Astoundingly dumb: Gen Z Voters Say They Are Opting Out of the 2024 Election

[CousinIT]

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/heres-why-gen-z-voters-might-opt-out-in-2024

. . .

The first time Elias voted, it was 2016, when he reported to an elementary school polling place near his college campus. He was proud to cast his vote and perform what he saw then as his civic duty. For the upcoming election, however, Elias says he isn’t going to cast a vote for president, partly to send a message to Democrats, who he believes don’t take their voters’ preferences into account. “I think power is a language that they understand, and by refusing to put them into power, we’re forcing them to listen to us,” he explains. “They can’t… plug their ears and turn their heads away.”

Elias, who is Palestinian American, has a laundry list of issues with the current administration that have pushed him to this point, including sales of new oil and gas leases and Biden’s support of Israel. For Elias, the deciding moment came when Biden cast doubt on the Gaza Health Ministry’s reported death tolls. “I just found that to be truly monstrous,” he says. “It’s something I cannot cosign with my name and my vote.”

While some Gen Z voters say they are choosing to abstain from voting because of Biden’s support for Israel and their own support for Palestine, it’s worth noting that the Republican Party has become strongly pro-Israel in recent years. If voters spurn Biden for being pro-Israel, will they unintentionally hand the presidency to someone who may be less sympathetic to Palestinians?

For Elias, the answer to this hypothetical question depends on expectations. “We don’t have any illusions about who the Republican Party is or what they stand for. We know they’re dangerous for our communities,” he says. “The logic of not voting for Joe Biden in 2024 is that the Democratic Party is supposed to be accountable to young people and diverse communities.”

Zach, a political science major from Florida, views the act of voting as unequivocally important. But the same can’t be said for some of his friends, he tells Teen Vogue, who feel like their vote doesn’t matter. Part of that narrative is the fact that Florida, which used to be considered a swing state, has given its Electoral College votes to a Republican candidate in every election cycle since 2000, other than Obama’s wins in 2008 and 2012. When Zach talks to some of his friends about voting, they say it’s a waste of time because they feel like the winner has already been decided.

So where does that leave Zach? “It makes me feel sad because I remember, especially in the 2022 midterms, people were saying the younger generation saved democracy,” he says. “And now… maybe [young voters] can protect democracy in 2024? I see [people choosing not to vote] as crazy. Why do you not want to vote?”

I'm sorry but that Elias guy is a moron. Electing Trump by not voting is NOT going to "send a message to Democrats". It IS going to destroy democracy and ensure that 2024 is the LAST actual Democratic election the United States has in his lifetime. And ours.

DUMB.

[redqueen]

1. Please. Teen Vogue is worse than trash.

[multigraincracker]

5. Not what I'd call a

Trusted Sources.
I’d call it click bait.

[redqueen]

8. Definitely.

I hope people aren't just believing this claim uncritically.

[multigraincracker]

11. Nothing in this world is black and white.

Just different shades of gray.

[Mariana]

85. It's not even a claim. This piece is utter crap.

A handful of young people are supposedly quoted in the piece. There's no way to know if they even exist, or were totally made up by the author. There are no references to polling numbers or any other actual data. But the oldsters will seize on it because it's fun to hate on young people.

[yardwork]

41. ....

Thought of this.

https://m.

[Blue Idaho]

2. And what happened the last time some Dems

Decided to sit out an election to teach Obama a lesson?

[TwilightZone]

4. "send a message to Democrats"

The message being that they don't care enough about their fellow citizens to bother voting. And can't be bothered to actually look into the issues, instead relying on memes and social media to inform their opinions.

I particularly love the "We know the Republican party is the absolute worst, but we're not really sure about Democrats because we haven't bothered to actually look into it other than on the surface, so we'll let the party we know is intent on destroying the country rule instead."

