So I talked with 3 random Americans....

[DemocracyMouse]

... one at a diner and two at a Good Will store. None of them knew we were in the midst of a constitutional crisis, that we might lose Social Security and the ACA if a Kavanaugh-reinforced Trump has his way and shuts down Muellar. None knew what the difference was between the two major parties. "All politicians are the same" was the standard position.

When I suggested they start reading newspapers they said they couldn't trust any of them and they just switch off TV news. These weren't pro-Trump people (who are not worth any drop of logical discourse). They were low-information NON-voters. And there are MILLIONS of them.

A huge cross-section of America has become poorly educated, disengaged and disenchanted. They aren't angry at the status quo like we here at DU. They have retreated from ANY form of mature adult engagement with civic life. They work and consume what little they can afford.

So we must reach out to them. We must be street diplomats, bringing them back into a relationship with the democratic process. I told the waitress at the diner to consider looking at one of the more "fun" news aggregators like RawStory. It's not perfect, but it's a tad easier on tired eyes than, say, the Washington Post or Mother Jones. She said she might try it. I was encouraged. All is not lost.

WE HAVE TO PATIENTLY AND PERSISTENTLY TALK WITH OTHER AMERICANS OR WE WILL LOSE THIS GREAT EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY. THE INTERNET ALONE WILL NOT SAVE US.

And I recommend handmade, across-the-pumper signs saying:

Raise the minimum wage:
VOTE FOR DEMS NOV. 6

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

1. Yup, run into low-information, non-voters all the time... have to find a way to grab their attention

and motivate them to vote for our candidates. Scaring them over evil RethugliKKKans - and that they are - is not gonna cut it. We need charismatic candidates with a progressive message that offers real solutions to today's problems created by those neanderthals.

[DemocracyMouse]

2. What news sites do you recommend?

I'm seriously seeking advice on where to send folks who have short attention spans, but might just be ready for a little nudge.

[alwaysinasnit]

3. Possible sites???

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/

and

David Kay Johnston's website

https://www.dcreport.org/

[meadowlander]

4. They won't follow news sites. Direct them to Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Doonesbury, etc.

People need a little humor with their dose of depressing world events. They don't want something that is going to make them feel stupid - they want something that makes them feel like they are in on the joke.

I'm a news junky today because Calvin & Hobbes led to Doonesbury led to Hunter S Thomson led to the Daily Show led to the Rachel Maddow Show.

[betsuni]

6. Excellent suggestion!

YouTube has the shows. Colbert, Oliver, Seth Myers, Samantha Bee. Full episodes of The View are always posted as well.

[meadowlander]

8. Bill Maher in a pinch if they're a libertarian.

I wouldn't even mention that it is about politics or educating themselves about basic global events.

I'd just make it a project to ask the target person at regular intervals whether they watched X last night and what they thought about it and eventually hopefully they'll take the hint and start watching it. Or gang up with other people in the office who are also interested in politics and discuss the show in front of the low-information person to make it seem like the cool thing to be into.

[mnhtnbb]

14. People who have their faces glued to phones

all the time should be able to integrate watching one of these shows frequently into their routine.

I agree the effort must be made to reach all the unengaged voters.

[Totally Tunsie]

10. I've actually been recommending DemocraticUnderground.com.

I've mentioned this site to quite a few people, many of whom have expressed interest in seeing what is offered here. I know I felt I found my people and my home when I first popped in, and have been enjoying it immensely. Perhaps they've looked into it or even joined; I'll respect their privacy and allow them the anonymity of posting freely if they wish. Hopefully they'll like what they read here.

[bdamomma]

40. totally tunsie

you're doing a good thing by promoting DU there are many forums here. Plus you're a Rhode Islander aren't you? you are showing your true blue colours!

[trc]

9. They don't care.

I deal with folks like this all the time. They don't care because they can't see beyond today, and they can't see beyond their street. The tell is when they say "all politicians are the same" and "both parties do it." Willful ignorance is rampant in this country, it just is. Look at voter participation, it is ridiculously low. Look at the numbers of folks who vote against their own interests. I have used all kinds of techniques to try to reach these folks, but even when they say they understand, I know they don't and they don't care that they don't. Pardon my frustration, so need to get out of this red state....

