A tweet from David Hogg to Sen. Chuck Schumer

[AntivaxHunters]

For those that you don't know, David Hogg is one of the leaders against gun violence and is a Parkland mass shooting survivor.

Gen Z ain't messing around & young voters are now the largest voting bloc, keep that in mind. The future looks great I'd say!

[MontanaMama]

1. Young people are tired of excuses.

My 18 year old son says this all the time.

[Demsrule86]

16. Really, young people should learn how the governments works. Instead of attacking Schumer, he

Should set his sights on the GOP and help elect enough Democrats to get what can be done ...done. it was the 'I want a pony' attitude in 2016 that costs us the courts which made dealing with guns much more difficult.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

24. 'They were told to vote and that is how change happens and they did.

And then they are told to go vote again. Which they have been doing. It's not about a pony, it's about actually doing what they said they'd do if they voted.

[emulatorloo]

32. Did he send a letter to Mitch McConnell? Republicans are standing in the way of gun control.

Democrats want comprehensive gun control.

As to voting, convincing more Americans to vote out Republicans would help reach our goals.

I do like his idea about bringing an assault weapons ban to a vote over and over.

However I don’t think democrats are cowards and afraid of the NRA like he suggests. That describes Republicans, not Democrats.

[edisdead]

44. Exactly. And David Hogg knows full well how government works.

This is the kind of shit that splits us up.

You want gun reform action? FIRST start with the party that fights against it as their fucking party platform.

[Pisces]

67. That's a waste of time. Our side needs to keep beating the drum!

Talking to the wall doesn’t do anything. He is lighting a fire because young people want to see action and they see nothing. My own teens are worried about guns as they have had threats of shooting up the school this last week. They are living in fear and see adults doing nothing.

[edisdead]

147. we are all worried about guns.

Berating schumer about it does jack shit right?

His message seems to be, we tried voting but that doesn’t seem to be getting us anywhere. So what is his alternative? Not vote? Do something beyond voting instead?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

128. How exactly is that going to work?

You think they are going to change their mind?

[edisdead]

151. And pushing the idea that voting didn't work IS going to help?

Sorry but I have little faith that David hasn’t turned his eye to his own political aspirations, which I have no problem with unless, as it appears, is to attack democrats in order to do so. It does NOTHING to promote his agenda at all. Go take a seat from republican instead of selling election apathy.

I have had just about enough of that shit the last few elections.

[betsuni]

153. +1

[TeamProg]

117. That won't help. McConnell knows that youth won't vote GQP either way - too many othe objections

to the GQP = education costs, marijuana, abortion, housing, min. wage, individual freedoms, and there's the racism, the Nazi sympathizers.

Hogg is just stating that the youth vote might not turn out for ANYONE.


McConnell and the GQP are PERFECTLY happy to frustrate the youth vote.

[Maraya1969]

144. I think continuous voting to end assault weapons might have a good effect for our country

It would show over and over which republicans don't want gun safety. Each time they should get their names written down and published.

[progressoid]

149. Is Mitch MConnell Senate majority leader?

And even if he was, there is zero chance he would support any gun control legislation.

There are, however, Democrats who are hesitant to act. They need a push.

[BlackSkimmer]

206. Damn good question.

I bet he didn't.

[sheshe2]

238. "Establishment"

"Cowards"
"You told us to vote"
"If you make us lose enthusiasm many young people won't continue turning out"

Wow. You need to be 'told' to vote? We will 'make' you lose enthusiasm? David gun violence is horrific, it needs to be stopped, yet you are not the only ones being shot down. The loved ones of the dead are suffering too.

David, kudos to you for speaking out and voting. However you can't be a single issue voter. Perhaps you haven't noticed that the GOP is trying to take away college students' votes. Actually they are succeeding. Yes they are. They are trying to take away your freedom to vote.

Thank you for your post, Em.