In fairness, this doesn't apply only to Gen Z. It applies to people of all ages and demographics. Decades of right-wing media, social media and 15-second blurbs as "news" have created a self-centered, intentionally uninformed populace.

[BannonsLiver]

6. Spoiler alert: Elias is actually an antisemite.

[Think. Again.]

22. Ha! I laugh because...

...it seems here on DU lately, anyone who disagrees with any given political stance is open to being called an antisemite.

[BannonsLiver]

23. And? So what?

It’s not as if that shoe never fits.

[Think. Again.]

24. Really?

In the real world, antisemitism refers to a very specific social stance focussed on the dislike, even hatred, of Jewish people and culture.

As you must know.

To use the word as a label for anyone who disagrees with anything else is disingenous and a form of gaslighting.

[BannonsLiver]

25. Yes, really.

[Think. Again.]

26. I see.

[Texin]

47. Elias is an "American Palestinian". Palestine is a Semitic population. Semitism isn't exclusive to Jews.

[BannonsLiver]

49. Oh okay,

🙄

[Vogon_Glory]

56. Still dumb

Has Elias thought about what a re-elected President Trump would do to Palestinians and other folks living in the US or trying to immigrate here if he gets back into the Oval Office? I doubt it.

[stopdiggin]

69. effectively rendering the wider understanding of the term 'antisemitic' virtually meaningless

or was that perhaps the intent .. ? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Texin]

80. I was just saying how can a person who is him/herself Semitic hate another Semite without being self-loathing? I do

understand that Palestinians have wanted a separate state from Israel and I also support that cause and I've long believed that Israel has done unspeakably atrocious things to the Palestinians for a very long time. I am against that, but for a person to self-claim being "antisemitic" is to ignore his own ethnic heritage in the process. Being Semitic is not (necessarily) about one's religious heritage.

[stopdiggin]

93. and, again - attempt to undermine (or perhaps obscure?) the historical meaning

and ugliness that "antisemitism" has carried for so long. Good luck with that!

(I'm sure that when the Nazi Youth are splashing swastikas on Jewish monuments and gravestones - - they have this uppermost in their minds!)

[NoMoreRepugs]

7. Can't think past themselves maybe? Hard when u are the center of the universe.

[BannonsLiver]

15. We have a major problem with main character syndrome in our culture

[usonian]

9. Go Tell It Everywhere. You have two alternative futures.

Last edited Sat Feb 3, 2024, 02:25 PM - Edit history (1)

Vote this GOP one down.

• Government dictates what you read, your religion and your private life. Period trackers mandatory, and report to the government. I call it "tubal litigation"

• More welfare for the rich.

• Americans pitted against each other along lines of race, color, religion, gender, sexuality, and income. Vilification of blacks, Jews, Muslims, lgbtq+ , homeless, and women of strength, with increasing violence, even murder against them.

• Private health care companies deny needed treatments to save money. (Death panels are here!)

• The wealthy pay even less in taxes.

• Every civil right is eroded by clown judges living in the 18th century rewriting the constitution.

• Worker's rights and benefits reduced in order to create greater profits for businesses.

• Safety nets removed, so that homeless, and jobless people are left to die on the streets.

• More, more, more of culture war.

• GUNS, everywhere, with no limitations or requirements. Kids get them freely.

• Minorities and women blamed for every imaginable blip.

• Support of authoritarian regimes across the globe, who eagerly imprison, "re-educate", murder and commit atrocities on others.

• Lies, hate speech and threats are welcomed on "social media" and given support by government officials.

• Medical care and prescription drug costs skyrocket. (and more ... )

Reposted from:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=18584492
And updated.

[ShazzieB]

43. Something seems to be missing here.

• Americans pitted against each other along lines of race, color, religion, gender, and income. Vilification of blacks, Jews, Muslims, homeless, and women of strength, with increasing violence, even murder against them.

To this I would add the following:

• Americans pitted against each other along lines of race, color, religion, gender, sexuality, and income. Vilification of blacks, Jews, Muslims, lgbtq+ , homeless, and women of strength, with increasing violence, even murder against them.

