Open Letter to Democrats From a Disillusioned Young Voter

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/26822-focus-open-letter-to-democrats-from-a-disillusioned-young-voter

Are you listening? President Obama says he hears us. He says that people don’t have a reason to show up to vote if the politicians they have to choose from don’t motivate them. He’s partially right. But
hat’s only part of a much larger problem. To all you would-be elected officials looking for my generation’s support at the polls, listen closely – get populist or get ready to lose bad.

<snip>

The few of us who did show up to vote largely did it to support state ballot initiatives that actually mattered in our daily lives. We still voted to raise the minimum wage in 4 states to a slightly more respectable amount, and to $15 an hour in San Francisco. We voted for a week of paid sick days in Massachusetts, and for marijuana legalization in three more states (okay, well, DC isn’t a state yet, but it definitely will be by the time we’re grandparents). We voted to turn nonviolent drug offenses from felonies into misdemeanors in California. We even boosted high voter turnout in Michigan for Gary Peters, a Democrat who made climate change – something we’ll have to confront long after the boomers are gone – his top issue. We just didn’t vote for Democrats who haven’t done anything for us since we voted for them in 2012, and who brazenly took our votes for granted this year.

Even though the Republicans have made it clear they won’t raise the minimum wage, legalize marijuana, or address climate change as long as they’re in power, they at least have a unified message that appeals to enough people who share their values. They can also communicate that message in a confident way. The Republican platform comes in easy-to-remember, tweet-sized sentences. We all know their buzzwords – “national security,” “family values,” “free markets.” That may translate to endless war, homophobia, and corporate feudalism for the better-informed, but for most people, those are catch phrases they can get behind.

You Democrats, on the other hand, looked pitiful in the year leading up to the midterms. You didn’t seem to stand for anything in particular, you just pointed the finger at the other guy, told us they were bad, and that you weren’t like them. That’s not enough. Take a risk, be bold. Get behind Elizabeth Warren’s 0.75 percent interest rate for student loans. Allow student debt to be abolished with bankruptcy. Push for single-payer healthcare, or at the very least a public health insurance option.

Need some catchy buzzwords? Try “affordable education,” “good jobs,” and “healthy families.”President Obama hit the nail on the head – we won’t show up and vote for you if you aren’t offering us anything real. If Democrats want to stay relevant, they’ll have to learn to stop taking us for granted and actually make an effort to get our votes. Simply banking on being the lesser evil and having that be enough won’t cut it any longer.

[Maedhros]

1. The money quote:

We just didn’t vote for Democrats who haven’t done anything for us since we voted for them in 2012, and who brazenly took our votes for granted this year.

[billhicks76]

144. Don't Waste Vote On Hillary

She's no populist

[Maedhros]

145. Hillary is essentially a Republican,

and I don't vote for Republicans.

[billhicks76]

149. Hell Yes She Is

And she was President Of The College Republicans and only changed when she saw the prevailing winds shift as the 60s ended and voters were surely going in a different direction. She allegedly switched after seeing Nixon not doing what he was told to do and lambasted the Rockefellers...her family friends.

[still_one]

2. Then don't vote? If that is the kind of maturity the new milinials have they deserve everything

Coming to them

My generation had a draft and a viet nam war. We fought for labor, civil rights, and womens rights, and it didn't happen overnight. we never felt we were entitled to anything, and marched, protested, and voted for all those things.

in other words we fought for everything we got, and those who cared enough voted

and what is this "you Democrats", you sound like a cry baby who can't get their way so you are going to take your marbles homes. I say for those with that attitude, we don't need you. There are plenty of young people who will vote and fight and pick themselves up when they are thrown off a horse. What a pathetic response to not voting. Hell, I would have respect if this segment he talked about voted for the Green Party, at least they would stand for something. I voted for George McGovern, and he lost by a landslide, but that did not deter us from voting. In fact it was my generation who fought for lowering the voting age to 18. We reasoned if one was old enough to be tried as an adult, and old enough to kill and be killed in wars, you should be able to vote at 18.

What a cop out attitude, it is always someone else's fault for not voting

Just educate you in your "open letter to Obama" Obama did not run in this last election.

[BillZBubb]

4. I'm sorry, but you've got the wrong attitude.

People don't owe the Democrats their votes. We need to earn them. If the Democrats haven't earned your vote is the better option to vote for a republican or not to vote at all?

This is politics and much of that is sales. We need to motivate people to vote and to vote for us. Don't blame the customer for not coming into your store. Don't blame the customer for not buying. Figure out how to make what you are offering compelling.

[still_one]

6. they aren't voting period. Forget about Democrats, they could have voted green or some other group

they believe represents their values. This is about the millionth post where I have heard someone professing to be a spokesperson for the young.

[BillZBubb]

33. If there are that many, we should be listening.

We need their votes.

[Scootaloo]

46. Still_One feels that they should be seen, and not heard

[MH1]

65. They should be seen and heard by their votes.

I'll believe they really don't like the Democratic candidate when they show up to vote for someone better. Even if it is a third party or write in. I still might think it's a counterproductive vote in terms of their ostensible goals, but if they showed up and did that at least no one could accuse them of being too lazy or self-absorbed to vote.

But hey, it's more fun to blow it off and them blame someone else.

[still_one]

89. don't speak for me, only speak for yourself. That isn't what I said, but go ahead and distort

[Scootaloo]

90. You speak for yourself loud and clear

The hate and derision oozes from every word in your posts.

[still_one]

91. you are really full it, and yourself. You say I spread hate, maybe you need to get a grip on

yourself instead of name calling people who you don't agree with

[TBF]

98. Scootaloo is correct -

you ignore millennials at your own peril. I say this as a Gen-Xer who watched her generation vote in Ronald Reagan of all people.

Personally I think that if the party continues down third way street it should fail. And I'm glad millennials see clearly what is going on. Perhaps their next incarnation of Occupy will be more organized and disciplined. I'm pulling for them.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

109. Me too.

StillOne's attitude it's sickening.

[Fawke Em]

121. I read you the same way Scootaloo did.

So, apparently, did many others.

Seems the fault is with you if what you convey reeks of "old codgerism" instead whatever you thought you were saying.

[still_one]

125. Perhaps you all have a comprehension problem. I will translate for you. I said if they don't like

the way the Democratic party is, instead of NOT voting, then VOTE for someone who they think can serve their values. I suggested the Green Party, but hell, they could do a write in

NOT VOTING is a cop out, that serves no purpose

Think what you want, I don't really care

Have a good day, I have better things to do

[whatchamacallit]

127. Voting for an empty brand serves no purpose either

the millennials have never known the kind of Democratic Party that earned your faith.

[sendero]

142. In most races..

.... there is Rep and Dem and nothing else.

This guy has it exactly right. Nobody bothers to vote if there is nothing in it for them. The Democrats offered them nothing, they didn't get their vote, end of story. And voting Green or Libertarian is just as big a total waste of time, neither party is going to win any actual races.

Maybe the Millenials are just smarter than you.

[Fawke Em]

147. Thanks for giving an example of "old codgerism."

[Spazito]

48. Listen to what?

Whining that they aren't being handed everything they want on a silver platter without their lifting a finger to earn it? For some reason, they seem to think they are entitled to (insert list) just because they want it. Fuck that, change is hard work, the least they could do is vote if they want change, they obviously don't really want it, they just want to whine about it, it's easier.

The only valid reason for not voting is because you were refused a ballot, otherwise there is no excuse, imo.

[SomethingFishy]

55. Impressive..

Access to health care isn't "a silver platter". Reasonable student loans are not a "silver platter", minimum wage isn't a "silver platter", an end to endless wars isn't a "silver platter", resolutions for climate change isn't a "silver platter". Getting a leash on the NSA is not a silver platter.

Which Democrats spoke about those issues that are important to every American? Oh I'm sorry, "Democrats" were too fucking busy shooting shotguns and claiming "I'm not Obama" in their ads to actually give a shit about the "silver platters" the citizens of this country desperately need.

