The Overton Window is a term used by media pundits to describe the range of ideas the public will accept. In the past, the elite has been able to control the conversation and keep ideas neatly within the window. This applied to everything from politics to career choices.
Today, a tiny little thing called the internet isn’t just breaking The Overton Window. It’s leaving the window completely shattered.
The easiest place to see this is in politics, where a few party elites can no longer control the popularity of candidates – first with the election of President Obama, a candidate who was considered unelectable prior to tapping into the unexplored vote-getting mine of Facebook and My.BarackObama.com, and then again with the election of Donald Trump’s hair, despite his ideas sitting so far outside the Overton window that he alienated nearly every major political influencer… and then won anyway.
We are seeing a similar cracking of the window when it comes to all other areas of our culture. “They” can no longer dictate the conversation, and different ways of thinking will come out one way or another.
- The tiny house movement was a series of Youtube videos long before HGTV picked up on the trend with “Tiny House Hunters.”
- A few connoisseurs sharing reviews on the internet about tiny, unheard of microbreweries gave rise to the craft beer movement, and the eventual overthrow of beer developed by massive corporate giants in favor of small, locally owned breweries, despite billions of dollars spent attempting to combat the trend.
- Online dating was once considered a desperate cop-out for socially awkward recluses. Today, I don’t know one bachelor or bachelorette my age who is not proudly swiping away on Tinder.
Now, the internet is even allowing people like myself to discuss “crazy” ideas like saving more than 10 percent of my income or retiring in my 30s, two ideas radically outside society’s Overton Window. Big media is left with no choice but to cover the stories when they see people aren’t shunning these crazy ideas, but instead embracing them as the ideas pick up more and more steam.
I couldn’t ask for a more obvious proving of my point than the comments sections of any of my media features. While the idea of retiring at 37 isn’t so crazy to the readers of this site, people accustomed to consuming all their information through Big Media’s Overton Window immediately shoot down the possibility, and are reduced to hilariously angry, hate filled comments of incredulity.
A Revolution of Financial Responsibility
Confession: I love writing expose style articles bashing the ideas within our society’s Overton Window. The “conventional wisdom” that’s housed so neatly within this window is exactly what’s created the sad state of consumer culture today.
I’ve pointed the finger plenty of times in this site’s short history. It doesn’t take a Sherlock Holmes to find plenty of my writings here about out of control consumerism, oversized homes, and flat out irresponsible spending.
I had a great time blaming DeBeers for overpriced diamonds or greedy employers for an overworked labor force.
The truth though, is that like anything in life, assigning fault gets you nowhere without solutions.
Why I Spend Hours and Hours Every Week Writing this Free Blog
As a 26-year-old, I’m smack in the middle of the bell curve of this millennial generation.
A generation which, every single day, is graduating school, beginning careers, rising to power, and starting families.
We are inheriting this world, whether we like it or not. We are collectively taking control of this ship.
This is why I write.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who’s to blame for the surplus of oversized McMansions, a tradition of mindless spending on a rock, or single digit savings rates. It doesn’t even matter who’s got the solutions, because the real solution lies underneath each of our noses.
Yes, I’m talking ‘bout your nose. And mine. And all of ours.
We can ignore the problems and continue right along the same financially irresponsible course. We can continue overspending, and then we can continue blaming our inevitable financial woes on the newest target in the public’s crosshairs.
But either way, you and I are taking the wheel, and we’re the ones with the power to change. And we’re allowed to approach these issues with new ideas far outside their neat and tidy Overton Window.
It starts small. Tracking spending, eliminating debt, or reducing waste are all baby steps of something much larger. These are the hairline cracks in the window.
That something larger is each individual person taking action on their finances, which creates a chain reaction. The cascade of these small changes dominoes into a wave of changes, and eventually the cultural shift becomes too large to ignore.
Imagine a world without credit card debt. Imagine landfills empty of discarded gift shop trash.
Imagine people working not because they’re slaves to a paycheck, but because they’re passionate about what they do. Imagine the drones of mindless morning commuters replaced with enthusiastic free innovators, who are excited about making a difference and leaving a legacy of their expertise.
This is the shattering of the window, giving way to the light of freedom.
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Wow, Money Wizard!
Congratulations man, this is a pretty rebellious post. At some points I was envisioning Mel Gibson from the Braveheart saying your words 🙂 Cannot agree more. The system tried to prepare us to be “just another brick in the wall”. Then they should not be surprised when we pick up those bricks and throw them through their shiny window. Yes, we should change the way the things are working these days and bring new rules to the playground.
Let me quote here the words of another wise wizard:
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Lets use that time wisely. We will be on your side!
Haha, well said Peter. I can always appreciate a good LOTR quote. 🙂
Fyi: I got a 404 on the link about greedy employers.
Thanks for the heads up. The link should be fixed now.
My gut reaction to this post is that yeah, the Overton Window might be broken, but our small corner of the internet that is committed to high saving rates is probably still extremely small. While the internet may have allowed the breaking of that window and allowed certain “cults” to grow, the internet also gives a lot of people the sense that things are more prevalent than they actually are. You can find any corner of the internet or a subreddit for any particular little hobby that you have.
For any amount of millennials that are saving 60%+ of their income to retire early, there are many times more that are saddled in tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt. And frankly, I don’t believe that for the sake of retiring early, millennials are willing to lower their lifestyles and sacrifice not looking cool and getting as many likes on Instagram from posting pics of their entry level luxury cars that car manufacturers are now making to reel them in.