[betsuni]

252. Return home, find your family eaten and everything destroyed, see a tiger and a kittycat inside.

Who do you blame? The kittycat, of course. Why didn't the kittycat stop the tiger, why didn't it stand up to Big Cats? Coward. Spineless. It didn't want to stop the tiger. Both Sides. All it thinks about is fancy cans of expensive elite corporate establishment tuna.

"Establishment" as an insult for Democrats gives it away.

[Walleye]

42. Nobody should have to be told to go vote, I voted every time I'm exhausted

But I still go out and vote. And it’s very frustrating that it doesn’t bring about the change we want. We beat them in elections and they still act like they own the place. I don’t know what the answer is just please young people don’t get discouraged. You have the power. Don’t say the old people aren’t doing enough to give you enthusiasm. It’s up to you now

[treestar]

102. Right, it is not just vote once and

then see if you get all you want. It's keep voting, keep campaigning.

Where would we be if Susan B. Anthony thought like that?

[Walleye]

103. Really, after all these years we have to fight for our reproductive rights again, we have no choice

[Cuthbert Allgood]

129. It's not like Hogg is a brand new Gen Z voter

He's been told since Parkland that he just needs to vote to get change.

He shouldn't be upset? He shouldn't speak truth to power?

"It's up to you now" may not look like you want it to.

[bottomofthehill]

138. Parkland was 5 years ago.

Change takes time. The right fought to take away a woman’s right to choose for 50 years before they got what they wanted. It takes a large majority to overtake the will of a a dedicated minority.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

163. 1789-1919

That's how long women fought for the vote.

1789-1965

That's how long black people had to wait to get the unimpeded right to vote in all of the US.

And this privileged little ball sac is whinging about 5 years of waiting for his pet cause to succeed?

Pull the other one!

The powerful don't cede their power without a long, hard fight. Spoiled brats like him need to grow up and face the fact that it will take more than stomping his feet and throwing hissy fits to get his way.

[intheflow]

219. Yes, but injustices aren't some pro sport.

Hogg isn't a brat, he's a fucking survivor of a massacre when he was still a schoolboy. Just because it took centuries for Black and women's liberation - neither of which are even complete, FFS - is no reason to slam young activists for demanding justice from gun violence today. I mean, part of why it took so long for both women's and Black liberation movements is because they weren't allowed to speak out in in their own favor. Women were hysterical and Blacks were uppity. And here we are now, with good liberals of DU basically calling Hogg an uppity youngster. It's not the strong talking point you think it is.

[ramen]

221. I'm assuming you aren't familiar with this person. They are a survivor of the Parkland shooting.

Your suggestion that he is a "privileged ballsac" who is "whinging" and needs to shut up is more or less exactly the problem that I hear my Gen Z students bring up about the Democrats in my generation and the ones before me. Hogg is an activist and a powerful voice for gun control. The fact that you are either choosing not to know that or that it doesn't register with you is entirely your call.

From my perspective, telling someone who was lucky enough to survive that tragedy and who is mobilizing anti-gun youth to sit down, stop whining, and wait their turn is a pretty good way to let republican gun fetishists peel off parts of the youth electorate. Obama famously asked us to hold his feet to the fire. I think he meant it, and I think it's on all of us to hold all representative's feet to the same fire until meaningful legislation is passed.

[The Mouth]

197. I have exactly ZERO respect, empathy, or concern for anyone who doesn't vote

They are part of the god-damned problem.

Don't vote- don't complain.

[Unca Jim]

100. AMEN!

Either give them someone and something to vote for or expect low turnout.

[treestar]

101. they said they would bring a bill over and over?

And they hold their vote hostage? They have to be part of the party - why this message they are to be served or they leave?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

130. Politics is about service, isn't it?

If they people that you are voting for over and over again aren't doing what they said they would when they told you to vote, you're going to keep voting for them over and over again? That's pretty shitty sales/persuasion.

[inthewind21]

142. No

Vote for the opposition or don't vote at all. That should do it right? Look how well that's worked out so far.

[Texaswitchy]

207. Yes

Gen Z is media driven.

They will vote the way they are told to vote by social media.