[Spazito]

59. If you want it, you have to work for it, you, yourself instead of waiting for someone else...

to do the heavy lifting while you sit back criticizing how they are doing it. What the hell happened to personal responsibility? Amateur athletes don't expect to get picked for the Olympic Team when they run their first race, swim their first lap, they run, they lose, they ran again and again, working very hard to get to that Olympic team.

Not voting does NOTHING to change anything, it just ensures it will stay the same, at best, or get even worse which, in the current context, is very probable.

Note: I use "you" in the generic sense not in reference to you personally.

[SomethingFishy]

62. You talk about personal responsibility

while blaming the whole election loss on everyone but the candidates and party.

Whatever did happen to personal responsibility?

And yes, you an I know that not voting doesn't change anything, but not everyone is us. You cannot expect the average person to know as much as we do.. and you cannot expect them to be as loyal.

I voted straight "D" after spending the entire year bitching about the Obama administration. I GET IT. But I do not expect everyone else to, and if you want to win you can't just go "well fuck them". You have to make an effort to bring them in. We got Obama elected twice, it's not impossible.

[Spazito]

63. I do expect adults to figure it out...

we are not talking about toddlers, we are talking about adults, adults who are too used to instant gratification, wanting it all and wanting it immediately. It is both irresponsible and immature, imo. If one doesn't know something, one asks, one researches, one reaches out instead of shrugging their shoulders because doing the work, well, it's too hard.

I am an average person, I first voted when I became eligible because it was an important thing to do, I was proud to cast my vote and I am still proud when I leave after casting my vote.

Loyalty really isn't the issue, voting or not voting is, imo. To whine about the high cost of student loans and all the other issues on the non-voters' list tells me they are not ignorant about the issues, they are just don't care enough to actually do their part to try and change things, instead they boycott, it's easier.

[Scootaloo]

72. What candidates campaigned on student loans, Spazito?

Did you support them during the primary?

[Spazito]

77. So you think not voting will address the issue of student loans?

Democrats put a bill on the floor to address the cost of student loans, it failed. There are fewer Democrats now to fight for lowering the cost so not voting achieved exactly what when it comes to this issue?

It is not about the candidate, it is about which party will at least work toward addressing some of one's issues. The Dems tried but the repubs succeeded and now it is even less likely.

Bottom line is if you don't vote you can be guaranteed you will get nothing, at best, less than nothing at worst and, given the repubs now control both the House and the Senate, those who deliberately chose to abrogate their civic responsibility because they didn't get their student loan concern addressed will get less than nothing.

[Scootaloo]

94. I asked what candidates ran on the issue.

Can you not answer this question? Was there a candidate who ran on their co sponsorship of sen. Warren's bill? Any that ran on the basis of supporting it if reintroduced? Or trying to put a similar bill to Congress?

C'mon, anything in there?

[Spazito]

108. Nice try...

We are talking about voting and not voting, not which candidate ran on which issue. The Democratic Party supports Warren's bill which means the Democratic party candidates support the bill. You know that. Candidates run on the party platform.

[Fawke Em]

122. Why vote if you think you're being give one side or the other

of the same coin?

God, there's a lot of old codgers on this board this morning.

I'm nearly 45 - no spring chicken - but I understood, clearly, what this young person was saying.

They weren't asking for a free ride. They want better policies.

[Spazito]

126. I understood what the poster was saying, I just don't accept the excuses...

for not voting. If one wants better policies, one needs to work to make them better instead of sitting back expecting others to do the heavy lifting while they sit back criticizing how it is done, imo.

To infer "old codgers" simply don't get it is ridiculous, we "old codgers" know if you want something you have to work for it, it isn't going to arrive at your door all dressed up in pretty paper.

[SomethingFishy]

76. You are not an average person. You are obviously above average in

intelligence, and way ahead of "average" in your political knowledge.

You will be of no help to the party until you figure out that just because you are intelligent, informed, and motivated that everyone else was placed in your station in life. If you keep blaming others instead of finding ways to get them involved, then all you are doing is spinning your wheels.

Not everyone has the same IQ as you, not everyone was raised the same as you, not everyone was motivated like you are, and shitting on people because they aren't as "good" as you expect them to be will help no one.

I do understand where you are coming from, for a long time I expected people to have my work ethic, to work as long and as hard as I do, eventually I met enough people to realize that my work ethic is extreme compared to the average person... not much you can do about it except... adjust.

[Spazito]

80. At the age we are talking about, between 20 and 30, I knew little about politics...

but I did know the importance of voting. My intelligence is average and if expecting others to fulfill their responsibilities is "shitting on them" well, wow, just wow.

To say my expectation that adults fulfill their civic duty and take their responsibility is extreme is ridiculous. I would say those who consciously choose to abrogate their responsibilities because they didn't get everything they wanted when they wanted it need to adjust to the reality that change is hard, takes work and commitment. There is no Santa Claus.

[Scootaloo]

67. The trouble we find is that voting doesn't elicit change, either

when the Democrats win, thy take it as a mandate to preserve the status quo. when they lose, they cower back and let the republicans set the agenda... which the Democrats will work to preserve if they get re-elected.

And when the youth shows up to actively seek change, what happens? well, they're told to shut the fuck up and save it for elections. elections that boomers will dominate by weight of numbers, forcing through their Republican and Republican't candidates by sheer volume. Then they smug and smirk over what "losers" progressives and liberals are. often while cheering on the cops they hired to beat and kill us when we protest and move.

The youth has no support. All we get when we try, is hate, derision, and violence - not just from the republicans, but from republican'ts as well.

[Spazito]

68. There was change, some just refuse to see it because it wasn't EVERYTHING they...

wanted, everything they feel they are entitled to, the full meal deal.

Boycotting elections, deliberately choosing not to vote while thinking marching will change everything is foolish and destructive. The youth that didn't bother to vote don't have my support, they have my disdain. Not voting is a proxy vote for whoever wins and, in this case, it meant the repubs. The youth will get less than nothing from them, that's for damn sure.

Youth are adults who have to learn to take personal responsibility for their actions AND their lack of action and stop whining, imo.

LOL on your boomers comment, big bad boomers are to blame for those adults who make the conscious decision to abrogate their civic responsibility. Cry me a river.

[Scootaloo]

71. The youth that vote also have your disdain, as you make clear from your posts

Voting for republicant's is also a vote by proxy for the republicans. either the republican't wins and gives us right-wing policy, or they lose and we get right-wing policy.


tell me of these grand changes that we 'refuse to see." Please.

[Spazito]

88. I respect anyone who votes including the 'youth' vote...

As to the changes, Obamacare is a BIG one, the list of changes has been posted much to the chagrin of those who want to foster the false idea that nothing changed.

Obamacare wasn't universal healthcare so, according to some, maybe you, it counts for nothing. Wrong.

Using "republican'ts" is so trite and ridiculous it is laughable but carry on, it has such substance.

Bottom line is those who choose to abrogate their civic responsibility need to 'put up or shut up'. If they didn't vote, don't whine about it. If they took their ball and went home thinking they won something, they didn't, they forfeited the game to the opposing team. They just refuse to own it.

[Scootaloo]

93. No, I don't think Obamacare is good enough

I see it as a foot in the door, though. A wedge that can be used to push forward universal health care. To bring us alongside the rest of the civilized world - and honestly some of what we tend to regard as the "uncivilized world," too - really, we're behind Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan on this?!

But

But that wedge is only useful, if it's going to be used to push the door open. Are the Democrats promising that? Seriously, name a single democrat running on expanding Obamacare, pushing for universal. One. Now, think of Democrats who ran away from the Affordable Care Act. That's a much bigger list, isn't it?