[usonian]

44. I "kind of" included that in "gender". Will edit, thanks.

There may even be more.

[Ojerly]

81. Slight correction

I think you may need to change this a bit.

"GUNS, everywhere, with no limitations or requirements. Kids get them freely."
It should read:
"Guns will only be available for the militia that is sanctioned by the party leader. All others will become property of the Republic and collected".

[usonian]

83. That comes after the devolution.

They don't advertise it. The others are very in with the cult members.

Dumfuks can't see a day ahead.

American Devolution. Anyone like it?

[mahina]

102. Welcome to DU. Aloha

[LetMyPeopleVote]

107. Welcome to DU

[LiberalFighter]

10. Teen Voque is trusted?

[redqueen]

16. By some, apparently. No idea why. nt

[progressoid]

55. They get a lot of traffic every month by young voters. It would be a mistake to dismiss it because it's "Teen Vogue"

Two years into her tenure as the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Versha Sharma sees the magazine’s responsibility — taking young people seriously as they figure out how to navigate the world — as largely unchanged. She came to the magazine in 2021 from a position as managing editor at the video news publisher NowThis, having observed Teen Vogue’s Trump-era metamorphosis as a political reporter.

“Young people have always been political,” she said. “But I do think that today’s younger generations and Generation Z understand intersectionality and global community in a way that no other previous generation has. Building on that from 2016 is something we’re very proud of.”

As newsrooms try to cater to younger audiences through next generation initiatives and embracing TikTok as a news vehicle, Teen Vogue has been there all along. After two consecutive elections where youth voter turnout was far higher than normal, and as data shows that teenage Americans are consuming news at higher-than-thought levels, Teen Vogue’s focus on political reporting that treats younger generations as a legitimate news audience has been vindicated.

...https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2023/teen-vogue-turns-20-blends-politics-personal/

Back in 2016 we were singing praises for it's political coverage.

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/12/teen-vogue-politics/510374/

[demmiblue]

66. +1

I have posted several articles from Teen Vogue here (and others have, as well).

The magazine's readership being mostly young and female is a sticky wicket for some.

[betsuni]

88. Thank you. Knee-jerk Kill the Messenger with condescension because the name Teen Vogue.

People have never heard of the well-know "send a message" voters and young people threatening not to vote this year? It's Teen Vogue so it's garbage?

[Mariana]

84. Any excuse to hate on young people.

I wonder of the people supposedly being quoted in that story even exist, or if they were entirely made up by the author of the piece It's not like there's any way to check.

[sop]

45. The Professional Left media apparatus seems to be all in on this "Democrats haven't done enough" shit.

I've never read 'Teen Vogue' (never even heard of it before today), but if one frequents any of the popular progressive-leaning sites and publications, this stuff is literally everywhere. One might conclude there's a concerted effort underway to put forth this narrative to suppress the vote in 2024.

The Progressive Magazine (won't provide link) has an article titled, "In South Carolina, Democrats Aren’t Listening to Black Voters, Ahead of the primary, voters in Allendale County say the party hasn’t done enough." Other progressive sites (won't mention them) are also jumping on the "Democrats haven't done enough" bandwagon, each one focusing on a particular special interest grievance, and how Democrats are in trouble because of it.

Makes one wonder who stands to benefit from sowing all this intraparty discord. It's starting to look like the Professional Left has evolved into a stalking horse for the Republican party.

[Deep State Witch]

65. What Does Gen Z Want?

We used to think it was erasing student loans and legalizing weed. Well, a lot of places have legalized weed, and Biden has tried to reduce student loan payments. Saying the magic word "cease-fire" won't stop Israel from killing Palestinians, and vice versa. That's now how diplomacy works.

