A book review by Luis G. Lobo: The NEXT AMERICA, by Paul Taylor

THE NEXT AMERICA by Paul Taylor

A book review by Luis G. Lobo

July 14, 2014

This work by Paul Taylor and the Pew Research Center in DC provides a window into the present demographic picture, the here and now. My friends at the Pew Center and I have developed a mutually beneficial relationship over many years through Roberto Suro, previous director of the Pew Hispanic Center and now on faculty at USC – Irvine, and Rakesh Kochhar, senior researcher at Pew.

The Next America discusses the post-Great Recession impact on a hobbled economy during the mid-term of the Baby Boomer’s generation, and career cycle - the last of who will “retire” in the next 10-12 years. The over-supply of now, “can’t retire” Baby Boomers is creating a job lockout  for Millennials, who witnessed the undoing of their parent’s financial stability in 2008. Most significantly, The Next America portrays a permanently altered national fabric, contributed by the surge of U.S.-born children of Latino and Asian immigrants now in their 3rd generation. 

This multicultural block of U.S.-born children of immigrants impacted the 2012 Presidential elections where the majority of Asians, Latinos, and Blacks voted for Obama. Given the continued negative dialogue by the Republican Party against immigrants (i.e., Latinos, Asians,), it is highly probable that this will also impact the 2016 elections. (See Chapter 6, pp 84-86).

The role of women in America has also reached a state of permanent change.   This, along with racial minorities predicted to become the majority by 2030 will continue to significantly change the national fabric.

The Next America should give us pause as to how we must reach and serve clients today. “Tomorrow” is now “Today.” We have learned through multicultural markets, that we must persistently be visible where people exist. It is also imperative that we use social media, and electronic delivery channels to drip financial knowledge on our households, businesses, and personnel, to uncover needs they may have not yet identified as crucial to their future and financial success (insurance, home ownership, investments, etc.).

I believe that we must reflect the communities we serve to be relevant and successful,  giving us ample opportunity to educate and serve their financial needs.

I have noted key areas to read that follow.

Thank You!

The Next America

Chapter 2: “Millenials and Boomers”

Page 24 - “In the early 1980s before most Boomers started raising families, they were called too selfish to have children…too involved in their lives...accused of moral relativism, too politically correct. No one blamed the World War II generation for the Vietnam War, pollution, nor discrimination against black, women, and gays.

Page 28 - “…born in 1984, you were in middle school when the Columbine massacre happened; in high school on 9/11/01…”

Chapter 3: “Generation Gaps”

Page 40 – Millienial’s view of Boomers is not substantially different of older generations and are slightly less critical of business than the views of Baby Boomers.

Chapter 4: “Battle of the Ages”

Page 47 -   Even when multiple generation don’t live in the same home, they look after one another in other ways…Boomers have already inherited $2.4 trillion from the Greatest Generation with another $6 trillion forth coming.

Page 54 – 43% say the government is responsible for a minimum standard living for older people. 40% say individuals and families are mostly responsible. 14% say equally responsible. 

Chapter 5: “Money Troubles”

Page 59 – if a 65-year old married retiree were to convert $120,000 into a standard annuity today, it would yield $575 per month.  $120,000 being the typical balance today for the 60% that have such a program on the cusp of retirement. 75% of those on the cusp of retirement have $30,000 or less in retirement savings.

Page 64 – Figure 5.4 – In 2011, 22% of households age 35 or younger are in poverty.

Chapter 6: “The New Immigrants”

A.        “Immigrants are strivers”: Only the very motivated uproot themselves for economic, religious, or political freedom.  The United States’ 325,000,000 population has 42 million immigrants and 37 million U.S.-born children of immigrants: 24 % (immigrants and U.S.–born children of immigrants).

B.         College entry rates: Asians - 84%, Whites - 69%, Hispanics - 69%, and Blacks - 65% (2000-2012 high school graduates eligible to attend a 4 year college)

C.         Median household income, 2012: U.S. Population - $49,000; Asians - $66,000; Whites - $54,000; Hispanics - $40,000; and Blacks - $33,000.

