Yes, young one, you thought it was Mom and Dad’s fault, but it’s not their
fault. Nope. And I know you thought it was your shitty professors and
overpriced college’s fault. Nope. Not theirs, either. You probably even
thought it was the government’s fault. Close, but still no.
See, it’s the system’s fault, that grand, vague entity you’ve always heard
about.
This was the faith the LYM was selling: if we could just overthrow “the
system,” then everything would be okay. No more war. No more suffering. No
more injustice.
Remember that in order to feel hope, we need to feel there’s a better future
out there (values); we need to feel as though we are capable of getting to that
better future (self-control); and we need to find other people who share our
values and support our efforts (community).
Young adulthood is a period when many people struggle with values,
control, and community. For the first time in their lives, kids are allowed to
decide who they want to be. Do they want to become a doctor? Study
business? Take a psychology course? The options can be crippling.^4 And the
inevitable frustration causes a lot of young people to question their values and
lose hope.
In addition, young adults struggle with self-control.^5 For the first time in
their lives, they don’t have some authority figure watching over them 24/7.
On the one hand, this can be liberating, exciting. On the other, they are now
responsible for their own decisions. And if they kind of suck at getting
themselves out of bed on time, going to their classes or a job, and studying
enough, it’s tough to admit that there’s no one to blame but themselves.
And finally, young people are particularly preoccupied with finding and
fitting into a community.^6 Not only is this important for their emotional
development, but it also helps them find and solidify an identity for
themselves.^7
People like Lyndon LaRouche capitalize on lost and aimless young
people. LaRouche gave them a convoluted political explanation to justify how
disaffected they felt. He gave them a sense of control and empowerment by
outlining a way (supposedly) to change the world. And finally, he gave them a
community where they “fit in” and know who they are.
Therefore, he gave them hope.^8
“Don’t you think this is taking it a little too far?” I asked the LYM
students that day, pointing to the pictures of the World Trade Center towers