So, what do they want now? A pony and a BJ??

https://images.app.goo.gl/hjQJYPsrY1sws6qA8

[betsuni]

89. Yes, targeted at young voters: Democrats don't listen, they take us for granted, ignore us and our issues,

don't do anything or don't do enough, make promises then break them because pandering and they don't really care, betrayed, disappointed, don't vote and teach them a lesson because all they care about is power and money. This is everywhere. People are saying the same things, like a script.

It was whining about broken promises because of student loan debt for awhile, the Biden administration does all it can and that dies down a little, then it's on to another issue. It will ALWAYS be something. I predict Biden as Western imperialist warmonger (pro-Russia anti-U.S. ideology that took over Professional Left media during the Obama administration and out of control in 2016) is going to be an important propaganda tool flooding social media.

[Rebl2]

87. 🤣

[JustAnotherGen]

12. In a way

It frees up our resources to go all in on Gen Z African Americans and Latino Americans.

So we take that group of the chessboard and focus on spaces in swing states where we grab votes from.

[mopinko]

13. follow the money.

wonder how many of these morons r blue check xitters.

[Happy Hoosier]

14. The "message" he is sending is that he's idiot. NT

[Walleye]

17. Not voting is one of the best ways to not get your issues dealt with, guys

Exactly whom do they think they are sending a message to, Putin? And folks voting is not that much trouble. It sounds like an excuse for laziness to me. Poor boy his conscience won’t let him vote for Biden. How is he gonna ever save democracy now?

[Think. Again.]

18. I wonder how...

...the article author put this piece together?

Did they simply ask around for young people who may not vote, and then ask them to explain that position?

Not a very informative article, but then, isn't Vogue a fashion marketing magazine?

[redqueen]

20. Thanks for breaking down why this 'article' is not worthy of being posted

let alone discussed

Can't believe it got so many recs.

Teen Vogue? Really?

[rubbersole]

29. Gee. I wonder who's pushing this narrative?

[brush]

103. Probably the same people who've been saying Black men are leaning away from Dems.

How wrong they were/are. Biden won South Carolina by 95 percent, and Black voter make up 76% of the Dem voters...that means even white progressives are on the ball too.

[Mariana]

96. They may not have asked anyone, and just made it all up.

There's no way to verify that these people exist, much less that they said what the author claims.

[Aristus]

19. Yeah. Protests votes. Those have always gone well in the past.

[Vinca]

21. These people have to pay attention. Very seldom do you get the perfect candidate or even a person

you support. But, we don't have a parliamentary-style system. It will be Biden or Trump. Make your choice. Biden is, ultimately, not in control of Israel and what Netanyahu does. He can encourage, he can withhold funds, he can threaten. It might make a difference and it might not. Then you have Trump who, if elected, will quite possibly tell his buddy Bebe to just nuke them and get it over with. So, make your choice. If you dislike Biden and vote third party or decline to vote, you get Trump. RFK Jr. is not going to be elected.
Cornell West is not going to be elected. Williamson is not going to be elected. Vermin Supreme might have a better chance than all of those third-party candidates. Given the hundreds of thousands of Americans who died during Trump's last reign of terror, I'd think that wasn't the best option. Face reality. Not every election is as exciting as 2008 was or even 2012. In fact, much of the time it comes down to voting against who you think is the absolute worst.

[CrispyQ]

27. All I can say is "You'll have to live with the consequences longer than I will."

The world's on fire & the oceans are rising. That's the only thing on the ballot anymore. But hey, it's your future, so if you want to send a message, go the fuck ahead.

There's this, if they can pull their heads out of their asses long enough to read it.

[Nixie]

28. So dumb. You can send lots of dumb messages. Quit

paying your car note and they come and take it from you. That'll show 'em. though , you betcha.