D.        Read Immigrants and Politics p.84-86.

Chapter 7: “Hapa Nation” (This term means a person that is half of one race or mixed ethnicity).

A.        15% of all U.S. marriages are between spouses of a different race.

B.         Intermarriage trend has risen from 2.4% in 1960 to 15.5% in 2011.

C.         Read “The Hispanic Identity Conundrum” page 97 and “The Blacks in Obama’s America” page 99.

Chapter 8: “Whither Marriage”

Page – 108 …70% of unmarried Millenials say they would like to get married one day. Money is holding them back…they place marriage on a pedestal…and associate marriage with positive economic outcomes.

Page 114 – In 2011, 41% of all births in the U.S. were to unmarried mothers, up from 5% in 1960…mostly to women in their 20s and 30s… 6 in 10 single mothers have live-in boyfriends, when they give birth.

Chapter 9: “Nones on the Rise” – (not religious)  

Page – 126 – Figure 9.1: The Churching of America

Rates of church membership: 1906 – 51%; 2000 – 62%.

Page – 132 – Nor are “nones” uniformly hostile towards organized religion. A majority think that religious institutions can be a force for a good society.

Chapter 10: “Living Digital”

MUST READ – “Natalie was born in 1988 and was 18 in 2006 when her digital life on message boards began.  Natalie is a digital native, now 26. Natalie has always been “connected,” this is her principal method of assembly and awareness.

Chapter 11: “Getting Old”

Page 163 – Figure 11.2 - % saying that a person is old when…has gray hair (13%); Turns 85 (79%).

Chapter 12: “Empty Cradle, Gray World”

Page 171 – Japan’s baby bust is the most acute in the world, but similar dynamics are taking hold on every continent. 

Page 173 – The fertility rate (U.S.) is among the highest in the wealthy world (Just under 2 per woman). The bulk of the global population growth will come in the poor countries of Africa and Asia.

Chapter 13: “The Reckoning”

Page 184 – The young today are paying taxes to support a level of benefits for the old that they themselves have no prospect of receiving when THEY become old.

Page 194 – Going forward, it’s unrealistic to expect families to take on more of the challenges of caring for the elderly; it’s quite possible they will do less.

Appendix:

Includes an excellent array of charts and tables relates to specific chapters.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Next-America-Millennials-Generational/dp/1610393503



In the final analysis, your attitude determines your effectiveness in everything, every time! LGL www.LuisLobo.Biz

AMERICAN ME!

Felicia and her grandfather Gerardo "Jerry"  Lobo, both at 21.











A friend of mine said:  "there is a book in that Luis!", after I told him that my daughter Felicia Lobo     www.felicialobo.com
was graduating New York University, almost 50 years to the month, of my father Gerardo Lobo's arrival at JFK International, February of 1964.

I have written about his motivations to come to the United States, from our ancestral Costa Rica, a young man 21 years of age, the same age as Felicia upon her graduation ( Jerry Lobo could have never imagined....) .  Yet, what drives one individual to act, does not necessarily drive another to act accordingly.  Felicia has no memory of her grandfather, as he passed away when she was the age of two.  Her older  brothers Andres and Thomas have few visual recollections of my father.  What they all have shared has been an incessant dialogue, over the years,  on who he was, what he accomplished for himself and his family and the impact that he had on his community.

Highly motivated individuals cause things to occur.  Less motivated individuals watch things occur.

There is the interminable analysis of NATURE VS NURTURE.  Malcolm Gladwell has written about drive and motivation in "OUTLIERS" where he gives examples of individuals nurturing their passions, at a rate of 10,000 hours, to be on the competitive plane of sports, academia, or anything. He also wrote "David and Goliath"on the most conventional advantage, David's nature in speed, agility and rifle-like sling, in destroying a visibly superior competitor.

There are also an encyclopedia of work on the subject: Qubein - "The Time is Now. The person is YOU"; Peters - In Search of Excellence"; Pink - "DRIVE"; Useem - "The GO Point". There are 100's of  other relatively respected works with all the evidence in the world that proves the point being conveyed:  "if YOU do this and that, then, this and that will occur."