[LakeArenal]

124. Is that any different than any adult?

Good grief…. To say to Schumer that youth isn’t being listened to….
Well, David, as a retiree I don’t feel listened to. My rights are called “entitlements” as a pejorative. My rights for 50 years are being removed.

The world I was promised at your age didn’t pan out well at all.

To tell Schumer he’s ignoring you is just not true. But complaining you are “told” to vote over and over then not getting what you want…? Join the Democracy Club.

You shouldn’t need to be “told” over and over to vote. Just like everyone should not need to be told to vote. Do you think I feel “listened” to after I vote for more school funding and don’t get it?

In the end, I think Schumer and I know we can’t win without the youth vote. As well as the Black Women’s votes have been so instrumental in the past.

Seriously tho, what’s your choice on elections right now? The same as any older person’s.
Democracy or Fascism.

If you DON’T vote you won’t get what you want at all.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

131. But they aren't getting what they want anyway?

The other party isn't clearly going to help. And the party that should and says the will isn't. So why keep voting? You don't understand that's the main reason behind young voter aparthy? That that's the reason why there is so much "both parties are the same" discussion from the young?

"Democracy or Fascism" sounds great, but nothing is changing anyway, so, fuck it. Certainly nihilism isn't a new concept to you.

[inthewind21]

143. Don't vote

the choice is yours. Take your ball and go home because you didn't get exactly what you wanted when you wanted it. Should all work out ok.

[Texaswitchy]

210. Exactly.

I think Gen Z will throw a temper tantrum and vote third party or not vote

I know to many recently high school teachers.

The Gen Z crowd is out of control in the schools.

Some of them will be voting age.

Heaven help this country.

[LakeArenal]

155. Well Madison UW students turned out 90%.

They have very little in the way of “listeners” and will need to vote this much in every other election. They voted for Biden overwhelming. I don’t think it is a fad or phase. Did they get anything they wanted?
Nothing on climate. Nothing on guns. Banning abortion is what they got.

Did they re-elect a President, Democratic Governor and won a liberal Supreme Court Justice? Sure as hell did.

If that’s not important to youth to vote next time then we all lose and lecturing Democrats will be a moot point.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

165. They'll never get it if they'd rather piss and moan

And sulk and throw hissy fits about not getting their way rather than voting.

Do keep up.

[inthewind21]

208. He's getting

what he wants. He just needs to keep his name out there to continue getting it.

https://www.apbspeakers.com/speaker/david-hogg/

[edisdead]

213. How do we pass a bill without it passing the house and the senate?

[BlueCheeseAgain]

172. Other people voted too. And those other people elected Republicans in some places.

If these people seriously ever thought that the simple act of them voting meant that they'd what they wanted, they were hopelessly naive.

And while it's true that youth voters favored Democrats by a much larger margin than any other age group, only 23% of them actually voted in 2022. So did they vote? Well...

[KPN]

57. Ummm, they are voting ... for Dems.

[jaxexpat]

58. He's only stating the facts. Ignoring facts is a sure-fire way to help the GOP win.

Democrats cannot hope to gain what is necessary to maintain our democracy if they ignore the concerns of the group of voters who will certainly take control of the polls in the near and far future, young voters.

We've all been watching how government "works" and what we've learned is that the majority in power can accelerate the business of the people, throw on the brakes or run the whole thing over a cliff throwing the finger at the people as it passes. To think otherwise is to ignore history, both long and short term, and live in a dangerously naive fantasy world.

The "I want a pony" trope was no truer than the "of course she'll win, look at her opponent" trope proved to be, but, hey, let's just shoot the messenger, who in this case has some experience in being shot at.

[inthewind21]

66. Maybe

he should get some experience in civics 101. Just sayin

[emulatorloo]

77. Which Democrats are ignoring gun control? I would like to contact them.

Thank you!

[betsuni]

92. Ignoring facts, ignoring voters, ignoring history?

What is the evidence for this?

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

166. Their too spoiled and pampered arses, that's where

But then I realise he's from Florida, and the chances are close to nil that he received a decent education about the battles minorities fought for not years but generations stretching into a century or more for the paltry rights they have got.

