Out with the Old...

From a resident

I am a 35 year old resident.  I am a generation Xer.  I still play video games to de-stress from my long hours at work.  Except that now, I play them with my son.  I participate in his activities outside of school and enjoy spending time with my family in and around Bolingbrook.

Last year I started following the local news and all the different sources.  I have seen the Gen X movement within the community demanding change from a Baby Boomer run Village.  As an outsider to all the political garble, I am able to see a few things from the outside perspective.

I see that the current Trustees and Mayor run the Village like it was the 1980’s.  I am all for the 80’s music, I like the rock, but I don’t think it fits in with today’s demands.  For example, as a Gen Xer, I demand my government to be accessible online and to have information at the tips of my fingers on a moments’ notice.  My brother, who is a Gen Y, is much worse about that kind of thing.  I am not sure how Bolingbrook will bounce into 2011, as they are too behind in the game.  What are they doing to cater towards my generation and Gen Y or Next? 

My kid think the carnival is out of date.  They think the music acts are boring and bring their IPODS.  They don’t get involved in local government because it is too old…. This is not what I want from them, but I feel the same way, even though I am no spring chicken.

I see why the BR and the Number Crunchers exist.  They were started by Gen Xers taking back their politics and changing the way we do business.  They fight for this type of thing, as they also feel that things are not acceptable.  I get that.  I am that.  It is easy to support the Bonnie’s, Rhonda’s and Bobs of the world who are more like me then what is in office now.

What we need is more Gen Y getting involved too.  We need people to vote in the Gen X and Y to move Bolingbrook ahead.  My son tells me what he wants from the next election is people that will look to reducing our energy footprint and costs in Bolingbrook.  More cost efficient public transportation, since Bolingbrook has straight roads.  He asks for better web sites and faster news sources and actually likes the BR.  For the first time this week, my son is absolutely right.  He was against the library because libraries are dinosaurs, big and soon to be extinct.  I agree with that too.  He wants the debt to go down so he can afford to live close to home when he graduates.  These are reasonable demands for the new wave of politicians that Bolingbrook needs so bad right now.

If the current officials took advice from my son, they would be better off.  Maybe it is time that Generation X, Y, and Next start working together for a better future for Bolingbrook and leave all baby boomers behind that can’t change…