Sure, in a frozen and controlled universe it may occur.  We do not exist in a frozen and controlled universe.  Our lives are crashing forth, wether we are consciously involved or not, on a time continuum that ultimately ends in death. Very motivated individuals recognize this race against time.  Everyone else lives day to day, tacking to the winds, simply trying to make it at some level acceptable to their own self-esteem.

What causes a child to sing before she can rise to hold herself up on her crib? We did not actively play music in our little house in Burlington, NC.  What motivation seeks to understand the written word before entering the public schools, her day school teacher telling my wife: "Felicia can read", at three years of age. How can a child of 10 grasp a grown-up concept of where she wants to live (NYC), and what she wants to pursue (the stage), without an active visual example, such as parents or friends in the entertainment industry?

I believe that the "Immigrant Story" has had a lot to do with the second and even third generation children of immigrants having a bold and driven nature. The history of the United States is that of "A Nation of Immigrants" as written by JFK.  I also believe that the children of accomplished individuals have a better chance than others of also becoming successful simply because they have seen it done and it is not mystifying to them. Yet, there are countless individuals; bound by economic, physical, cultural and totalitarian walls, that surmount these challenges across  the globe.

Felicia, and my other children, and now my nephew, have had a tremendous advantage in the persistent day-to-day involvement of my wife Debbie.  This is the structural organization and moral upbringing that comes with strict boundaries, lots of love and affection, and an ongoing emotional support.  A love of self is more important than any degree, and these are earned early or they are not.  My grandfather Andres called this the education that is gained at home, not the education that is gained at school.

Just this very moment a child was born, somewhere in the world, with the odds stacked for or against them.  That child will be able to "see over the wall" of religious intolerance, political oppression, or economic disadvantages.  Because of increasing world-wide freedom, that child will be able to quickly assess his little or large  town or village in comparison with the rest of the world relatively earlier than ever before.  He or she will make a decision to become a person of impact (motivated), or the thought may not ever cross their mind (unmotivated).  IF we can continue to be the greatest country conceived by the mind of man,  that child will want to come here above anywhere else.

When that child arrives in this country, young or later in life, all of us and our descendants will be the beneficiaries of the drive, productivity, innovation and ethics from that one point of light.  It takes thousands and thousands  points of light to  continue to illuminate the world.

Gerardo Lobo changed our reality 50 years ago.

CONGRATULATIONS to Felicia!

EN ESPANOL



Un amigo mío me dijo: "hay un libro en el que Luis", después de que le dije que mi hija Felicia Lobo www.felicialobo.com
se graduó de la Universidad de Nueva York, casi 50 años en el mes, de mi padre la llegada de Gerardo Lobo en el aeropuerto JFK International, febrero de 1964.

He escrito acerca de sus motivaciones para venir a los Estados Unidos, de nuestra ancestral Costa Rica, un joven de 21 años, la misma edad que Felicia en su graduación (Jerry Lobo nunca podría haber imaginado ....). Sin embargo, lo que impulsa a una persona a actuar, no conduce necesariamente otro para actuar en consecuencia. Felicia no tiene memoria de su abuelo, que falleció cuando ella tenía dos años de edad. Sus hermanos mayores Andrés y Thomas tienen pocos recuerdos visuales de mi padre. Lo que todos ellos han compartido ha sido un diálogo incesante, a lo largo de los años, sobre quién era, lo que él logró para sí y su familia y el impacto que tuvo en su comunidad.

Individuos altamente motivados causan las cosas ocurran. Los individuos menos motivados ven las cosas ocurran.

No es el análisis interminable de NATURALEZA VS NURTURE. Malcolm Gladwell ha escrito acerca de la unidad y la motivación en valores "atípicos", donde él da ejemplos de personas nutrir sus pasiones, a un ritmo de 10.000 horas, para estar en el plano competitivo de los deportes, la academia, ni nada. También escribió "David y Goliat" en la ventaja más convencional, la naturaleza de David en la velocidad, la agilidad y el rifle como honda, en la destrucción de un competidor visiblemente superior.