The democrats seem to believe that either the ACA is "good enough" (it's not) or they seem to think it's awful, just as Republicans do (again, it's not). Which is bewildering. I guarantee you, Democrats who did the opposite, who embraced it and campaigned on expanding it to be fully encompassing, would see their numbers surge. This should be basic fucking common sense - it's keynote legislation penned by a Democratic president and passed by a democratic legislature, held up by Democratic-appointed judges. But they ran away from it

The democrats aren't even willing to back their own key legislation. Your best example of "change" is something the party itself shied away from embracing in the 2014 elections.

I guarantee you, if Democratic candidates had stood up, embraced the ACA, and demanded its expansion towards universal, we wouldn't have gotten the rout that happened. I won't say we would have swept the board, I don't know. But I can guarantee there would have been better turnout. There would have been more Democratic victories. Instead, they ran on a Republican position, and lost to actual republicans. Which has been proven over and over again through US history, but htye never seem to notice.

Thus my term, "republican't."

So you tell me. We're supposed to vote. But vote for what? Our interests are simply not represented by the candidates. Trying to field our own runs against the money and organization of a hyper-conservative party network. I've been there. We're not just up against Republicans. Before we get there, we're up against Democrats like yourself, who for one reason or another, are utterly dismissive of our issues, and seek to keep the party obsessed with being republican-light.

So the people who are supposed to be "on our side" tell us we don't matter, and then capitulate to the people they present as "the bad guys" at every fucking turn.

What you call laziness, I recognize as hopelessness. A generation-wide depression and malaise.

[Spazito]

110. Truth be told those who don't vote don't matter because they made the conscious ...

choice to not matter. I have never found wallowing in self-pity as to how hard done I am solves anything, it actually makes things worse. Working to make things better matters and voting is one of those things that can make difference.

You can't change the system unless you work to change it. No one said your issues weren't important, what I have said is that they can't be that important to you if you don't want to get out there and work for them, vote for those who are more likely to work toward addressing them.

Name calling is childish, imo, and does nothing to further any discussion, it is an attempt to stifle it.

[workinclasszero]

61. Totally disgusting

no wonder dems got whacked in the election.

Oh I'm sorry, "Democrats" were too fucking busy shooting shotguns and claiming "I'm not Obama" in their ads

[Chathamization]

103. Rush Holt, Zephyr Teachout and Donald Berwick were all advocating single-payer

Almost no one bothered showing up to vote when they were running, and the majority of those who did voted for their opponents. Individuals who ostensibly support their positions pretend they don't exist and "Democrats don't stand for..." or "Democrats don't support...". There are many who do, but when people don't vote for them, they don't end up in office, neh?

When people are ignoring and not voting for good progressive candidates, it's hard to view the claim that people are just waiting for the right candidate to vote as anything other than a poor excuse.

[JoeyT]

83. They turned out in record numbers to vote for the guy that promised change.

And as it turns out, he was lying. Some of the worst policies were continued and defended, and the people that wrecked the goddamned country walked free while he whined at us to not be sanctimonious.

They're not whining, they're just good at spotting when the only alternative they're being offered is being fucked with a smile or without one.

[Spazito]

86. They are whining, that is all they are doing...

it's easier. There were changes but be prepared to only recognize them when they are changed back by the party they voted for by not voting, voting by proxy.

They are good at spotting nothing, absolutely nothing except the latest tweet or whose got the wittiest status on facebook, how many likes they get on their latest rant, the one full of rhetoric and empty of substance, fooling themselves they are the new revolutionaries because they received so many likes while doing absolutely nothing toward the changing the system they espouse to despise.

[NobodyHere]

135. The person that is whining

Is you.

[Spazito]

136. Nope, I didn't start an OP whining about poor me...

nor did I make any post whining about why I don't vote and how it's everyone else at fault. I posted some hard truths about the consequences of choosing not to vote.

[still_one]

52. Probably, but if they don't listen is not voting the answer, and if there is enough as you say the

Best way to get that message out is by voting for someone they believe represents their values. If enough of them did that it would be the strongest message they could send. Not voting doesn't send any message

[Blanks]

50. They (or someone) voted to raise minimum wage and legalize marijuana...

Whether it's the young or just regular liberals, it's odd that the electorate chose to vote for liberal issues, but not liberal candidates.

I kind of see it the way you do, they need to fight for whatever change they want to see, but in this instance the candidates weren't promising the kind of change they wanted to see. So they didn't support the candidates, but they still supported the issues.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

81. Actually, some left the part where you vote for someone to go to Washington BLANK....

Then they voted on ISSUES.

[treestar]

115. Exactly Vote Green then!

That would give the Greens more credibility. Even if they didn't win, they would be recorded as having so many votes and that alone could motivate more people to vote for them!

A green candidate in my safely Republican state legislative district got 20% of the vote. The Democrats have given up that district. But I'm predicting the Greens will be encouraged by getting that much of the vote and keep trying. I'm willing to be a Green for purposes of this district.

These local Greens got off their asses and did something.

[sabrina 1]

148. The WERE voting, back in 2008. So why are they not voting now??

Maybe instead of slamming voters, we ought to be trying to listen to them.

I know why, just wondered if you have any interest in knowing why yourself, as you didn't seem to be asking any questions.

[canoeist52]

15. My view precisely. Berating and shaming customers doesnt make them want what you're selling more.

Most sales staff try to do customer research when their product doesn't sell.

[ollie4]

19. "the democrats..."?

The Reps are good at "sales". They obstruct everything President Obama and the Dems have tried to do. Then, sales folks that they are, they get people who are pissed off at the obstruction to vote for THEM! That's sales!

Yes, you don't owe the Democrats your votes. You owe it to yourself! You owe it to yourself to stand up for what you believe in, and voting is just a small down payment on the responsibilities of citizenship.

You should vote because you want your voice heard, not because a political party has "earned" your vote.

The political parties don't owe you some sort of entitled status. You should vote for the best or the least worst, whetever because you care about something past the tip of your nose!

And, if you can't tell the difference between Reps and Dems, go back to school....on your own dime.

[susanwy]

139. ^^^ THIS ^^^ n/t

[840high]

24. Pretty much what my grandson

said. He wrote in names.

[still_one]

26. He. Opted, that is my point

[frylock]

7. your generation also had FDR and LBJ..

with the exception of a very few, the majority of current dems are milquetoast and cowardly. do you think lecturing millenials on your generation is actually going to motivate them? get real.

[pangaia]

22. On the money.

If people have nobody to vote for, why vote? For whom?

[ollie4]

53. fine....

the next time you go to the polls and there is nobody running....vote for yourself!

but if there is someone running, and one is a jerk and the other not a jerk.....obviously the smart thing to do is to stay home and play on facebook and count likes.....sarc

[bravenak]

39. Yep.nt

[Autumn]

17. It's always someone else's fault for voters not voting. When does it become the fault

of the Democratic leadership? Because it's their fault and if they don't make some fucking changes then they can bet their sorry fucking asses more people will not vote.
So right our generation had the draft and a viet nam war. We fought for labor, civil rights, and womens rights, and it didn't happen overnight. We marched, protested, and voted for all those things.
And now if the Democrats want the younger generation and a lot of us in the older generation to vote for them they better fucking get off their asses and start looking out for the people, because those Democrats aren't entitled to a fucking thing from anyone. A vacuum is waiting to be filled and it will be filled, with or without the Democrats.

[BillZBubb]

36. "A vacuum is waiting to be filled "

Excellent point. And the vacuum is tending to be filled with republican lies or at least republican persuasion that voting is useless.

[Glitterati]

18. I grew up during that generation as well, and you're just romanticizing your memories

Yeah, we protested. But, mostly we were all there anyway and figured why not show up and get high smoking weed. Chicago, 1968 was just the first Woodstock to most of us there who all got caught up in cops gone crazy.

The Chicago 7? Yeah, they were there to protest. Most of the rest of us just got our heads cracked with billy clubs when the cops lost control of the situation.

[mountain grammy]

23. Here's the thing, in 1970, less than 60% of eligible citizens bothered to register to vote

and way less than 60% voted.