That, or he wasn't pay attention when his teachers managed to mention it.

[JI7]

250. Well, his own parents are Republicans

and have voted for all those Republicans in his state.

Not sure if they stopped after he got involved these things.

[inthewind21]

64. Exactly

Seems they all need a basic civics course.

[betsuni]

91. +1

[lees1975]

256. Sorry, but politics as usual on the Democratic side just doesn't cut it anymore.

They need to see action and so do the rest of us.

Still waiting, more than two years, after January 6th.

[wnylib]

25. I'm a Boomer. Our version of being tired of excuses

was expressed in the saying, "Tell it like it is."

Same spirit, different times.

[treestar]

99. they are just part of the electorate

equal to the other parts.

They aren't there to be served. This is bad messaging that plays into the idea that the youth are entitled.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

135. Of course they are there to be served. That's was politics is.

[calimary]

111. So are we old people.

Last edited Tue May 16, 2023, 01:38 PM - Edit history (1)

Been working against guns for a long time, here. And I have no intention of EVER stopping.

I’ve said this before: if were up to me, ALL the guns would be GONE. I would take them ALL.

(Fixed the grammar boo-boo.)

[betsuni]

113. +1

[Happy Hoosier]

126. Ask him if knows where the magic wand is.

'Cause we don't have one, and that's what it will take to pass gun control without substantial control of both houses on Congress.

[progressoid]

160. If only we had control of both houses of congress and the White House at some point recently.

[betsuni]

162. When did Democrats have supermajorities with every Democrat voting the same recently?

[progressoid]

175. For what?

We managed to pass some gun legislation without a super-majority last year.

Obviously we lost the house so any vote this year would be symbolic. But it would put them on record for the 2024 re-election.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Very well spoken. I'm impressed so much by this young man. NT

[Demsrule86]

17. Impressed ? That he attacks a Democrat on this issue. Where is his tweet to McConnell? What

Concrete actions will help take?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

28. If you don't think he has made his point clear to Repubicans

than you haven't been paying attention to him.

[edisdead]

55. Makes it as clear as Jill Stein does.

[inthewind21]

68. Bingo

[progressoid]

157. Bullshit.

That's either ill-informed or insulting. Hogg is in no way aligned with Stein.

[edisdead]

159. well that isn't what I said either.

His “message, or how he is choosing to deliver it is however totally on brand. Maybe he should get susan sarandon to help him push it.

[progressoid]

164. Oh, maybe he should say, "pretty please?"

A lot of us are old enough to remember admonishing a certain Democratic President with chants of “Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” Was that on brand? (whatever the fuck that means) Or perhaps they should have taken some civics lessons too.

Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. today. The time for polite conversation is over.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

177. Good grief

How bloody condescending.

No, it's not about saying pretty please, but about growing the f up and facing the bloody f'n reality that change does not happen overnight, or in five years or even in the lifetimes of some people. Women and black people had to fight with all their might for decades to get the right to vote at all, and this privileged, spoiled brat is threatening to take his ball home if he doesn't get what he wants when he wants it?

F him and F anyone who thinks that's a mature, rational way to face the reality of how hard it is to make change happen.

[progressoid]

179. Speaking of condescending...

Actually, no, your comments aren't condescending. They're insulting.

Get back to us when you or your children have been involved in a school shooting.

[edisdead]

189. just what exactly would you have Chuck Schumer do?

how is insulting the democratic party ever going to get his agenda passed? Maybe you are one who thinks that tearing apart Democrats is a good idea I for one do not!

[progressoid]

191. It's not tearing Democrats apart.

If we don't make our voices heard, what good is a representative democracy?

The changes start with pressure from the people. Just view Obama's political evolution regarding marriage equality and gay rights as an example.

[edisdead]

193. What voices have not been heard?

Maybe when I meet some arbitrary age that you don’t even know if I have met or not, I will understand. Right? I can’t possibly understand because “Back in my day…..”