[sop]

30. Here we go again.

The steady drumbeat of "I'm not voting to send a message to Democrats because they haven't done everything I want" bullshit begins anew. You'd think by now the "let it all burn down because I'm butt hurt" crowd would have figured out their progressive utopia is not going to miraculously rise like a phoenix from the ashes. When will these imbeciles come to their senses?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

31. "If you don't like what Joe Biden is doing with respect to Gaza right now, you would hate what Trump would be doing

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[lees1975]

32. So let's track down a half dozen disgruntled products of inferior American education and quote them and say that

a whole generation is going to stay home.

Or, let's fill in the gaps that our gutted, useless, failing educational system, attacked and shredded by Republicanism for fifty years now, and go after these kids and teach them that there's more to life than the screen on their cell phone. And show them exactly how politics works. It should be a law in this country that you can't graduate from high school unless you pass a comprehensive constituiton test that shows how it works. Most American kids can't pass a citizenship test if their life depended on it.

[Torchlight]

33. When young, I was a fan of Dynamite Magazine

Nowhere near the access of the political insights and worldy wisdom of Teen Vogue, I'd guess.

[W_HAMILTON]

34. Does it say who "Elias" actually voted for in 2016?

PS - Withholding your vote like this doesn't make the people you are wanting to hold more accountable become more amiable to you and your concerns -- it makes them instead try to win over those that actually are voting, which in this particular case they mention, would mean that those on the left become more moderate, NOT more progressive. Completely the opposite of what these naive young voters are expecting to happen.

PPS - Anyone not voting for Biden in 2024 is supporting Trump -- period.

[BannonsLiver]

51. Hamas, if he would have had the chance.

[Martin68]

35. Instead of calling them dumb and reinforcing doubts they have about the value if voting, engage them in

conversation and calmly state the downside that could result if not enough people vote. In other words, be a rational adult, not a name-calling antagonist.

[Progressive dog]

36. So they found Elias and used him as an example

of what they wanted to believe. Of course they talked to a few more of that age group and some of them agreed with Elias and some didn't.
I do agree the article is astoundingly dumb.

[Funtatlaguy]

37. They will come home in November to beat Trump who they hate.

[LeftInTX]

38. "We want it worse! We want it worse!"

[progressoid]

39. Yeah, let's call them morons and dumb! That'll change their minds!

[Happy Hoosier]

52. As opposed to what?

I’m (not) sorry. People doing stupid shit need to be told they are doing stupid shit. I’ve had conversations with some of these kinds of folks. I’ve asked them to game out the possible outcomes. They almost never do because they KNOW it’s stupid.

[progressoid]

57. Have you changed your mind about anything of consequence?

If so, what changed your mind? Did being called stupid help?

[Happy Hoosier]

61. Of course...

… but I’ve always been a “game it out” kind of guy. Anyone saying they will withhold their vote in this kind of circumstance isn’t. Even on this site, I’ve tried to get some folks to actually game out outcomes. They avoid it like the plague. I’ve lost patience with these idiots. If you think you can get through to them, go for it.

[sop]

74. I've been having the same conversation with these (call them "disgruntled") voters since the 2000 debacle.

Back when Al Gore was "the same as Bush," and voting for Ralph Nader would "teach Democrats a lesson." Fast forward to 2016 and the Hillary haters' "lesser of two evils" crappola. Twenty-five years later we're still having the same conversations, and listening to the same stupid shit.

[betsuni]

90. Yes, it is eternal.

[yardwork]

40. I've been hearing people say this all my life.

"Sending a message" only works if there is a valid alternative.

It's so stupid I'm tired of arguing about it. From 1968 to 1980 to 2000 to 2016 it's just been blah blah blah "send a message start the revolution you didn't earn my vote you're not listening to me so I'll pout" and it's so effing dull.

[Tree Lady]

62. They are frustrated there is no alternative

to two old guys but they don't have the maturity and wisdom to see what will happen if Trump wins.

[yardwork]

72. We're all frustrated that things aren't better.

We didn't create this situation. We're trying to climb out of it. We need to pull together, because the Republicans are bent on destruction.

