By PAUL BAUER Jr.
Alaska has always depended on its young people. Energy matters. Passion matters. New ideas matter. But so do humility, competence, and respect for experience.
My perspective on this issue is not theoretical, nor is it based on second-hand reporting. It comes from direct attendance and observation at Turning Point USA–UAA student activities, AMFEST, and most recently the Alaska Young Republican Convention.
I have listened carefully, observed interactions across generations, and watched how ideas are expressed, challenged, and defended in real political settings. What follows is not an indictment of young conservatives, but a set of observations, cautions, and recommendations offered in good faith, because Alaska’s political future depends on getting this balance right.
One brief moment at the Alaska Republican Convention captures the concern. While speaking with two young attendees, one of the younger individuals said, twice and loudly, “you’re old, old!” The other attendee, who was 21 and notably more composed, said nothing and continued the conversation appropriately. I was surprised, but I maintained my composure and calmly reminded the speaker that such remarks constitute discrimination, specifically, age discrimination. The exchange ended there, but it was telling. Not because it was hostile, but because it was casual, unexamined, and seemingly acceptable in that moment.
Lately, I have noticed a troubling trend in our political culture, particularly among some younger activists and online voices, where confidence has crossed into condescension, and enthusiasm has hardened into arrogance. Older Alaskans, especially those in their 60s and beyond, are increasingly dismissed as “out of touch,” “in the way,” or unworthy of leadership simply because of age.
That is not progress. That is prejudice. Political science has a name for this behavior: prescriptive ageism—the belief that older people should “step aside” rather than contribute. It often appears alongside overconfidence, where individuals greatly overestimate their ability while underestimating the complexity of governance. When combined with performative outrage and social-media grandstanding, it produces more noise than results.
Alaska cannot afford that. We are not a state that runs on slogans. We run on logistics, relationships, and hard-earned trust. Campaigns are won by knocking on doors in the cold, understanding election law, managing volunteers, and building coalitions that hold together under pressure. That knowledge does notcome from a meme or a viral post. It comes from years of experience—often from the very people now being dismissed.
This is not an argument against youth leadership. It is an argument for earned leadership. Every generation brings something essential. Younger Alaskans bring speed, creativity, and technological fluency. Older Alaskans bring institutional memory, judgment, and perspective shaped by real consequences. When either side believes it has nothing to learn from the other, the entire community loses.
Political movements fail when they confuse moral certainty with competence. From what I have observed at student events, conventions, and political gatherings, the most effective young leaders are not the loudest or most performative. They are the ones who listen, ask questions, accept correction, and do the unglamorous work that campaigns and organizations actually require. Conversely, the most damaging behavior I have witnessed comes when entitlement replaces accountability, and when disagreement is treated as disrespect rather than an opportunity to learn.
Alaska voters are not impressed by arrogance. They reward seriousness, steadiness, and results. If we want a stronger Alaska and a stronger Republican Party, we must reject generational contempt and recommit to cooperation. Respect for elders is not nostalgia; it is strategy.
Humility is not weakness; it is discipline. The future of Alaska will not be built by tearing down those who came before us. It will be built by standing on their shoulders, and having the wisdom to know the difference.
Paul Bauer Jr. is an UAA alumnus, has led, trained, instructed, and guided entry-level recruits, 4-year college students to become military commissioned officers, senior leader, program manager for an Alaska Youth program for at-risk teenagers, and facilitated the USDOL transition assistance for Alaska service members into the workforce.
6 thoughts on “Paul Bauer: When youthful energy becomes arrogance and overconfidence”
Mister Bauer, you were at a Young adult gathering of ALASKANS. Young adults of an Alaskans have not been raised around hearing the Gospel nor the commands spoken by God and Christ in the Bible.
There are young adults from other states whose youth and young adults are more dignified and more appreciative toward the older adults. Not all states but there are other states who are churning out young adults better than Alaska raised its kids.
I disagree with that AKvoters (the 40%)are not impressed by arrogance assumption. Alaskans are so confused that they see arrogance as confidence and a persons BS as intelligence and competence. If they did not then we’d have better leaders and managers and supervisors managing the workplaces across Alaska instead of managers. Leaders, supervisors who bully, intimidate, work their hardest workers like work horses, and BS.
Another rebuke
If those Turning Point UA chapter Young adults were as smart as they carry themselves. Then why weren’t they at the University Area community Council that meets on UAA? Or why aren’t they attending their neighborhood community council if they live off campus?
A lesson for the older adults be humble yourself. Speak less around the youth and young adults, less is more. They will watch your example and study if you are worthy. Don’t think too highly of yourself because you are older and you think you have wisdom, experience, and knowledge. Don’t be shocked if a young adult I youth doesn’t want what advice you give them. They are at the age they are trying to figure out what is life and where they fit into it and their purpose.
I think the general consensus what young adults and youth want from their older adults. Will you just be there for them.
(Listen to them. Help them. Don’t dominate them as you did when that were youth. These are young adults. They are not kids under 17. For the older adults we have to treat them with courtesy, honest, generosity, humility just as we expect as an older aged adult would hope to be treated.
Another thing when young adults have events set up for the young adult and youth. Go quietly and don’t dominate the event planned for their age. I seen too many older adults going to such events trying to act young and hip or they try to take control.
Thank you, Bauer’s vibe in this letter is that he wishes he had a full head of hair again…
AKA “no respect for elders.” This is why history repeats itself when the younger generation doesn’t learn from old people. I hear it often from a colleague of mine: you are old. I usually dismiss it and point out when mistakes are made that listening to old examples can help. Just as they need to respect us, we need to respect them.
Paul Bauer,
You sound like a Democrat, concerned about “discrimination,” things that “matter.”
Show some support and unity. If people like you continue to fight your own team (supposedly you claim to be on the conservative team) on a public front, conservatives will continue to lose in our state.
Why don’t you do something useful, like create a private Republican primary? so we don’t have 15 “Republicans” on a ballot getting voted for by democrats. If you are concerned about “manners,” partner with one of the organizations and host a seminar teaching young people what you think are “manners/protocol.”
This is a public platform, therefore not an acceptable platform to rebuke people in your own team. This letter did nothing to teach young adults what you want to teach us, it just alienates you from us.