Voter registration is now about 70% of eligible citizens and about 60% vote.

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/70-92.shtml

So, in reality, things have gotten "better" as far as voter participation goes. Meantime the media has become a sorry joke and Democrats too corporate. Our entire country is too corporate. I don't care if they have their stores and make their stuff, just stay out of our elections.

[zanana1]

25. That's right; grow up.

When I was in college in the 70's, I thought George McGovern would definitely win, because he stood for everything we wanted. What I didn't realize was that I was living in a bubble and only a small minority of people wanted what I wanted.
The one thing I didn't do, though, was stop voting. If you do that, you're shooting yourself in the foot.

[Curmudgeoness]

34. I was in that bubble with you.

But I learned a valuable lesson early in life-----I am in the minority as to what I want. I still am. But I will not change just to be in the in-crowd.

[noiretextatique]

51. at least had the opportunity to vote for mcgovern

don't you think young people deserve the right to vote for someone like him?

[think]

30. The Dems had no message while running from the president and his accomplishments

I still voted but there were no expectations or any fire. It was very predictable.....

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

32. Tweet-sized still_one: Get off my lawn, you darned kids! nt

(Edit: and, btw

and what is this "you Democrats", you sound like a cry baby who can't get their way so you are going to take your marbles homes. I say for those with that attitude, we don't need you

Yeah, we saw in this election just how much Dems 'don't need them'. If your goal is for Dems never again to win elections, then just keep telling yourself you 'don't need them'.)

[BillZBubb]

40. Well said. We need them badly and we need to win their votes.

[Generic Brad]

58. Should they get off our lawn too?

The reality is that young people will not buy what we are selling if it is worth nothing to them. The old guard needs to change, not the millennials. They will vote for Democrats if Democrats represent their interests.

[progressoid]

64. Actually voter turnout in 2012 was only a half of one percent lower than in 1968.

And 2012 turnout was even higher than in 1972.

Maybe if we drafted our kids we could really get them to the polls.

[JoeyT]

82. "We fought for labor, civil rights, and womens rights"

And now your generation is the ones fighting so hard to roll them back, and fucking up the new deal to boot.

[rhett o rick]

85. Not voting is a vote. If the Oligarchs give you two candidates that will either screw you,

why play that game? Of course the self-righteous among us will tell us that H. Clinton-Sachs will only kill us slowly while Jeb Bush will do it more quickly.

People don't vote because we don't have a system they respect. I can understand that.

[Bohunk68]

102. Silence=Consent nt

[rhett o rick]

120. Don't disagree. You hit the dog enough times with a newpaper, he will soon "consent".

Voting between Oligarch Thing 1 vs. Oligarch Thing 2 is pretense. Some feel free because they get to vote. They get to vote in many countries that are not free.

You put your vote into the shredder and pat yourself on the back because you voted.

The system is broken. I still play but I don't fool myself.

[sabrina 1]

92. A Party that doesn't listen to the voters, will lose. People can whine and blame and yell all

they want, but the FACT is you don't get people out to vote by insulting them, by telling them to be quiet about important issues, because they 'don't understand politics. Most people on DU, probably EVERYONE, voted. But many here voted IN SPITE of the personal attacks from some here who appear to represent the Dem Party. But DU is filled with political junkies, Independents however seeing these tactics coming from Dems, simply walk away.

Sometimes I wonder if that is the goal, to suppress the vote. Who in their right mind thinks you can bully people into voting for your party?

It is useless for you to attack this young voter, that isn't going to change his/her mind. In fact, you dismiss the concerns of the young, the Dem Party dismissed them, didn't hear them, and they lost them.

IF you read the article at all, you would see this person DID vote, s/he voted for the ISSSUES that are important to the next generation. And they WON in many places.

They voted for the ISSUES. They won and since ISSUES are what elections are supposed to be about, I am very impressed with young voters who seem very informed, very focused, and very active. They just couldn't find too many Reps who fought for those issues they went out to vote for.

[Enthusiast]

96. Thank you, sabrina 1.

To the rescue.

[Thespian2]

99. Your attitude

is the destruction of what used to be the Democratic party. You just don't have the insight to understand what the younger generation is telling you.

[sabrina 1]

107. The younger generation is very involved and informed. See OWS eg, and what did elected

officials do about it? Send out robo cops to brutally beat them, arrest and attempt to smear them. Great way to GOTV. As soon as the people voice their concerns, they are attacked and told to be quiet, or else. Then along comes election time and the very same people who didn't HEAR what that critical demographic was trying to say, whines and attempts to blame THE VOTERS rather than accept the fact that voters have lost faith in a system that clearly is skewed in favor of the top 1%.

It's almost laughable to see the reaction to the results of their own arrogant attitude towards the people. Throwing temper tantrums because the people reacted to the way they are treated.

Unbelievable. The reaction SHOULD be, 'what are we doing wrong'. But that would only happen IF they cared one bit about the people whose votes they are demanding.

[treestar]

113. Good post - gee it's always someone else's fault

They sit there to be served. Not participate in self government, but be catered to and served and cajoled. And then complain it's not good enough.

We can never satisfy these people and ought to quit responding to their complaints we don't put on a good enough show for them. Let them drop out. We can find people who really want to participate.

[Soylent Brice]

129. maturity?

I'm 34, working single father of 3.
I agree with them.

I think the cop out is not prosecuting war criminals to keep voting powder dry for 2008.

I think the cop out is not voting against the IWR just to avoid looking like a "weak liberal".

I think the cop out is not even talking about single payer during the health care debate just to avoid looking "too liberal".

I think the cop out is turning a blind eye on every major issue affecting this country just so you can continue to be voted into power, and allowing all meaningful legislation to get watered down in the interest of "compromise". We're compromising with people who represent the 20% fringe nutters, and the 1%ers.
We might as well hand them the election.

Now it's to the point that we're only voting for who has the power of a streaming pile of shit.

So if you want to tell millennials they get what they deserve and all that, you can fucking cram it up your establishment dem ass.

[malletgirl02]

131. Many older people voted for Republicans

can I say they deserve what is coming to them as well?

[LeftInTX]

146. Yes...I'm sure they are the reason that the Rs won the mid-terms

They deserve what's coming to them.
But I'm an old Dem

But yeah Seniors deserve it for voting R year after year after year. If the Rs would stop SS checks for a few months, they would never win again.

[the_sly_pig]

141. People don't vote because they know it doesn't matter

When you have shrinking violets like Harry Reid in charge of your bully squad. What I would give for any kind of Lyndon Johnson, kick ass democrat that would use all the tools in the toolbox to get social issues passed.

There are bigots still challenging the rights of teh gay to get married. Anyone, ANYONE with any sack would publicly and nationally call out these clowns for being what they are, bigots.

Marijuana illegality is a joke, but it is a way to fill privately owned prisons. Say that for f*** sake!!

The income gap, protection of abortion clinics, civil rights issues including the NSA spying, the list never ends.

Citizens United allows other countries to influence our elections!! ITS A NO BRAINER TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT!!!!

And finally, while I'm digging myself a hole here, I have no idea why women did not get out and vote en masse because the republicans will make you second hand citizens. But then again we have Harry Reid at the helm so the message somehow got convoluted or missed all together.

Thanks elected Democrats for actually being a bunch of spineless caricatures of spineless liberals.

[Egnever]

3. Well if you allow Republicans to win

You get the exact opposite of what you are claiming you want.

What this whole country needs to learn not just young people is that there is no magic wand to make your dreams come true. Change comes slowly and has to be fought for. Expecting a magic candidate to come along and give you everything you want will never happen.

Time to get over yourself and help the team that is moving you in the direction you want no matter how slowly instead of throwing a fit and letting the guys who are against everything you hope for take the game and and match because you didn't get your pony fast enough.

What you are about to see is destruction of your dreams because you couldn't be asked to vote for the guy or gal who wasn't perfectly aligned with you.

