.
I think you may read a little extra into Dave’s posts because you have an expectation about him. Of course we need to learn from any source which may be helpful.
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Ah well, we’ve been talking past each other for 3 years now so I reckon all of us read things into each other. Hard to get past that but men of good will, as I think everyone here is, will work it out eventually.
BTW it is clear to me that noone here currently is a Far Left person. Sometimes I will slip up and mention 'liberal" when I mean to say Far Left. Liberals in the main are no different people than run of the mill conservatives; in fact Trump is more of an older type Liberal than he is a Republican. That’s how much ‘liberal’ has changed in the past 20 years. Republicans don’t change - in fact they don’t do anything as far as I can tell.
That is saying a bunch. I HOPE OTHERS WILL CHIME IN ON SAID SPIRIT…
You’re right, of course! In 3 lines, I note continuing data of declining life expectancies, and suggest that there may be something to learn from societies that enjoy healthier patterns (not just declaring we’re already superior). The only response to that suggestion appears to be, 'That is the groundless lib RANT," followed by mention of Antifa thugs, BLM thugs, and a Far left totalitarian take over. What interest in learning anything on this topic would you read into that, Steve?
Dave, you are gracious, and I know you don’t intend the accusation that I presented a liberal leftist rant to be seen as personal or even as an ad hominem dismissal of the topic. But when the only response to most topics I raise is an essay on leftists’ evil, it’s hard to feel the actual concerns of a post hasn’t in effect been ignored in favor of only repeating that such concerns come from bad people, end of story.
I’d prefer some response to the specific concern raised. You indeed have thoughts on this complex challenge. E.g. you’ve commented that some of the addictions and depressing suicides that contribute to this sad data come from young people’s increasing “godlessness.” Whether that helps explain our losing ground against other wealthy nations in health outcomes might be worth exploring.
The BBC news, shows that the Hong Kong folks are grateful.
Did Mr. Trump do a good deed? It’s a “Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”. 
And least we forget.
I think having drugs pouring across our southern border is a factor but as Dave would point out, that is what “the left” wants meaning open borders to get more potential votes and drugs are a consequence that they can live with UNLESS it’s their kid.
This is a profound statement of freedom verses creeping Marxism in Hong Kong. These protesters are risking their lives to preserve freedom not because China has actually removed their freedoms, but because China is doing it almost imperceptibly yet incrementally and they fear one day they will wake up and be swallowed up into mainland China.
These residents of Hong Kong have a choice and they are making it, but over here the left wing MSM virtually hides these events.
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Or generally, someone else’s kid they are paid to bring across.
But more to the point on this great holiday. and if, god forbid, anyone is humor-challenged, I hereby proclaim that this IS humorous
"You can do it, Mr. President. Stop pardoning the turkeys. Fry them instead.
Forget the presidential pardon and bring on the presidential picnic. Cook up the birds and feed the people. Heck, get even more turkeys to not pardon. Get a whole flock of turkeys, don’t pardon them, and host more people than you could with just two. It’s what Thanksgiving is all about, coming together and sharing the bounty, not about photo ops and leaving a giant mess for the hotel cleaning staff.
As you mentioned during the speech that culminated in pardoning Bread and Butter, Democrats have accused you of being soft on turkeys. Well, even a blind pig finds an acorn every now and again. Your critics are correct; you are soft on turkeys.
In 2020, you have a chance to change that, to rule with an iron roasting pan. You have the opportunity to serve your constituents, literally, rather than continuing a senseless tradition in which two perfectly good meals get sent to a farm to spend their days pointlessly wandering around, not being food.
As you mentioned during the speech that culminated in pardoning Bread and Butter, Democrats have accused you of being soft on turkeys. Well, even a blind pig finds an acorn every now and again. Your critics are correct; you are soft on turkeys.
In 2020, you have a chance to change that, to rule with an iron roasting pan. You have the opportunity to serve your constituents, literally, rather than continuing a senseless tradition in which two perfectly good meals get sent to a farm to spend their days pointlessly wandering around, not being food."
Thanks, I actually don’t want open borders, but I’m skeptical that borders or availability of drugs explains our greater death rates. Anyone in other wealthy nations can get drugs if they so choose; they are available everywhere.
I think it is American demand for drugs that explains why they are available, and that it’s so lucrative that they will be available even if you so ‘close’ our borders that an avocado can’t get through. I also suspect that folk on both sides of the political aisle drive this demand.
As a conservative, I believe that we as Americans need to share individual moral responsibility for our choices and the dis-ease that drives demand for drug trafficking (which inflicts a huge toll on Mexico).