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

17. I hear ya, or as I like to say, usin Shrub mispeak, never misunderestimate the stupidity of the

American people!!

[luvtheGWN]

26. Bring back civics classes in middle or high school! Everyone should have to learn

about how their government works, that voting is a civic duty, and that it's their responsibility as a patriotic American to learn about the issues. We know that reading, writing and arithmetic are vital tools to "get along" in life. Surely the same should be said for civics. After all, the government isn't some far off entity in Washington or your state capital -- the government is YOU.

(Just my 2 Canadian cents' worth)

[SWBTATTReg]

32. One way to grab their attention is to point out that the MO repugs rolled back increases in ...

the minimum wage hikes enacted by St. Louis City and Kansas City, MO. Both cities had passed higher minimum wage hikes and guess what? They (the repugs) rolled these wage increases back to their original amounts.

Wow. Just arbitrarily rolled back wages for thousands of people, just like that. Scum of the earth.

Vote them out on Nov. 2018. Plain and simple.

[certainot]

42. they're the secondary and tertiary recipients of the talk radio propaganda in 40 states x 80 senato

get their attention by protesting and boycotting the rw radio stations that malinform the idiots that they end up listening to around election time.

the apathetic and too busy get the buzz, and the buzz in many states is generated from `1500 unchallenged radio stations that 'city folk' have no clue about.

[JI7]

5. some people would just prefer to do other things. like have fun

politics is boring for them.

it's not always about disappointment. and sometimes it takes personal experience with things to get them involved.

some pay close attention to kardashian news .

[LandOfHopeAndDreams]

7. Well, It's The Kardashians

Who needs to worry about Health Care, Social Security or Abortion Rights when you can see how Kim & Kanye are struggling to raise a family.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

19. Would be funny if it weren't so true!! We're completely fucked... don't see how this country

extricates itself from the hole the RethugliKKKans have dug for us. Imagine what things will look like after 6 more years of this shitshow!! There's ZERO room for error in 2018 and 2020... Democrats better get out and vote like there's no tomorrow... cuz, sadly, there's probably not, even if we DO win.

[Kilgore]

15. Its easy to forget we are a minority of political junkies here

Most of the folks dont know or care.

For example, a hobby group I belong to recently had their end of summer bbq attended by around 75 across the age and economic spectrum. It was amazing to hear how very few knew anything about the confirmation, and comments like "both parties are corrupt so who cares"

We are scroomed (screwed and doomec)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

20. Sad, but true... basically what I've been sayin'.

With this group of RethugliKKKan morons we have running the country, we're fucked beyond belief!! And you see all around you, with these useful idiots you mention, how we got here.

[Kilgore]

22. Not useful idots

In terms of doing someones bidding.

The better term would be "disengaged politically" in all other aspects they are mainstream with good jobs or retired living a comfortable life. My gut says they just want to avoid the hair on fire debate and conflict that politics has become today.

In many ways I can respect that.

[DemocracyMouse]

11. The desire to "write off" these non-voters stems from the same late empire decadence

I suggest we here at DU start cultivating a true activist's work ethic.

Change the world. It's a holy creed, mates. Beer's on me if you find your flame.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

21. There was a time I'd be right there with you... not sure anymore TBH.

[DemocracyMouse]

23. No beer for you! :-)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

31. haha, okay...

[BigmanPigman]

12. I do this all the time since every time I go out I wear

My home made "lock him up" earrings and have for almost two years. I get a lot of compliments and people want photos, but the real reason is to get people talking. Most recently I have noticed the younger people in their twenties as being the most apathetic group. Actually they are more clueless than apathetic. They are completely unaware of midterm elections being held, let alone who Kavanaugh is or what everyone who doesn't live under a rock or in a cave is aware of in their everyday lives. It leaves me standing there with my mouth hanging open in disbelief. After I regain my composure I try to explain as much as possible without offending them (like smacking their face and shouting, "Wake the Fuck up!" or overwhelming them with too much info.

[TreasonousBastard]

13. I was talking to one of those (between her peeks at her phone) and casually mentioned the Census...

"What's that?"