[BillZBubb]

5. Wrong attitude.

From most people's perspective, if the Democrats aren't delivering for you, what does it matter whether the repubs or Democrats are in charge? Neither is looking out for you.

When it appears the Democrats aren't even fighting for what they claim to be for makes gaining support even less likely.

Remember, your issues and priorities aren't shared by everyone. And just saying the republicans are bad isn't a real motivator for many people.

[still_one]

9. Well since obviously in some people's eyes there is no difference between republicans and Democrats

then perhaps they should either start their own party, change the party from within by electing candidates who represent their values, or go with another party, but they are suggesting if I don't get my way I will sit it out.

Civil rights, women's rights, labor rights, gay rights, would have never happened without people fighting for them and voting.

Obviously, this person does not recognize the accomplishments that were made by the Democrats under Obama against overwhelming odds

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Democratic States have higher minimum wages, better marijuana laws, better access to reproductive

choice. Anyone who does not vote because nothing is being delivered unto them needs to stop claiming they support the LGBT community who have no support save for in the Democratic Party, support which was not there, by the way, when we started voting in an organized block fashion.
When the gay community got the vote up, we were looking at a government that had done nothing, not even spoken about, the death of more than 20,000 Americans. That was what the Republicans were up to. Democrats had never invited us in, nor even spoke our name in public. And yet we managed to vote between the funerals.
What exactly is so bad that is happening to these young people that is worse than what happened when I was young? Are they going to a funeral a week? While the President laughs?
Thought not.
People have died to vote. So cry me a fucking river of privilege.

[tooeyeten]

45. I'm with you

It makes you wonder if this group gets what people sacrificed to provide for all citizens the right to vote, how our country evolved over the last 50 years, 100 years, do people know our history any more? I'm hearing a lot of whining, which is usually reserved for Republicans, I'm a bit taken aback to get it from progressives.

[tooeyeten]

41. True

Being realistic about the ability of your candidate and party you believe reflects your beliefs better than the other, is wisdom and maturity. This party and POTUS have not been sitting on their hands the last 2 years, they've been up against the tea-party and obstructionist GOP like we've not seen in modern times. That doesn't mean there werent some opportunities to do a few things, and its not like things were not achieved. but lets talk about the low voter turn out which worked against the Democrats; their voters didn't show up and they failed not the candidates, voters who didn't vote are to blame. These remarks sound like whining, or worse a tantrum justifying why people didn't vote. The Republicans didn't win crossover voters by any stretch. Unless voters who consider themselves liberal, Democrats, progressives, either voted or if they didn't, that's how our candidates win or lose. In this mid-term voters just didn't bother to show up, that's where the problem is, bottom line. No party, no candidate is perfect, but I'll take a Democrat any day over a Republican today. But some of these foolish Dems did themselves a big disservice by ignoring Obama and those chickens came home to roost 11/4. There's no whining in politics, when you whine about your own party its very unseemly, particularly if you didn't bother to vote, no one will listen to you. Likewise, neither can these losers whine, they miscalculated distancing themselves from Obama, are not distanced from their offices and they are stuck with the consequences too!

[Bluenorthwest]

8. In Oregon we legalized cannabis and all of our Democrats won by large margins

I guess this person thinks the youth skipped voting for Democrats. Cannabis won by 10 Merkley by 20. You do the math.
Can't own the cannabis victories while claiming Democrats did not win with at least one of those victories....

[gratuitous]

13. Oregon also has vote-by-mail

Turnout was nearly 70%, almost double the turnout nationwide. That's the difference between a state that wants its citizens to vote and have their voice heard, and a state (looking at Indiana, Georgia and Texas) where the state doesn't want to hear from its citizens.

If the barriers to voting that have been thrown up around the country had been applied to gun buying (let's just say), what response do you suppose we would have heard from the popular media?

[otohara]

105. So Does CO, w/o Marijuana Millenials No Vote

pitiful - some even brag about it.

Pretty sure many did not know that candidate Beauprez said he'd do what ever he could to repeal the law. Those who knew what he said, voted, including Republican's who love weed as much as guns. Hickelooper prevailed because he said he would leave the law as the people voted in spite of his misgivings. He who had hair down to his ass in college and smoked weed.

[RobertEarl]

14. Oregon has the best voting system, ever

They are on top of making sure votes are not miscounted.

40 other states don't care about an honest vote count.

[truedelphi]

57. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^n/t

[Recursion]

78. Yep. You can do awesome things when you have a liberal population

The problem is there aren't enough states like Oregon, and the un-Oregon-like states grow less and less Oregon-like every year as people move to the coasts.

[99Forever]

10. They will learn nothing.

(Or perhaps they got the results they wanted. Either way, it's the same ol' same ol'.)

[Martin Eden]

11. [Republicans] "communicate that message in a confident way."

Yes. The Democrats failed to stand up and proudly declare what they stand for.

They failed to give voters something to vote FOR, and they lost.

[Eleanors38]

43. Yes, I noticed that, too. Quite on the nose. Tone & style matter.

Democrats on the campaign, candidates or surrogates, are hesitant, bureaucratic, trying to extract passion outta adverbs. If you don't sound confident, you want inspire confidence.

I remember over 40 yrs ago, while taking over our precincts in Travis County, saying the same thing as this kid. He/she is right, but they should at least look at of the old farts' efforts. He'll have a tougher time than we did because even the Kennedy/Johnson/Southern Democratic Party establishment was a damn sight more progressive & viable than what you have now.

[Historic NY]

16. Well they will soon see or miss what they have..

when the majority starts peeling back on the morsels they now get. There is no "I" in Democrat.

[secondvariety]

20. While he has a point,

I think the "Disillusioned Young Voter(s)" didn't vote because they're just lazy, not disillusioned. Florida had a Medical Marijuana amendment change on the ballot and it failed, so that talking point of his is moot. He makes it sound like there's a cabal of DYVs sitting around making plans to sit out elections because Obama didn't send them a personal invite.

Disillusioned? Son, we're all disillusioned and that's why we vote.

[defacto7]

21. Any person who sings in the shower,

sounds like an opera singer.. to themselves. Listen closely... While some millennials are stomping their feet, threatening politicians with no confidence voting, or no voting, what the outcome will be is much different than they expect. The outcome will be loosing the ability to vote at all, or for their voice (vote) to have no value at all. America is not the same, it has changed and the idea that spanking your only "viable" messenger will only play to the extreme right. As a matter of fact, that is exactly what the extreme right actually wants millennials to do.

The millennial perceptions of present politics may be correct, but the perception of the future is not. If you want to push toward progressive, you have no choice but to beat the right at their own game, not kick over the board.... because the RW owns the game factory.

This is not attitude, this is reality..

[BlindTiresias]

27. You know

Being bitter and browbeating a group you want to vote may not be a winning strategy. If your attitude is "fuck em", then expect to fade into oblivion as a party.

[YOHABLO]

28. Either participate in the democratic process or STFU no excuse for not voting. None.

[BeyondGeography]

29. The letter writer invokes Warren and student loans and says young people had nothing to vote for

Brilliant. Have fun watching NOTHING happen to ease the burden of student debt over the next two years minimum.

[Cha]

35. I know.. and the Environment is NOTHING, too.. The rest of us have to carry that burden while they

sat at home and continue to whine ad nauseam.

[BeyondGeography]

44. Inhofe replaces Boxer as head of Environment and Public Works

Is that too inside baseball for the children? Not to mention people on this board who continue to insist we had nothing to vote for. The idiocy is epic.

[Cha]

49. Pesky details like Planet Earth.. the "youth who didn't vote" did Not even think of.

the Epic Idiocy must be fed!

[TiredOfNo]

31. It sounds a little like whining to me.

If you didn't vote, your opinion is irrelevant. I live in Alabama and I knew when I stepped into the voting booth that my vote was meaningless. Sure enough, not one of my candidates won.
I voted because I believe in justice, fairness, equality, and the American people. I will always vote my conscious and I will vote for what I think is right.
If you're not willing to stand up and be counted then you will always be carrying someone else's water.