Have we not heard democrats over and over and over again calling for gun reform? How does it pass l? What other party pushes for gun reform? What do you want our dems to do that they are not doing?


It is the same shit ever time with people pike this. “Why should I bother to vote if the other people are going to vote and block my way. It MUST be the fault of the people that I voted for”.

David Hogg has been around politics in his life long enough that I am not buying this baloney from him. I feel bad for everything he has gone through in life but this tact stinks to high heaven. If you think complaining about and to schumer is a good idea, let’s just agree to disagree because I do not see how putting the idea that the democrats didn’t deliver for him is a good idea.

[betsuni]

195. +1

[progressoid]

196. I'm not saying voices aren't being heard. But apparently Hogg's voice is pissing a lot of people off

Honestly, I'm pessimistic that any legislation would make much difference at this point. America is addicted to guns and violence. We have more guns than people. It's going to take more than legislation to turn this boat around.

But kudos to these kids for fighting the good fight.

[inthewind21]

211. Uh huh

Kudos for landing book deals and speaking fees. Which is what his fellow March For Our Lives co founders were so irritated about and sidelined him for. A grift is a grift no matter who is doing the grifting republican, democrat or someone who found a way to make money off of tragedy.

[edisdead]

215. Truth.

[FoxNewsSucks]

48. WHat attack???

Damn that gets old. Every time someone tells the party they voted for what they'd like them to do, some here call it an "attack".

It's not just young people, either, I'm old and sick to fucking death of my vote being taken for granted. That needs to be addressed.

And I give him credit for not wasting ink and paper or electrons and time on Moscow Mitch.

[treestar]

104. Reality is

you won't always get what you want. The other side exists. You can't demand Democrats do something that Republicans are numerically or procedurally able to stop. It means vote again, and get more Democrats.

[edisdead]

194. The attack is making the argument that he did his part now he should have gotten what he wanted.

And in the process somehow holding Schumer and Democrats accountable for what the republicans did to stop it.

Sorry if you are tired of whatever it is you are tired of. I am tired of being blamed for the actions of republicans because the Dems didn’t use some magic fucking procedure to circumvent our democratic process to get his agenda passed.

Scream fight and march all you want but when you try to hold our party’s feet to the fire for the actions of the very party that is trying to destroy our democracy I’m calling bullshit.

[Zipgun]

49. The republicans already KNOW this, that's why they are looking at ways to suppress the youth vote

Seems like your answer to the youth is-no need to address your issues or listen to you, just bow your heads and vote for us. It's kind of a common democratic leadership answer to a lot of groups basically. And it gets us terrible results. So why don't the democratic leadership try something different? I've watched establishment democrats in Florida fight progressives tooth and nail, and then coast when it comes to the general election for decades. And now Florida may be lost for a generation. But I do have some hope. The new democratic chair of Florida is looking for ways to engage with the youth vote. I hope she gets the support and finances needed to turn the party around here.

[treestar]

105. It's not just their issues that count

is this generation super entitled or something?

Why do older Democrats not have their issues? Why do they vote anyway, no matter what happens, to keep out Republicans.

What do they not get about the existence of Republicans and their numbers in Congress? When are the Republicans going to get them anything they want?

Not voting means you still don't get what you want.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

134. He literally watched his friends get shot in front of him.

And we're going to shit on him for being "entitled"? Jesus Fucking Christ.

[inthewind21]

148. As have

countless other K-12 students. Difference, we don't see the others publicly displaying their ignorance of civics 101, signing book deals, starting pillow companies or claiming to(oops, that's was a bit of egg on his face) and threatening to take their ball and go home.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

161. Nice to see you are doubling down on his Harvard political science degree being bad.

Do you know why he wanted to start the pillow company or no? It was a valiant effort. It went wrong. So?