[ZonkerHarris]

42. Enjoy the repressive fascism kids!

[Oneironaut]

46. There's little chance these types ever vote anyways tbh.

They’re the types that sit on the sidelines and whine but also paradoxically refuse to vote.

[SouthernDem4ever]

48. Very Stupid

We are past the time of trying to prove a point with a vote. Apathy will destroy our democracy and degrade our society even further. Somehow, these people have to be made to understand that.

[Mr.Bee]

50. I think it was about ten years ago

Thom Hartmann said something like, 'There’s nothing “normal” about having a middle class.
Having a middle class is a choice that a society has to make, and it’s a choice we need to make again in this generation.'

Kids need to realize they are living in a temporary reality.

Your Tik Tok, your Taylor Swift, your freedoms can all be simply taken away as easily as their right to abortion.
Think it will never happen kids? Ask those who thought the same thing in NotSee Germany.
If you don't vote to uphold your current reality, it can all be taken away just as easily as letting an angry orange clown get elected. Last administration there were advisors to stop him - next time there may not.

Future generations must be taught to stay ever vigilant.

I was one of you decades ago, I wasn't going to vote because I didn't like the candidates, and my parents scolded me. I never heard the end of it. Now I'm glad they did.
So now I'm here to scold YOU!
I have never voted 'for' anyone in my life, I have always had to vote 'against', but I've always voted!
Children, you are playing Russian roulette. You have one voice in this life, you have one power, use it and defend your reality.
If you don't believe, go watch some of those German films from the 1930s on YouTube.

[Qutzupalotl]

53. Kids, stay off TikTok.

In between all the fun dance videos and wacky accidents, China is subtly promoting messages of defeatism, hopelessness, and despair to Americans.

[nowforever]

54. Gee, why bother

I think if we still had a draft the young people wouldn't be so blase about the world they live in. They will spend countless hours making sure their TikTok posts are perfect but cannot bother to spend 15 minutes thinking critically about the impact of their vote. Wait until Manchin declares himself the true candidate of the middle and really screws things up. I know plenty of older adults who have never voted in their entire lives and their rational "It doesn't matter and I think it's stupid because nothing changes". Maybe enough young voters will be inspired by Taylor Swift and drag themselves to vote. My real hope is that Trump completely collapses after his New York empire is shuttered.

[Mr.Bee]

59. It's not just the man

It's who he brings with him:

Trump brought us Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon
That's who you decide to live with, your choice...

[ColinC]

58. At this point it's a messaging problem more than anything

Much of social media has drowned out credible news sources and any type of common sense.

[Auggie]

60. Key word in the text: "some"

[perdita9]

63. What happened in 2017

We have a large Syrian population in the city to the west of us. In 2016, that community went heavily for Trump. They were thrilled when he won and acted shocked when he fulfilled his campaign promise by instituting a Muslim ban. See, they didn't think the policy was going to apply to THEM because THEY'D supported Trump. But now all their friends and relatives couldn't get into the country.

I've lost all patience with these people. They got what they voted for. We shouldn't have to listen to them whine about it.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

64. Maybe read to the end?

"So where does that leave Zach? “It makes me feel sad because I remember, especially in the 2022 midterms, people were saying the younger generation saved democracy,” he says. “And now… maybe [young voters] can protect democracy in 2024? I see [people choosing not to vote] as crazy. Why do you not want to vote?”"

Again: "...I see [people choosing not to vote] as crazy. Why do you not want to vote?”

[DemocratInPa]

67. Why are people on here calling them dumb??

These are the same people we rooted on in 2020 and 2022. They have concerns and just want people to hear their concerns. Seems like a lot of it has been going on deaf ears lately (Palestine, and the Environment are probably the main 2)

I told you, I have 2 Gen Z and neither one said they are voting. I think the one will, but the other probably not. So this is actually real.