[Cha]

37. I love you, TON! Thank you!

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

42. So their opinion is irrelevant but your vote was meaningless?

Doesn't sound to me like your vote was any more important than their opinion then.

In fact, I think you pretty much demonstrate exactly why so many people don't bother to vote. Why should they waste time on meaningless activities?

[minivan2]

38. I'm a young voter who voted in this election

And I agree with what this person said, the democrats didn't run on student loan debt and that's why they no young voters voted. The democrats need to get us to vote.

[randr]

116. The Democrats did not address student loan debt

because not enough of you vote to change things.

[cprise]

130. Tell your friends -----

They MUST show up to vote, even if the official candidates don't represent their views... even if they've been purged from the voter rolls.

You can write-in a protest vote. If they won't let you, at the very least you've forced them to visibly turn you away (or perhaps can form a protest).

But if you give up, then the machinery of government will be turned increasingly against ALL of us, you especially! If you give up and stay home, you give the stamp of legitimacy to a system that brutally attacks leftwing marches and protests.

You MUST use election day to make yourselves heard or be ground to dust.

[bravenak]

47. I always vote.

But many of my peers, mostly younger, did not. Both candidates were saying the same thing in their Senate commercials, my state rep was unopposed, Don Young has been here for like 600 terms and got the support of the Tribal councils.
Many did show up to vote for minimum wage, weed, and protecting the environment through ballot measures. All of that passed. It was just the politicians that lost. Our minimum wage will now be tied to inflation. It was millennial and genxers that hit the pavement and got that done while the party was bullshitting. The people are doing our politicians work for them better than they are.

Our politicians are too afraid of Republicans, the media, and moderates not voting for them that they forgot that nobody owes our party votes just because we say we'll do things for them. But we don't do anything real. We try and fail. And the things we do get done, our politicians run away from like they had nothing to do with them.

[Plucketeer]

54. Quid pro quo

That's the VERY thing we wish to see ousted from DC. I understand younger generations than mine are reward-motivated. But it's not about "PLEASE come out and vote for us - we've got your flavor of candy as a reward!" It's really about folks you'll NEVER get to know because they took a bullet or shrapnel on some far-flung battlefield so you could decide if you'd rather stand in line at Starbucks or the local polling station. Those departed souls can't come and ask you to make their sacrifice worthwhile - you have to think of them and consider it on your own. And if enough of you DO opt to honor them, the reward you mused about might well be yours.
For that matter, if you could think beyond your own, personal interests, you might go farther and run for office yourself one day. Then you could push for FREE higher education for anyone who wanted it. And just think how nice it would be to live in a country where FOX news was gone because the populace was smart enough to recognize them as a network of liars!

[WillyT]

56. K & R !!!

[mtngirl47]

60. We Democrats didn't take anyone for granted...

We knocked on doors. We registered new voters. We made millions of phone calls. In my county we staffed the early voter locations passing out information and engaging voters. On election day I stood outside of our polling location all day with sample ballots and information about judges that are non-partisan in our state. The Republicans didn't show up in the same way. As a result our county was blue all the way. We elected 3 Democratic County Commissioners to 1 Republican. All other County positions are now filled with Democrats.

At the state level Kay Hagan lost only by a small margin. We can blame low turn-out, we can blame voter suppression but the biggest reason that she lost was the money. The outside interests spent $62 Million to buy this election--the candidates spent $30M and the parties spent $19M--for a grand total of $111 MILLION DOLLARS. It was maddening, it was one lie after the other. Most folks were confused about what was true. Many folks just tuned it out. The issues never came up. Kay Hagan was constantly trying to counter the smears and lies.

The right to vote is a responsibility. It is your job as a citizen to educate yourself about the candidates and their positions. It is your job as a citizen to engage the candidates at all levels and communicate what is important to you. Call or email your representatives when an issue interests you. My Congressman and Senators at the state and national level hear from me all the time. In 2000 a President was appointed by the Supreme Court and look at that disaster. Your vote counts. If you don't like the Democratic candidates then find an Independent to get behind.

[kiva]

66. I voted for the first time in 1976.

Everyone I knew voted as soon as they could, it was our privilege and obligation. Since then I can count on a couple of fingers presidential candidates I was excited to vote for, but a whole lot of candidates I voted against. Everyone I knew voted as soon as they could, it was our privilege and obligation. Senators, reps, some local races expand those numbers. If you're waiting for that candidate that makes you tingle you my well wait a long time.

And if you only are willing to vote if there's something in it for you...don't bother, the rest of us will continue to go to the polls even if no one is dangling a carrot in front of us.

[ucrdem]

69. "Ask not what your country can do for you . . . ."

Easy to get that one switched around I guess, or maybe nobody ever played it for him. That's a shame.

[craigmatic]

73. That's a pretty speech but the reality is that it was easy for the rich boy JFK to say something

like that when he grew up not needing the government to do anything for him. It strikes me as weird that that we still like to quote that particular line from Kennedy without facing the elephant in the room which is that he was already rich but asking the country for sacrifice. And yes I'm aware of the irony of me saying that with his little brother in my avatar.

[ucrdem]

74. JFK: “To those whom much is given, much is expected.”

I don't think it's weird at all. He's not excepting himself from sacrifice, and in fact, he made the ultimate sacrifice of his own life 3 years later, and yes he was fully aware that Dallas was "nut country" as he put it and that he had a target on his back. He rode in that parade anyway. Incidentally his older brother Joe Jr. had died while flying a volunteer military mission. The Kennedys are very familiar with the concept of sacrifice, wealth or no.

[ErikJ]

70. Whatever happened to college sit-down strikes and marches?

The tuition has slowly got higher and higher and one of these days they have to demand free college like it used to be.

[Recursion]

79. The perception that they didn't really accomplish much

The people who did the sit-down strikes and marches are now professors and administrators and are the ones who now say "you can't put a price on education" while proving themselves very good at doing so....

[DemocraticWing]

75. Elizabeth Warren stumped for a lot of these people that millenials refused to vote for.

I'm 23 and I voted in this election, but people in their 20s have been skipping midterms for as long as they had the right to vote. Young people aren't active participants in democracy; that sucks, but it's a truth. Nothing new happened here, youth turnout was generally stable to most midterm elections in the past.

[Kalidurga]

84. We can go around and around pointing fingers

It's not going to do a lick of good. People should feel obliged to vote even if they don't vote for a major party. And it's still at least on paper a government for the people by the people, although I see little evidence it's for the people. But, the mechanisms for change are in place and we all need to learn how to use them. The ballot initiatives have shown us one way to give people a voice in actual laws that can be made on the state level with or without the help of D.C.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

87. "Simply banking on being the lesser evil and having that be enough won’t cut it any longer."

This is where DU was a few weeks ago and myself and other were pleading for Democrats to get serious about the mid-terms. I was castigated for daring to suggest we would lose.

Well, I told you so! We were right and that quoted sentence is why.

[world wide wally]

95. With you all the way… but you better understand exactly what the Republicans want before you vote

FOR them by NOT voting

[Android3.14]

97. Obama hit the nail on the head, but refuses to do anything but talk

This OP is spot on. Democrats need a purge of leadership.

[stillwaiting]

100. I kick and rec this not because I think people were smart to stay home and not vote Dem.

I do so because it is clear that enough people feel this way and WILL feel this way in the future if Dems keep acting like DLC/Third Way "Dems" and not fighting for the American people on issues that will better their lives. As a result, Republicans will continue to reemerge from the ashes and take control throughout our country as peoples' lives continue to get more and more difficult.

So, instead of yelling at the voters (many of whom do not read DU or any other online message board), ALL of us should be demanding that elected Democrats start acting like frickin' Democrats and start fighting for average Americans' interests. This means passionately exposing the Republicans for what they are (most elected Dems do not do this), what the Republicans' agenda has done and will do to average Americans (most elected Dems do not do this), and cohesively presenting an agenda that appeals to Americans and communicating to the people that they are fighting for it (most elected Dems do not do this) and saying ---> "Now you all need to go and elect more GOOD Dems that want these things done..."