[inthewind21]

217. Well, I really

don't give a shit about his Harvard degree anymore than I gave a shit about GW Bush's Yale degree. What leans me to believe he's just cashing in on a tragedy, 1. How come you can't find anything about all the proceeds of his book being donated like he said they would? 2. Why does his fee to speak about said tragedy cost $7,500.00 to $100,000.00? 3. Why did the others that started March for Our Lives publicly apologize for their movement becoming a grift in response to what Hogg was doing? Color me unimpressed with David Hogg. He's not the only one out there that has seen his friends killed. But he does seem to be the only one cashing in on it. As far as I can tell.

[Texaswitchy]

203. I have seen some horrible things in my life to

That doesn't make him special.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

237. "in my life to" what

Man, how fast we just shit on the survivors of mass shootings who go on to her anti gun activists. Seems like that would mean more on a progressive discussion board.

[SWBTATTReg]

125. You call his message an attack? I'd say that it's just a young voter sending his thoughts to the

Senator. I'd say you're a little hyperbolic, in calling Mr. Hogg's words an attack. IMHO.

[emulatorloo]

167. Fair enough. It is also hyperbolic to call Democrats 'cowards' and 'fear the NRA.'

Especially since Republicans are the cowardly ones who won’t vote for comprehensive gun control and are terrified of the NRA.

I admire him greatly and i do like his idea to put an assault ban bill to a vote over and over. Republicans need to own their refusal to act.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

168. Well if you consider a hissy fit to be "well-spoken,"

Then the US is in more dire straits than I realised.

[mountain grammy]

3. He is right about this.

[Picaro]

4. Here, Here!

The young man speaks wisdom.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

174. He speaks 100% spoiled brat whingeing

Change does not happen overnight.

Go talk to women and black people about not getting what they wanted with, oh, being able to vote at all, then get back to us. You will not get one bloody shred of sympathy about trying to change something within 5 years from them, I can assure you.

[Texaswitchy]

218. Yep.

Exactly.

The Civil Rights Movement and the Women Rights Movement mean nothing to them.

If the Gen Z crowd even knows about it

It took years and is still in progress.

Nothing is instant.

[lastlib]

5. I can't wait 'til he is old enough to run for office.

I might set foot in Florida to work for his campaign.

[BumRushDaShow]

76. In the state of Florida

the youngest minimum age to run for an office (state Senate/House) is 21.

Hogg is 23.

He could actually get his feet wet learning parliamentary procedure going that route (which is how many currently in Congress did the jump to a congressional seat).

[LisaM]

93. And, he could run at the local level.

The state of Florida is being messed up from within. He could run for school board, or city council, or for state rep. He should.

[BumRushDaShow]

97. Yup and agree

And the post made me think of this guy in AR -

18-year-old college student elected mayor of Arkansas city

December 8, 2022


Jaylen Smith, 18-year-old mayor of Earle, Ark., at the Arkansas Black Mayors Association 50th Anniversary Gala, held Sept. 10, 2022 in Little Rock. The 18-year-old college student has been elected to serve as mayor of a small east Arkansas city, becoming one of the youngest people to serve as a city’s top leader in the United States. (Helaine R. Williams/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)


EARLE, Ark. (AP) — An 18-year-old college student has been elected to serve as mayor of a small east Arkansas city, becoming one of the youngest people to serve as a city’s top leader in the U.S.

Jaylen Smith, who is Black, was elected mayor of Earle in Tuesday’s runoff election, winning 235 votes to Nemi Matthews’ 183, according to complete but unofficial results.

He’s among the youngest mayors elected in the United States and would be the youngest member of the African American Mayors Association. Phyllis Dickerson, chief executive officer of the association, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the association’s current youngest member is Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, who is 35.

Smith is among a handful of people elected mayor before turning 20, including Michael Sessions, who was elected mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan, in 2005 when he was 18; and John Tyler Hammons, who was elected mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 2008 when he was 19.

(snip)

https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-united-states-government-and-politics-ffc4ca6292ebd54ef92c807660d45ab1

I remember seeing a few interviews with him too.

[ancianita]

242. Excellent points. I hope he gets some constructive suggestions like this.

[treestar]

106. I can't wait until he holds an office and learns

that it's not about just snapping his fingers to get what he wants.