También hay una enciclopedia de trabajo sobre el tema: Qubein - "El tiempo es ahora la persona es USTED."; Peters - En busca de la excelencia "; Rosa -" DRIVE "; Useem -" The Point GO "Hay 100 de otras obras relativamente respetados con toda la evidencia en el mundo que demuestra el punto que se transmite:." Si haces esto y que, a continuación, esto y eso ocurrirá ".

Claro, en un universo congelado y controlado puede ocurrir. No existimos en un universo congelado y controlado. Nuestras vidas están cayendo hacia atrás, si podríamos participamos conscientemente o no, en un continuo de tiempo que finalmente termina en la muerte. Individuos muy motivados reconocen esta carrera contra el tiempo. Todo el mundo vive día a día, virando al viento, simplemente tratando de hacer que en algún nivel aceptable de su propia autoestima.

¿Qué causa que un niño a cantar antes de que ella puede elevarse a enderezarse en su cuna? No jugamos activamente la música en nuestra pequeña casa en Burlington, Carolina del Norte. ¿Qué motivación tiene por objeto entender la palabra escrita antes de entrar en las escuelas públicas, su profesor de escuela de día le decía a mi esposa: "Felicia puede leer", a los tres años de edad. ¿Cómo puede un niño de 10 comprender un concepto adulta de donde quiere vivir (NYC), y lo que ella quiere seguir (la etapa), sin un ejemplo visual activa, como los padres o los amigos en la industria del entretenimiento?

Creo que la "Historia de Inmigrantes" ha tenido mucho que ver con la segunda y tercera generación, incluso los hijos de inmigrantes que tienen un carácter audaz y conducido. La historia de los Estados Unidos es la de "una nación de inmigrantes", como escrito por JFK. También creo que los hijos de individuos talentosos tienen más posibilidades que otros de también tener éxito, simplemente porque han visto hacer y no es desconcertante para ellos. Sin embargo, hay un sinnúmero de personas; obligado por las paredes económicas, físicas, culturales y totalitarios, que superar estos desafíos en todo el mundo.

Felicia, y mis otros hijos, y ahora mi sobrino, han tenido una enorme ventaja en la persistente participación en el día a día de mi esposa Debbie. Esta es la organización estructural y la educación moral que viene con límites estrictos, mucho amor y cariño, y un apoyo emocional continuo. Un amor a sí mismo es más importante que cualquier grado, y estos se ganó pronto o no lo son. Mi abuelo Andrés llamó a esto la educación que se gana en casa, no la educación que se adquiere en la escuela.

Justo este mismo momento nació un niño, en algún lugar del mundo, con las probabilidades en su favor o en su contra. Ese niño será capaz de "ver por encima del muro" de la intolerancia religiosa, la opresión política o desventajas económicas. Debido al aumento de la libertad en todo el mundo, ese niño será capaz de evaluar rápidamente su pequeña o gran ciudad o pueblo en comparación con el resto del mundo relativamente temprano que nunca antes. Él o ella tomar la decisión de convertirse en una persona de impacto (motivado), o el pensamiento no puede jamás cruzarse en su mente (sin motivación). Si podemos seguir siendo el país más grande concebido por la mente del hombre, ese niño va a querer venir aquí anteriormente en ningún otro lugar.

Cuando ese niño llega a este país, joven o más tarde en la vida, todos nosotros y nuestros descendientes serán los beneficiarios de la unidad, la productividad, la innovación y la ética de que un punto de luz. Se tarda miles y miles de puntos de luz para seguir iluminando el mundo.

Gerardo Lobo cambia nuestra realidad hace 50 años.

In the final analysis, your attitude determines your effectiveness in everything, every time! LGL www.LuisLobo.Biz

The Moral Value of Integrity

We  have had many examples of INTEGRITY presented to us over time, such as Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863; President Kennedy's speech from the Oval Office in 1962, in which he proposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.  These are examples of people acting on what is right, because it is right.