Progressive values are shared by a majority of Americans. This is simply a fact, and it's reflected in poll after poll on the issues. Progressives CAN win in most places throughout the U.S. if the Dem candidate fights for those values and exposes the Republicans for the asshole obstructionists that they have been and will continue to be.

So, we can continue on this merry-go-round ride-from-hell for another decade or two where Republicans and Democrats keep swapping power back and forth between each other in Congress and the White House OR we can unite and demand the Democrats start acting like Democrats and fight for average Americans' interests (in which case the Republican Party could be dead for decades as they should be). It is painfully obvious that many Americans believe that Democrats support corporate and Wall Street interests over the interests of Main Street (this IS the perception). And, if that isn't true then the Dems need to start passionately and openly fighting for us and against the Republicans instead of continuing to validate a political party whose policies and ideas are destroying average American lives. If we get tons of bipartisanship over the next two years and lots of horrible legislation passed that continues to make our lives harder over the next two years that will NOT be good for the American people OR the Democratic Party. Expose the Republicans and fight for us damn it!

[ladjf]

101. IMO, this OP is light weight mum bo jumbo, describing the terrible political moves as admirable

political strategy. The Republicans respect criminal behavior. I believe the OP writer would be more comfortable voting
Republican.

[turbinetree]

104. A Failure in Communication

Ok all of you "young Folks" what do you want?
Do you want to change the system, then my answer is to start at the bottom, run for the school board, council seats, mayors, sheriffs office, legislature, in your state, go to council meetings go your state and federal representatives band your collective talent together since you are the age of electrical and social means, you people have more power than you realize, we want to hand this off to you but also remember we want to help you very much, we know what is at stake, and to continue down this path of what is perceived as taking advantage of you is totally missing the point, this is what the oligarchy people want to have you think and have this act of complaining to keep the distraction going , and if you fail remember this it took us, my generation over 40 years to get what we wanted and we also were taken advantage of, and it was done with greed and a corrupt judicial system starting at the very top which is making this country and your values obsolete because of hypocrisy and outright greed, fraud, corruption starting at the very top in the U.S. Supreme Court, money is not speech, money is corruption, and they are winning, think Citizens United, what a oxymoron statement people united, its not people, its people with lots of money and there greed.
People have got to come and realize that its about the U.S. Supreme court and who is in office and who appoints federal and state judges.

These five justices take cases and tweak the edges of the law, but there rulings have devastating effects, just think of them re-visiting the ACA again right after an election, over 5 million people will be affected, this was not happenstance but a coordinated plan to see who won this mid-term, they go to these Koch funded events and they take gifts, what is wrong with this picture.
And now we are holding those we entrusted with your values and they ran to the right wing fear machine, because
they did not hold to there values, there core beliefs of fundamentally right for everyone, they ran away from the values.
And if a right winger reads this blog and see what is being said they are telling themselves (right wing hypocrites) they are succeeding
in there mission and my answer is to take out billboards, write letters to the editor, get a combine group together to speak out about these issues make your voice heard on the right dominated radio and television

[bread_and_roses]

106. Repeating "people should" and expecting results is magical thinking

All the bleating around here about "people should" vote is like expecting that wishes were horses ... not to mention some of the repellent authoritarianism rampant in this thread - "those spoiled brats should get what they deserve." Goddess, some of you sound like the miserable soul-shriveled worshipers of convention who railed against men with long hair and bra-less women.

I very much doubt that the above was actually written by a "young voter" but that's neither here nor there. The essential point that people won't vote if they see no point in it remains.

And guess what? By all the data, those people are right. How many times have we seen some variant on "majority want X but politicians give them Y?" Over and over - and both Parties.

We had a moment when people believed that voting would give them change. That was in '08. Obama ran on change, and people came out in droves and worked round the clock for him and voted for him and gave us a milestone I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. And what did he do with that mandate for change? He appointed Clinton retreads and Bankster Buds. And nothing much changed.

People are not stupid. They know the game is bought and sold and they are not the buyers. They are not yet to the point of going out in the street and shutting the country down - a 'la Ireland over water and recently in Belgium.

When they get there we'll see some action. Unfortunately, it may well be action we won't much like. But the responsibility for that lies squarely with the sell-outs in media, academia, and DC. Not with people who've given up on what is plainly a futile ritual.

[turbinetree]

119. OCCUPY

Did you go and occupy a piece of public ground, did you go and give support to those that were fighting for justice.
Well guess what when I was protesting in the 60 and 70's we changed a corrupt system, we made some mistakes and we got what we have now, over 300,000 humans in Belgium are protesting the austerity programs the government wants to implement and sitting around waiting for the other person to do something will not get it done.
This defeatists attitude only creates more of the same shit.
We the have the means to start and get this done if we collectively place our cash into a system to change this political corruption, this centipede format to give one group money and other, will not work, so instead of us its time to rethink a different plan with one program

[bread_and_roses]

128. er ... not quite sure what you are going on about

I find your post a bit ... incoherent. I am not recommending doing nothing. Just saying that those who feel that voting "does nothing" have, in most instances, evidence on their side. And that our POTUS provided a good bit of that evidence by his actions once "change" got him elected.

"Not voting" does not = "do nothing." Nor do I encourage people not to vote - just saying, I understand those who don't.

And what's with this "did you do this or that?" I was 18 in 1968. So the answer is yes. But so what? That doesn't mean younger people don't "get it" too.

[blackspade]

111. K&R

[treestar]

112. As usual, somebody else has to do it for them

No one has ever managed to package the Democratic "values" because they are what they are. They are not susceptible of that.

Always criticizing others for not putting on a good enough show. That's not participation in politics. Get out and vote for the Democrats - they don't inspire you precisely because they are not exciting, they just stand for a social safety net, liberal social values, freedom of religion or no religion at all - boring day to day life being boringly decent for all.

[randr]

114. Open response back to a Disillusioned Young Voter

As an elder hippie I certainly empathize with your statements. Been there/done that.
The most important thing I would like to convey to the youth of America is that you will not find any current political party that will come wooing you. Don't look at them as if they are a choice of which country club you join or magazine you subscribe to. Take a realistic look at the political atmosphere and understand that a mere 25-35% of the voting population are in control at any time. That is why it is so easy for the 1% to manipulate voters. They only need to convince a small number to get what they want.
If the young voters or women voters were to begin voting in any number above 55% they would take center stage and control the debate. The pressing issues of our times, and there are many, are all you need to focus on. Make them your own and demand action. You can only do this if you have a seat at the table so to speak.
There is a reason the Republicans are so intent on voter suppression. The lack of any voter rights legislation is the fault of both parties.
Displays of confidence or the lack thereof are political ploys designed to woo voters based on some bean counters algorithm. Buzz words are designed to avert discussion of the issues they are wrapped around.
Actions speak louder than words.

[dmosh42]

117. The author of that letter is the ideal voter for the Republicans....

Those young people are used to having it their way, or no way. They stayed home to avoid casting a vote, thus allowing the Repubs to achieve victory. If they had done some research of congressional voting, they would have found many items voted and passed by the Dems in the senate, but filibustered or blocked by Boehner from a vote in the House. For some strange reason, the Dems did not use that in their campaigns, so they paid the price. But to not even make a vote is the height of stupidity in this age of corporation control of our government, and that's from a long time voter who remembers when the country wouldn't accept a "bought out government".

[fadedrose]

118. I agree with MOSt of what you said

I'm 76, and you may be young, but our thoughts are the same.

But not voting did not help. We left our President, whom many of us still support and love, in an embarrassing and humiliating position. It hurts me that we left him so vulnerable and undefended by un-loyal Democrats in power (and recently out-of-power), who were elected only because they supported the President.