[kcr]

92. Because they are dumb

But it doesn't matter because the majority of GenZ voters will vote. They're the demographic we have to worry about the least. But shady media will deliberately go out and find the morons who were probably never going to vote anyway, to make it look like a horse race.

[stopdiggin]

68. you understand, of course, that the effect of a loss in 24

will inevitably move the Democratic party in a rightward direction? Simple political calculus.

So - have at it, sonny. With you bruised feelings, and your 'take my ball and go home' politics.

[Freethinker65]

70. Wait until November.

Many of these I'm not gonna vote cuz they are all the same, or I'm gonna vote 3rd party as a protest vote, will vote when being reminded of having their reproductive options taken away because of Trump's chosen Supreme Court (Trump has personally taken credit for the decision), when reminded of Trump's response to COVID as a hoax, when reminded that under Biden their parent's 401K and retirements are back to stability and rising, and Medicare and social security are protected (not just senior issues when it comes to inheritance and eldercare options), reminded that the GOP threw all obstacles they could to deny student debt relief, etc.

[GiqueCee]

71. Behold! Staggering stupidity...

... of astronomical proportions! Put aside, for the moment, the longstanding treaties, diplomatic obligations, and legal realities of U.S./Israeli relations to which Biden must adhere. Netanyahu is friend to no one but himself; the depth of his capacity for treachery is unfathomable. But Biden is obliged to deal with him as an ally regardless of his personal view of the man. He's already been working behind the scenes to rein in Netanyahu's excesses, and those of Right-wing zealots in West Bank settlements.
The shortsighted petulance of Elias, and the Muslim American population in general, in saying that they won't vote for Biden because of what Netanyahu is doing in Gaza, forgets a critical point. If, by some horrific chance, Trump wins in November, then all Muslim Americans will lose far, FAR more than they may have gained through their ill-informed stunt.
Do they all suffer from the Goldfish Syndrome? Have they already forgotten that Trump HATES them with a white hot intensity? Will they smirk with insolent satisfaction at Biden's loss even as Trump's MAGA thugs herd them into "re-education camps"? Or worse?
That's a Pyrrhic victory on steroids.
Or is little Elias actually working FOR Right-wing sociopaths to get his 30 pieces of silver? I'm sure self-absorbed Gen Zers have a capacity for treachery, too.

[Mr.Bee]

73. A Very Clear and Present Danger

#50.
Wake up, Neo...

[NorseSaxonCelt]

75. Do they understand what is at stake here?

Voting isn't wish fulfilment...Trump or Haley owned by the Christian Right will support Putin, destroy LGBTQ rights and what's left for rights to choose.

[RandySF]

76. Look hard enough and you'll find someone for every story.

But look at the lines at U of Wis to vote for state supreme court last year. The media print these stories even for every election.

[Mariana]

99. The people supposedly quoted in this story may not even exist.

It's entirely possible the writer made just up the "quotes". Wouldn't be the first time.

[FloridaBlues]

77. It's their future at stake a loss of more freedoms might sway them.

I think as it gets closer they will come out to vote hopefully for the Dems everywhere.

[honest.abe]

91. Agreed.

[Botany]

78. Oh please this pure bullshit gen Z will vote.

The vast majority of them support women’s rights to health care, LGBT people, marijuana use,
lowering student debt, and the environment. The GOP does not reflect their values.

This propaganda.

[Docreed2003]

79. There seems to be a trend of dismissive posts on DU lately

Whenever someone or some story speaks to the concerns of a group of individuals who should be aligning with Dems in 2024 but are expressing doubts, there seems to be an instant reaction to plugs ears and eyeballs rather than even consider engaging and attempting to come to common ground. We dismiss and tear down and belittle these concerns to our peril. Just because you disagree with a story doesn't make it less real &, newsflash to some, Teen Vogue has a reputation for producing quality journalism. In this cycle, I'm afraid it won't be enough to say "Well your alternative is Trump". People who are disaffected just won't vote and it's not because they don't care, it's because they'll feel as if voting didn't change anything when they did vote.

