It would be helpful to hear from some representatives of the age group that seems to be apathetic rather than from older, engaged voters who apparently don’t understand why younger people are different from them. As someone who has aged out of that demographic I really can’t say what they’re thinking. But I know what’s shaping my attitudes now. I like many here am still interested in the slow slog by Democrats to implement more progressive legislation. But I am much less encouraged by the administration’s obvious slide into a new Cold War. I was born a news hawk, but what I’m reading and hearing these days is more painful than encouraging. And if it affects me this way how is the news going to create enthusiasm among people who have far more important things to do like real life and love?
Ok, why do you think the kids are so disillusioned? If it was because of Republican obstructionism, the kids would see an easy fix in voting in droves for Democrats. They’re not doing that, they’re sitting out… For some reason.
[quote=“brooklyndweller, post:18, topic:2388”]
The Dems are not perfect but they HAVE been trying.[/quote]
Agreed.
I’d like to see them start trying to move the goalposts LEFT instead of not proposing things because they ‘won’t pass’ or ‘don’t have the votes’. The right has been very successful doing this ( see: Ryan, Grand Bargain), and since I know liberal ideas would be popular if they were proposed, I don’t see why we can’t do it too.
Yeah, the GOP want nothing more than to reduce voter turnout, especially the turnout of voters less likely to vote for them.
And yeah, the comment system is wanting. Newer comments should be at the top, and having comments below the article was better than this sliding door thing.
I’m kinda amenable to the solution to which you alluded.
I’d like to know what group of “young” people did they ask this of. If is true, then why does the GOP need to suppress the vote?
But, how exactly would they KNOW there’s “an easy fix for voting” when they goddamn well won’t vote for Dems!! No, not “some” reason. Here’s the reason: they and you are making an assumption: nothing’s happening so why should I vote? Nothing is going to happen if you don’t vote. You’ll get more of the same. That’s the reason why nothing’s happening. Work to get Dems into office and keep pushing them towards the Left. If you sit elections out, your nihilistic view gets validated.
OK - let’s take a different tack on this: if you think voting is just worthless, WHAT’S THE GODDAMN ALTERNATIVE?? What tangible things are young people going to do to create a better future? If you want anarchy and, possibly, revolution, you’d better be willing to take a bullet for the cause so have at it. I prefer the ballot box.
Whenever PBO appears at colleges or where young folks are they crowds are huge. PBO will have to get out to the colleges and make sure they know what is going to happen if they don’t turn out. PBO can do it and I think he will. If young folks want to sit it out, they will suffer for the next 2 years just like the rest of us.
Don’t know about you but I’ve read of the Progressive Caucus proposing legislation that would move the goalposts towards the Left. Of course, that’s only been on left wing blogs. But even so, “moving the goalposts” still doesn’t get you “actual legislation” enacted.
Scared yet, Democrats?
I hope so,Really I do. Not for your own
sakes, but for the sake of the people
who will pay the real price for
The Doormat Party
handing the Grumpy Old Party a
midterm, just so the Democrat’s
anointed candidate can look even
better in 2016.
Did the years 2000-2009 (not that
anyone remembers them anymore)
not teach Democrats the indelible life
lesson that says “Elections have
Consequences”?
I swear, Democrats have shifted like a
sack full of sand from “apathy” to
outright, willful stupidity. That being
the case, Democrats will get what they
so richly deserve. Only it will be the
poor who get the bill, while Democrats
blame everyone but themselves, and
start wistful countdowns,
steeped in gloom and defeat that
wait for Tuesday, November 8, 2016,
when all will be magically set right.
(Tra-la,Tra-la)
I only have one question: How many
poor and needy people will literally
give up their lives while Democrats
wait for their very own mystical savior?
Of course not selecting definitly voting equates with not voting. Oh fer Chrissakes do we really have to explain the illogic?
Sure it does. Do you think the current budget would be so close to Ryan if not for the right wing yelling about “spending” for so long? Democrats are not immune to the “conventional” wisdom in the Village, and lest we forget they are politicians too. How about starting with proposals way out on the left and then negotiate back to the center instead of starting from the center. I say again - the right has been pretty fucking successful doing it this way. As for the Progressive Caucus - Great, but why do we need to have have a progressive caucus be a small wing in the Democratic Party? Isn’t that what the Party is supposed to represent ?
And these same kids will complain when they have to drop out and work at Walmart, because the state colleges were all privatized.
How about starting with proposals way out on the left and then negotiate back to the center instead of starting from the center.
I agree but that statement ONLY makes sense when you’re dealing with someone who has entered into good faith negotiation. And since Dems don’t control the House and aren’t dealing with a party that’s willing to enter into good faith negotiation, how would said proposals go anywhere?
OK, all you guys who keep harping on the Boomer generation and blaming them for everything that is wrong in the world? How are you going to manage to do better if you won’t even show up at the polls?
Considering that Obama has done NOTHING for young people in terms of jobs, I am not surprised about this. He got huge support from college students. What has he done to help them get jobs? NOTHING.
Oh, I forgot. The Democrats and the Republicans are both supporting S 744, which will bring HUGE increases in H-1B visas and green card limits. This will be a direct assault against young people. We need jobs for American voters, not foreign scabs.
What is it that you don’t like about the comment system, Sniffit?
Yeah, well, it definitely has no chance of being heard if you choose not to speak.
I do see the importance of voting, I even vote in school board primaries. I’m old and cynical, though. But, I think it would be a little disheartening for people who are new to voting to see the people who were elected on a progressive platform turn around and hire nothing but wall street executives as financial advisers, or to put social security ‘on the table’, or to start killing civilians with unmanned drones, or to sit out the fight for a public option for health care, or to ignore bankers’ crimes, or…
I mean, just to point out some of the more visible things that might lead to the disillusion.
What tangible things are young people going to do to create a better future? volunteering, just as it says in the article.
By the way, I’m a little put off by the violent rhetoric. No one is calling for revolution, except people who want to steal from the federal government (see Cliven Bundy).
What do I think Democrats should do? They could start by paying more attention to policy instead of only worrying about lining up enough money to run in the next election. If they support good policies, they won’t need so much money.
Well, since it hasn’t actually been tried, there’s no way to know. You can - as i assume you are - decide that that outcome would be negative, but then you are left with what we have now, Democrats starting at center, negotiating to the right and calling it a victory because the republicans didn’t get everything they wanted. We are ceding the right their framing of issues and getting small concessions in exchange for that. The right has successfully made “liberal” into a pejorative when actual liberal policies are supported by a majority of Americans. How did that happen? “Goalposts” matter, thats how.