[rainin]

6. I agree completely!!! Why won't dems go BIG?!! Our elected reps should be unabashedly radical!

The republicans are succeeding at a right shift by being radical. We're losing ground by being so timid. David Hogg is right. I hope dems are listening.

[Demsrule86]

19. How do we go big without sufficient numbers of Democrats? Try not attacking Democrats and voting for

for them... get out the Democratic vote.

[Celerity]

23. power concedes nothing without a demand

[Demsrule86]

26. We have get the numbers period.

Try voting guys and send a letter to McConnell.

[Celerity]

33. Taking the overall stance that flows from your logic, we may well never would have even tried to

pass the ACA, nor the Civil Rights and Voting Acts. To dare is to do.

Messaging via passage attempts (even if they fail) on gun control legislation concretely frames us as the good and the Rethugs as the bad, and may well turbocharge turnout, especially for us younger voters.

[edisdead]

223. Baloney.

We had majorities with ACA.

[FoxNewsSucks]

50. Maybe try serving the people who vote for them?

Maybe then we'll feel our votes aren't taken for granted.

Until then, the answer is in Hogg's post. Bring it up repeatedly and let the public see who is shooting it down.

That's how every issue should be handled. This "oh well, republicans will say no so why vote on it" accomplishes nothing more than discourage voters.

[inthewind21]

73. Newsflash

You're not the only "people they are serving". But hey, issue threats, hand out ultimatums and throw down the gauntlet. Worked out well in 2016 eh.

[treestar]

110. what else should be brought up repeatedly?

There are plenty of issues and what does one group's matter more than another?

Single payer should be brought up repeatedly.

Before you know it, there's no time left.

[Deuxcents]

7. It's their future and they want a seat at the table. Better listen..

[Demsrule86]

27. Then run for election.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

29. So now the goal posts have moved from voting to running for office?

I'm sure that's going to be persuasive.

[inthewind21]

75. lol

In other words, "I want others to do what I want, when I want, how I want so I'll whine and threaten, but do nothing." Got it.

[treestar]

112. That's what you have to do to have influence

sitting around making demands seems to ID one as a person who ought to run for office.

It's Schumer who ran for office and is there. Who is demanding what of whom?

[JohnSJ]

115. Where were they in 2016 when the SC was at stake? A slight majority in the Senate, with Manchin

and Sinema iffy, and a slight republican majority in the House is a problem.

[inthewind21]

127. THAT is the

64 million $$ question. And it appears their knowledge of basic civics hasn't improved any since.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

183. Yeah, stupid sophomores in high school not doing anything.

And, again, Hogg will have a poli sci degree from Harvard this year. You seriously arguing he doesn't know civics?

[inthewind21]

222. Yes

Because he's broadcasting stupid shit to the world. GW Bush had a degree from Yale, you buy his BS hook line and sinker too?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

181. In some high school sophomore class, if my math is right.

Or are you being sarcastic? Because you can't seriously be arguing that Hogg should have been voting when he was 16.

[SouthBayDem]

8. He does realize the Senate has a mere 51-49 D majority

And the House flipped to the Republicans, right?

Hogg is well intentioned, but maybe he ought to tweet Kevin McCarthy or Mitch McConnell too.

[wnylib]

36. His tweet to Schumer indicates that

he knows that we don't have enough Dems in Congress to ban assault weapons. He said that Dems should put the issue up for a vote, over and over even though it doesn't pass, in order to signal to younger voters where we stand so that they continue to support us.

He's got a point. That tactic has worked for maintaining and growing the Republican core voters.

[JohnSJ]

122. I am pretty sure most "younger voters" realize that Democrats are for gun reform legislation. It

Last edited Tue May 16, 2023, 02:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Was Senator Feinstein and the Democrats who legislated the assault rifle ban, and it was the republicans who removed it.

