Gen X—the resilient, skeptical generation that’s seen more change than anyone thought possible, and still managed to stay grounded. We’ve lived through the seismic shift from analog to digital, the Cold War’s end, and, most recently, the pandemic of authoritarianism. While the world was told to blindly accept the propaganda of “safe and effective,” we were the ones questioning, doubting, and demanding honesty. No other generation has been tested like us, and it’s time for us to step up and help fix this crumbling nation with our blend of experience, skepticism, and pragmatism.
We were the last generation to know life before the internet and the first to fully embrace it, riding the wave of technological change without getting swept away. From making mixtapes on cassette to downloading music onto our iPods, we’ve adapted to a world that never stopped accelerating. And yet, through all of this change, we remained the generation that questioned the hype and looked for the truth behind the curtain. When the “safe and effective” narrative was pushed with zeal, we weren’t afraid to ask, “Is it really?” This ability to adapt while staying skeptical has become our superpower.
As if tech transformation wasn’t enough, we’ve also lived through massive social, political, and economic upheaval. We were raised in the shadow of the Cold War, we watched the rise of global capitalism, and we saw the traditional family structure shift in ways no one anticipated. When the pandemic hit, we didn’t just accept lockdowns, mandates, and blanket statements from politicians or corporations. We knew that every narrative needs to be questioned, and that power often hides behind the guise of safety. Our generation’s survival instinct wasn’t just to comply, but to challenge—and we did.
But where is our leadership in today’s politics? Boomers and Millennials may dominate the headlines, but the middle child of history, Gen X, is the generation that can bridge the gap. We’ve lived through enough change to understand what’s real and what’s smoke and mirrors. Our experience gives us the wisdom to know when something isn’t right, like the authoritarian tendencies that emerged during the pandemic. We know that freedom, not blind obedience, is what makes this country great, and we’ve got the grit to protect that freedom. We don’t fall for propaganda, we question it—and that’s exactly the mindset this country needs now.
In the end, we’ve been tested by history more than any other generation. We’ve lived through the rise of technology, global change, and the creeping authoritarianism of recent years. And yet, we’re still here—strong, smart, and ready to lead. Gen X is the generation that can bring a clear-eyed, practical approach to fixing what’s broken, not with empty slogans but with real solutions. It’s time for us to step out of the background and into the forefront of leadership, because if anyone can fix this mess, it’s us.
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I was a lieutenant at Ft Carson CO 1990ish when the battalion XO, at a officer professional development, passed out an article from Time (maybe Newsweek) about the generation born 1965 to 1980 that had not developed a name, so called “Gen X.” Some of the characteristics of the ten YOA to twenty somethings were a bit simplistic, but you do describe it better here. We are a bit (may be a bit strong of a term) cynical of much, especially authority. Started paying attention to things at the end of one war (Vietnam), saw the disaster of an ongoing war (War on Poverty), used to being lied to constantly by those in power (“This tax increase is only for the ‘rich,'” “This vaccine is safe, even if it doesn’t inoculate you from the disease,” etc). Hopefully Gen Y and Gen Z learn to question the bringers of wonder quickly.