Our own examples, maybe little known to others, are possibly accomplished in obscurity when we speak up against a bully, when we confront a negative personal issue in our life, or when we go against the majority for ethical reasons.  I am reminded here of Baruch Spinoza being cast out of his Jewish community in Amsterdam because of his agnostic views on man's purpose, as opposed to rabbinical teachings.  Spinoza went on to advance the secular views of science and our own immutable engagement with reality and not mysticism.

Recently I have personally experienced a profound  awareness on the power of doing what is right, because it is right.  In June of 2012, President Obama signed an Executive Order, controversial in the eyes of some, that allowed petitioners of Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals, all children brought into this country by their parents to gain the U.S. Employment Authorization Card.  There are laws in the US that protect a child from the actions of their parents.  In many parts of the world, in the recent past, children had to uphold the debts of their parents; we also find this in liturgical writings where the children of sinners have to atone for the religious transgressions of the parents into generations.

Within DACA,  when  an eligible individual turns 15 years of age, he has the ability to prove to the Federal government, that he has been in this country during the proscribed years covered by the Executive Order.  It is no small feat to prove that you have been in this country when you were in the shadows all of this time.  I was aware that the executive order was happening and later in the year understood that the supplicants to DACA would be issued the US Employment Authorization Card, a Federal ID.  A Federal ID is the rule of law, it is what it is, regardless of how anyone feels about the motivation, by the President, to sign the executive order.  When the ID is issued, and thus far 800,000 have applied within a possible 2 million eligible universe, the person is able to use the ID to acquire a driver's license, open a bank account and work legally in the U.S.  

Thus it became easy for me to request the approval of the card as an accepted form of identification by which to open a bank account.  By the way, there are a myriad number of approved identifications by which to identify yourself under the US Patriot Act.  But then, my own conscience began to wear on me.  Maybe you have read about my family's immigrant origin; the role my father played in establishing the Latino community in Amsterdam, NY and then in NC; and our belief and behavior on the unalienable rights of every human being to seek out liberty and impact for themselves and their society.  

I lost sleep knowing that I had the potential to reach into the broader immigrant communities: Asians, Africans, Latinos and others that had migrated into the US over many generations, to let them know that we as an industry (I am in the BANKING industry), wished to know them, wished to know their hopes and dreams, and that we were committed  to helping them to accomplish their hopes and dreams. I knew that I could not rest on just being able to accept yet another form of ID.  I knew that we had to go to where these people live, work, pray and learn, and invite them to our bank.

In a moment of clarity, we focused ourselves on our Vision, our Mission and our Values.  Thus began an effort in May of 2013, through the outside business efforts of our multicultural banking centers we began to call on our business clients (who employ these people in EVERY industry), visits to the faith community, and to the education institutions: that my bank acknowledges the DACA, and wishes to be the trusted financial partner of the broader immigrant community, most of them BORN in the U.S., but who all remember the immigrant story of their father and mother, or grandparents - Dutch, Italians, Poles, Scotch-Irish, German, Mexican, Costa Rican, Israeli, Chinese, Jamaican, Sudanese, Serbian or Vietnamese to name a few.

In time, they have come to us BECAUSE we went to them. My most significant professional experience has not been attaining a certain job within my organization.  It is in seeing that these young people, because of the US Employment Authorization Card, have become employees of my organization. That is a JUST REWARD; for them and for us. I will also guarantee you that EVERYONE of them will apply, because no human being will exist on the margins of society given the opportunity to integrate into their community.

The business world is about pure economics.  You take resources, you make them relevant or not to those that you would serve, and then you count up your wins or losses.  My institution is one of the oldest in the US.  We have learned in recent times that we must take our solutions to the market, in what has become a very fragmented industry being completely changed by virtual solutions at the touch of an app. 

Have we done something noble and honorable?  Or have we done something necessary for our own future survival?  When 50% of children entering the public schools in NC are African, Asian and Latino, what does that mean for our future 5, or 10 years from now?  When 1/3 of the nation is of African, Asian and Latino heritage, what does that mean for our country 5, or 10 years from now.

Maybe INTEGRITY is about being true to YOU!

In the final analysis, your attitude determines your effectiveness in everything, every time! LGL www.LuisLobo.Biz