Wannabeen birthers aside, there remains hope for the future.

Barack Obama’s historic, precedent-shattering presidential victory in 2008 was attributed to many factors, but one consistent explanation is the voting margins in his favor among young people, minorities and the better educated. In short, he did well with those who represent what we're becoming, not where we've been.

It is telling to consider the primary sources of orchestrated disaffection as the nation attempts to “discuss” health care reform: Not young, not of color, and lesser educated, across the board, excepting of course the money/power lobbies standing to be adversely impacted by fairness.

As numerous commentators have observed, the anger is irrational, but easy to explain. The screamers fear the loss of their own positions of societal primacy. They are old and monotone in a young and multi-hued nation, and it scares them into lashing out.

The Obama constituency is still there, albeit with voices seemingly drowned by the rancor on the right. I don’t recommend that the reasonable scream back. Just make sure everyone knows that in spite of the dunderhead (dittohead?) spite-filled bluster, you’re still out there. As is the case with New Albany’s congenital obstructionists, it’s easier to incite anger against than to patiently explain the merits of “for.”

Back home in New Albany, there is an event coming on August 29: Night on the town in New Albany, by Tara Hettinger (News and Tribune).

When 23-year-old Jala Miller moved to New Albany a few months ago, she invited her friends to visit the city.

They asked why would they come to New Albany.

So, she decided to give them and everyone — 21 and older — a reason to visit downtown and be reintroduced to all the redevelopment that has been taking place: a beer walk/olympics on Aug. 29.

You can visit the newspaper’s web site and read the entire article, but the single most important point made therein is included in the preceding citation.

It is the organizer’s age.

Granted, I’ve no clue what Jala’s political views are, but what I know is that she had an idea, did research, diligently implemented her findings, and if all goes well, a crowd of her peers will be roaming through downtown New Albany on the 29th. Some of them will return, and some may even stay.

2010 is coming, and the generation that ultimately matters, both here and in the country as a whole, does not include Professor Erika, Healthblogger, Larry Kochert or even me. Let’s hope their voices continue to be heard amid the embittered, elder-generated bile.