[DemocracyMouse]

24. DU should take all its brain power and formulate a "reach out" meme package

It might consist of key issues that would appeal to distracted, clueless, US teens and twenty-somethings. It would consist of a small handful of links which would help get their marbles lined up....

MODERATOR
(Hits gavel on bar table)

"The ISSUES and LINKS committee has come to order. Finkelstein has bought two pitchers of beer so please speak freely mates. How do we wake up the unwoken and confused?"

(feel free to respond...)

[luvtheGWN]

29. If you've ever watched Jimmy Kimmel's occasional

"man on the street" segments, you'd be astonished (actually perhaps you wouldn't) at the answers given by people of all ages to questions about issues or people that have been featured in the news -- print, TV, social media. Maybe 1 in 10 might know the correct answer. They just don't care, and they aren't even embarrassed by their lack of knowledge.

[Oneironaut]

16. People like this also never vote.

They completely remove themselves from politics. They are apathetic to either party, and say things like “my vote wouldn’t matter anyways!”

[DemocracyMouse]

25. See above! :-)

[bdamomma]

41. Would they say that

if their rights are taken away??? talk to people in other countries who don't have the right to vote they just shake their heads and say WHY NOT? It is the continuous dumbing down of Americans. Very sad/unfortunate.

[Achilleaze]

18. k and r

[KPN]

27. Good post. I would offer one caveat/correction based on my discussion with "random Americans" ...

some non-voters are very well informed and have basically written off high level politicians (federal and some State) as all being corrupt and have just said the hell with the two party system, to hell with the illusion of us having a say via voting, to hell with everything outside of my immediate community/surroundings.

For those who defend our party as being the only reasonable choice, they say "You are dreaming." At least that's what I have heard in response to a question I always ask, "If you think both sides are corrupt, why don't you get engaged and try to change that."

If we really want to be the party of democracy, we would be open to these concerns and work hard to change those perceptions.

[ChazII]

28. Luckily at the food bank

where I volunteer every Wednesday the folks are much more political savvy. The people who come to get a food box know about cut backs and how they will be affected.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

30. Most people want to be entertained and don't want to think at all.

Unfortunately, churches and schools feed right into the not wanting to think part. And while in general terms there's nothing all that wrong with the entertainment shows on TV and Cable, or with movies, far too many people cannot tell the difference between the fiction they're watching and actual fact. They think that if they see it on a screen of any kind it must be true.

The best example is "The DaVinci Code" which far too many people took as historical fact.

[CrispyQ]

33. Every election I hear the dem party talking about going after the undecided voter.

The pool of non-voters is much bigger.

[DemocracyMouse]

34. Thank you for the apt graphic!

Hence we shouldn't give up on helping our low-information brethren to come to terms with US political and economic reality.

Folks, got any links and suggestions on how to frame the issues to share with young voters? We need practical tips here................

[CrispyQ]

35. Slogans like "healthy forests" & "clear skies" work, even when they are lies.

The dems have let the right frame the narrative for over three decades. Someone more clever than me, should take that Joe Conservative essay & come up with a snappy slogan for every issue, & then a few grand slam slogans to capture them all under a theme. Then, take our younger voices, Booker, Harris, Swalwell, & get them on the news shows, so their names & faces are known come 2020.

The dems are good at policy but suck at politics.

[DemocracyMouse]

36. Agreed. Whose our (more enlightened and honest) version of Carl Rove?

[zentrum]

38. Michael Moore's latest

......movie talked a lot about this. I suggest everyone here go out and see it. Fahrenheit 11/9.

[zentrum]

37. Smart Bumper sign.

[Grasswire2]

39. Been hollering for years that monied Dems need to mount a public education PR push..

....informing everyday citizens (not just deplorables) of the legacy of the Democratic Party and its accomplishments.

Placards on public transportation. TV commercials. Gee, there are all kinds of venues in which to do this.

[Nitram]

43. Whether they are low-information voters or just people frightened of a world they don't understand,

there are people out there who have reached the point that they don't trust any source of information, and believe all politicians in both parties are the same. These people often end up getting all their information from one source, whether that be fox News, a conspiracy talk show, or some weird website.

[NewJeffCT]

44. Howard Dean credited having the minimum wage increase

on so many ballots in 2006 with helping Democrats capture the House after 12 years of Republican control