He is not a dictator, and if some young people watched Senate and House on CSpan at least once in a while, not always, they'd get some idea of what the problem is. We elected a man of peace who wanted to raise the level of living of all Americans, not just the top 1%. And listen to the opposing calls on CSpan from people who hate him, gun control, peace, social programs, any kind of taxation, and love their bibles and guns more than they care about humanity or poverty of others.

[annominous]

123. What a great idea, let's see where not voting gets us ...

It was obvious that the democratic candidates needed democratic voters to turn out in 2010 and in 2014.

What did the people get for low democratic turnout in 2010? gerrymandered districts throughout the country and crazy tea-publican policies enacted.

Hmmm, how could it get worse by not turning out for 2014? For starters, the Ryan budget will soon be passed by both houses, the Transpacific trade parternership treaty will soon be passed UNREAD by both houses and the POTUS, the ACA will be repealed by both houses as the SCOTUS guts it, more rights for oligarchs and higher taxes for us peons, the keystone pipeline will be approved and built rapidly although it will bring few jobs and many environmental problems. We will get more, not less, income inequality. The gop has already stated their views on helping struggling graduates with student loan debt: no dice.

There is no justification for abdicating the duty to vote. Not voting for democrats was the same as voting for republicans. Millenials, and the rest of us, will pay for these choices for years to come.

As a lifelong democrat, I also don't appreciate that the democratic party turned republican lite. Our national leadership is a disgrace. When did tweeting become a substitute for leadership? How can not voting change any of this? Only Democratic voters have the right to demand that national leadership of the party be changed.

[oldandhappy]

124. welcome to our world, youngster!

Happens over and over again. Keep the faith says this oldster. The president gave us a lot of very real good and we did not claim it. But the feedback on this election will lead to better stuff next time. Don't give up. Keep working. I assume you are working for our goals??!!

[Shiraz]

132. I'm kind of impressed this young voter

Is paying this much attention, that is somewhat hopeful.

[jonjensen]

133. 100,000 minority kids turn 18(voting age)every month! and republicans know it!

5,000,000 minority kids turn 18 every presidential election cycle. In 1984 bonzo got 61% of white vote and won in landslide vietnam war draft dodger mitt romney was on a mormon mission to the working girls of the french riviera and paris at the time.Mormon mitt also got 61% of the white vote and lost that is no longer enough to counter the non white vote.

[jillan]

134. "Healthy families" - that is a NO-Brainer yet they didn't even think of it to defend the ACA.

Excellent Post!

[whereisjustice]

137. Populism works. You can't have a middle class and eat it too.

[susanwy]

138. Youth is wasted on the Young

Look, I get what the youth is saying...I have one 20yr old son who sat out the election and another who only voted locally (at least that is a start). I talked to them till I was blue in the face, and this is what I told them:

NOT voting is a total cop out. Regardless of the candidate, you HAVE to look at the system as it stands now. READ THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PLATFORMS, and decide which platform best fits your values and vote for those party candidates. In races where it does not matter, if an Independent is on the ballot, vote for them because the more votes they get each cycle, the more likely in YOUR lifetime we will see a viable third party in this country. Do not be a one issue voter. Also, THINK local, I would bet that your local school board, city council, county commissioners, and state representative will be working on issues that will directly and indirectly affect your daily life. For example, are your parents government employees, think what would happen to your family if your Dad lost his pension (WISCONSIN)? Do you want your children to learn about evolution or creationism (KANSAS)? Do you care about your local environment? Does your city council promote recycling? What does your county do to protect open spaces? These decisions matter just as much as national issues IMHO. Look at state legislatures across the country - they are now MAJORITY Republican controlled. If you like their platform, then OK, but if not you are now screwed locally too.

Control of the HOUSE and SENATE are not figments of your imagination, they make a difference. Look, don't base your disillusionment on 30 second advertisements, twitter "buzzwords", corrupt media outlets and badly run campaigns trying to pick up INDEPENDENT votes (so, no they won't cater to your pony, they will cater to the sloppy middle). If someone who generally supports a particular PLATFORM chooses not to vote because they think their candidate ran to the middle or an "uninspired" campaign, they are fools and do not understand the realities of getting elected (vastly different from governing). I daresay the Republicans know this lesson. I agree, our side would have done better if they had taken a stand, but highly paid "experts" and big campaign donors told them to run to the middle, and in in politics, money talks. Take a minute and really LOOK at what each party has to offer, not the BS lies every candidate spews to raise the money they need to run. Then realize that the system ain't perfect. Crack open your 9th grade civics book (if your local school board provided a decent one) and be sure you REALLY understand how bills get passed. I am totally disgusted that 40% of those that did bother to vote didn't even know who controlled congress. You have the Internet, take a couple of hours away from your friends, social media, games, work and school and do a tiny bit of research. Get your friends to do the same. Talk to your friends about issues, be passionate and respectful, but try to make them GIVE A SHIT, it is your future. I'd say I don't care, I'll be dead, but I DO CARE, because I love my children. Realize, you won't get everything you want, no one does, life isn't fair and instant gratification, especially in politics is a pipe dream. I agree, the candidates ran suck ass campaigns, they ignored the issues (yours and mine) and they treated voters like dumb cattle. It doesn't matter, what matters are the values espoused in the PLATFORMS.

In between elections HOLD the representatives to those PLATFORMS. Pay attention when congress is in session, pay attention when your local legislature meets, your city council meets, read the fucking local paper or Internet sources or watch Stewart, Colbert, Oliver, I don't care, but PAY ATTENTION between elections, locally and nationally. Write, call, email, tweet, FB and tell your representatives how you want them to vote. Will it matter? Sometimes yes, others no, and sometimes their corporate masters will overrule you. When that happens, MARCH IN THE STREETS, BOYCOTT THOSE CORPORATIONS, be LOUD. Locally, seek out good people that will RUN for office and support them with your time. Eventually good people will rise to the top nationally. VOTE in the primaries, that is where you can really surprise the corporate whores. Hey, here is a better idea run for local offices yourself, be the change you want to make!!

By not voting you shot yourself in the foot to spite your face. You get the government you deserve, and I'm mad because I have to live with it. You say you like OBAMA CARE, it was a start. You are right, it was, and now the very first thing a Republican congress will do is repeal it. We know the POTUS will veto, but make no mistake, they will de-fund it, they will be successful in making it completely unworkable, and there will be no chance now to add a public option or fix problems in the legislation. They will also get KEYSTONE XL built and they won't touch CLIMATE CHANGE (Senator James Inhofe is now chair of Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, use your Google). Student Loans, well fuck it, you will have to pay more to PRIVATE schools (think Phoenix) at higher interest rates, public education will continue to be smothered at all levels. Republicans now more than likely will determine the makeup of the SCOTUS for the next 40-50 years. If Obama gets a chance, he will have to nominate a CONSERVATIVE, otherwise the SENATE will not confirm. And what do republicans have to do to govern, NOTHING, as they have done for the last six years. They will pass conservative PLATFORM bills and Obama (please, please) will veto most of them, but he will probably let a few disastrous things though, because if he does not, Republicans can lie and say it was all the Democrat's fault again (because they know most Americans don't know 9th grade level civics).

Take care youth voters, it will be a long couple of years, but the consequences could last your lifetimes.

(P.S. Long, long time since I posted, I'm shy, sometimes a bit wordy and don't like to be attacked for simply voicing my opinion, but this issue of the youth vote hit close to home. Many arguments in my house preceded the election. I'd make this a tread, but right now I'm between jobs, so every penny matters. Peace.)

[Little Star]

140. Hear, hear!

[erronis]

143. This bulletin board has been coopted and is no longer useful

There are too many slingers of ideologies that have too much time (and some have paid time) to allow real voices to appear.

This won't make a dent in the diatribe but I just thought I'd throw it out there.

K.Rove and other operatives are funding people-bots to distract and annoy. You're wasting your energy on a bunch of clowns.

...one of those who gave up DU and other "social" media.