[sop]

94. These groups of concerned individuals have lost sight of how politics in a two-party system works.

I don't believe people on DU dismiss their concerns, downplay the importance of their particular issues or refuse to find common ground. It is difficult, however, to engage seriously with people whose tacit goal is to sabotage the Democratic party whenever they believe their particular agenda isn't being taken seriously enough. This sort of intransigence doesn't work in a two-party system; it's destructive to the whole, and ultimately self-defeating.

Taking the position that you're not going to vote because the current administration's position on student loan debt relief hasn't benefitted you sufficiently is stupid. Threatening to support some fringe third party candidate (the same thing as not voting in a two-party system) because Biden has been forced to thread the needle and adopt an unpalatable position on a particularly thorny issue is an act of political illiteracy. And having to repeatedly explain these realities to people who refuse to listen is really frustrating.

[stopdiggin]

95. and so the answer is to 'punish the Democrats'

My argument isn't that disaffected voters aren't a reality or a potential hole opening up beneath ....

What I'm saying (just like the headline) - is how abysmally stupid their logic and actions are.
And, frankly - with the stark, and blindingly clear cut choices, laid out before us at this juncture ...
I've just gotten real, real tired of - STUPID!

(But I entirely take your point about the 'dismissive' trend that crops up so frequently. You're right, pretending like it isn't there avails not .. )

[betsuni]

82. "Sending a message" happened in 2016, all the Democrats who "lost power" had to go

work in the coal mines and flip burgers and be poor and sad. Sure taught them a lesson!

The nice Republicans took over because they always totally listen to The People and help them by cutting taxes for the 1% so it trickles down, deregulate everything which helps the environment (ask West Virginians!), let the benevolent corporations do whatever they want because they always look out for their workers and customers. Trump & The Republicans will be doing even more listening if they win this year!

Good plan, way to go!

[Mariana]

98. Gen Z weren't eligible to vote in 2016, so you can't blame them for that.

[betsuni]

101. Where did I blame Gen Z for 2016? "Sending a message" has been around for decades.

The lesson should've been learned in 2000 with Nader and in 2016. Those were certainly not all young people voting third party or not voting, of course. This newest generation is being targeted with the same old propaganda.

[Celerity]

109. Some Gen Zers were legally old enough, but not many (those born in 1997, and those born in 1998 before November 10th).

One of my friends at uni in Los Angeles was born November 9, 1998 (the election was November 8th, 2016) but you legally turn the next age on the day before your birthday, which makes logical sense as when you reach your birthday, it is the first day of the next year of your life. On your 1st birthday, for instance, you have been alive for 366 or 367 (if a leap year, but leap years not factored in as far as I know) days. As she was born November 9, 1998, she was legally 18 on November 8th, 2016, and thus could vote (and did, for Clinton).

[Initech]

86. Tell me you don't know anything about the Democratic Party...

Without telling me you don't know anything about the Democratic Party.

[live love laugh]

97. Brainwashed by RW owned social media no doubt

I’ve seen countless posts and influencers discourage voting and displaying ageism. And I’ve seen and been a victim of their censorship efforts.

We’re in for a real difficult election season because of the bad influence of the Republican owned media conglomerate.

[dsp3000]

100. We Ignore this at our own peril. The campaign needs to address Gen Z's concern with Palestinians NOW.

This is 2016 all over again. The hubris of many on here calling these people fools (which i don't disagree with) and ignoring their votes. these voters exist and they will sit out this election. Yes, they are cutting off their nose to spite their face. But they exist in bigger numbers than you think.

[dlk]

106. When someone choses not to vote, they are giving the person they don't agree with 2 votes, & essentially voting anyway

Or as the old slogan goes, "Not to decide is to decide."

[LetMyPeopleVote]

108. Not voting is a good way to see TFG re-elected

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