Personally, for millennials I believe that the early retirement thing is a reaction to wanting “out” of the corporate ladder cubicle hell system. Millennials want jobs that feel like they have purpose, companies that make them feel like more than a number, and work/life balance. Jobs that give those things won’t have employees that default to trying to retire early. Over on the financial independence subreddit, you see recent grads in their first year of cubicle hell or even college students already planning to retire early.
If it weren’t for consumerism, student loans, and the complacency caused by alcohol, then yeah, the early retirement thing would be WAY bigger.
And for all the talk of automation and basic incomes, why am I still working so damn hard? If I were able to do my same job but work 30hrs/week or have a 4-day work week, retiring early wouldn’t even cross my mind. That’s another discussion though….
Find the article titled “The Demoralized Mind” by John F Schumaker for more on this, and I also think Simon Sinek’s interview titled “The Millennial Question” really sums up how I feel about the issue.
TL;DR
If it weren’t for consumerism, student loans, and the complacency caused by alcohol, then yeah, the early retirement thing would be WAY bigger. If it weren’t for terrible work/life balance, feeling like a number, companies with no culture/purpose, and a corporate ladder/cubicle hell system, retiring early wouldn’t cross many people’s mind at all.
Really interesting thoughts, and I’ll check out the articles.
I think Millennials have seen how long and hard the boomers have worked, most still with nothing to show for it, and want to avoid that rat race. For me, I know it’s mostly about freedom. Even with a dream job, I’d still want to put myself in a position with options in case something happened. Financial independence is that position.
There are definitely some significant barriers towards early retirement and financial responsibility really taking off, but I’m optimistic overall. The internet is an amazing place. Anyone with a internet connection and a keyboard can potentially reach millions of people. There’s no question the internet has given rise to trends and ideas that otherwise would never catch on. I’m not expecting everyone to quit their cubes by 40, but I am optimistic the message will continue to catch on. People using money to build more freedom into their lives can only be a good thing.
I do think the Millennial generation will bring about great change. Many have struggled due to coming of age during two significant recessions. Also because the working world they enter into, which is run by Boomers and Gen Xers, is vastly different from the world they grew up in. In terms of expectations at least. But they are slowly breaking the mold, which will always lead to tension because no one likes change. Especially Boomers and Gen Xers who have come to see the world in a certain way.
Coming of age through the recessions is huge, I think. I know I certainly wouldn’t be as conscious of the wild business cycles if I hadn’t started invested during one of the craziest times in market history.
I am a millennial with a 26% savings rate. When I say 26% to people of all ages it feels like a bit of a *mic drop* moment and it never gets old. The way people react seems to break along various lines and reflect what you are exploring here. Most millennial and cusper friends want to know what gives and how I do it. Friends of my husband, who are ending their school pursuit and headed into the field of engineering, practically drool when I offer to send them a favorite blogs list. People in their 40s seem to split – a few are interested, a few mumble disbelief and awkwardly change the subject, and a few have argued that I can’t possibly be right. When I mentioned this factoid to my (wealthy) M.I.L. in the context of a brief book review of The Index Card by Harold Pollack, she scoffed and remarked “Well, how much do you need to know! Saving money isn’t rocket science!” And then she curtly changed the subject. She is 65.
What I love is how efficiently some millennials are stripping away the supposed mysteries and timelines of finance in order to reveal layers that are not all the complex. Along with this tearing down, these subjects seem less taboo, even if hashed out over a potluck dinner. As we shed the constructs and the confines of what is defined as polite conversation, I can only see more and more people having those light bulb FI moments, even if by accident.
Great points. That’s something I hope to accomplish with this site – making money less taboo. Fear of discussion is a vicious cycle, and it’s a huge reason I think so many struggle with money. Everyone is intimidated to talk about their finances, so everyone wanders through the dark hoping to figure it out on their own. This just opens the doors for mistakes and a financial industry to take advantage of people.
Throwing my net worth all over the internet can be a little uncomfortable, but I really hope it breaks down some barriers.
Such an awesome post from a very honest perspective. Love reading other Millennial blogs. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, and right back at ya!
This is by far my FAVORITE post on your site! Yes! Keep it up! I agree wholeheartedly <3
Thank Tira! Glad you enjoyed it.
Here’s the perspective a 55 year old guy sitting in a cubicle at his government job.
I couldn’t agree with you more on the Overton window, and the need to shatter it, but I’m not sure that will ever happen.
However, even if the revolution never happens we do not have to stay in the box (window). The beauty of the internet is the ability to learn about, discuss, and grow ideas that are outside of the box. I think more than ever that those young and old who think and operate outside the box will be happier and more prosperous than those who follow the “script”.
Here are my final thoughts:
Always question the default.
Never settle. (Steve Jobs)
Disruption is good.
Love the perspective Bill, thanks for sharing.
I agree completely. Even if the mainstream doesn’t catch on, there’s nothing stopping us from stepping outside the box. Just the fact this site has gotten so big is amazing to me, and if my words here make some small changes then it’s all worthwhile.
I had never heard of the Overton Window before this blog post! I intuitively have understood the concept, but didn’t know it had a name.
That said, the thing I am learning is that there are many, many, many layers beyond the Overton window.
Financial Independence is really only a step or two beyond the Overton window. And just a lot of people think the FI crowd is doing something crazy or impossible…you start finding out there are other things going on in the world that are just mind blowing that never see the light of day in mainstream media.
Very true. I experienced a similar effect when I start learning about people living in houseboats and tiny houses before it was cool. Suddenly, living in a modest apartment doesn’t seem so insane.