[wnylib]

145. Younger voters would not remember that history of gun control.

Yes, they know that we support gun control and the Rs don't. But putting the assault gun ban up for a vote even though we know that it won't pass would keep the issue visibly alive as a form of activism to keep young voters enthusiastic about voting. And that's all that David Hogg is saying. Keep the enthusiasm going with visible activism in Congress because if the young voters lose interest from a lack of action, they will stop going to the polls.

[inthewind21]

154. So

a nanny state. That's what we need. We need a government that will coddle everyone as if they were mindless infants. There's no responsibility of anyone to actually think for themselves, and participate in our Democracy with a mere ounce of understanding of how it all works and that there are WAY more issues than one that the government needs to work on in a short period of time. They need to be constantly coddled, placated and wooed in order to keep their attention. Got it.

Good news! Sorta, We have a large portion of government RIGHT NOW that is more than willing to do ALL their thinking for them! No need to have them play ball. Take the ball and go home one more cycle and we should make it all the way there!

What a stoke of luck that is eh?

[OneGrassRoot]

9. Huge K&R. n/t

[JI7]

10. Who doesn't know that it's Republicans that oppose gun control ?

And why do you need enthusiasm to vote ?

Maybe the casual voter types but he should be telling people to vote regardless of how enthusiastic you are.

[msfiddlestix]

34. Voter apathy isn't a thing that occurs out of thin air or laziness

It is a direct result of watching failure to act on our behalf over and over and over again.

Not hard to understand the "what's the point" attitude. Voter "enthusiasm" is the opposite of voter apathy.

If the desired results isn't accomplished once elected, at least a demonstration of effort to fight for that outcome inspires loyalty and support. which results in voter "enthusiasm" .

[JI7]

61. it's Republicans that are preventing gun control.

[msfiddlestix]

259. Of course it is, but that isn't in dispute.

[inthewind21]

81. Oh but it is

It's an astounding ignorance on how government works. I want this and if I don't get it then I'm not voting, yeah that worked out well in the past huh. How you like that packed federal court and full blown loon Supreme Court?

[msfiddlestix]

260. Totally singing and yelling at the choir.

So let's just keep shaming and wagging our fingers to our young folks. cuz that really gets the point across and it's so motivating.

I'm old as dirt, but I can still remember the attitudes in the 60's and early 70's.

[treestar]

116. Republican enthusiasm

lol. This is shooting themselves in the foot.

OK don't vote and see how much you get of what you want.

Even if you do, you can't expect it to be that easy. You have to keep at it.

It took years to get some things to pass. Decades other things.

[msfiddlestix]

178. Im not an apathetic voter..I know what is always at stakjel I have ever missed a election

in my entire life. Given I'll be 74 by Nov 2024, maybe you can do the math?

Doesn't mean I can't "get" what David Hogg was saying. What he means, and why it is the case.

Misunderstanding that is a fools errand, wrongly accusing me in this way is just flat out absurd and offensive.

[JI7]

247. It is laziness , ignorance , and inflated Ego

If someone doesn't know that it's republicans that oppose gun control they are not voters and pay no attention to politics .

if they do pay attention and don't know then they are fucking idiots.

[Botany]

11. After the Parkland shooting and when Mr. Hogg testified in front of Congress some members of either

... the House or Senate were very dismissive of him and all but told him to go away and leave
"this" up to the grown ups. Mr. Hogg took those insults and along with his colleagues built a
Juggernaut of political machine that turns out the youth vote like nothing else. And that vote
got us wins 2018, 2020, and 2022. Senator Schumer would be wise to invite Mr. Hogg to meet
with him and his fellow Senators.

[cksmithy]

186. I agree.

The fact that repubs will vote against gun legislation should be front page news everyday. Gen z is from 8 to 23 years of age. They are in school and college, it needs to be in the news, social media, so they can see and hear on a daily basis that the repubs are against any type of gun control or protection of children in school or any where else. I was in high school, late 1960's, graduated in1969. The Viet Nam war was on all of our minds, it was on the news constantly, the actual blood and guts. I didn't get to vote until I was 21, they had to lower the age because they were sending teenagers to their deaths without representation. Anyway, I agree with David Hogg. He could also send tweets to mcconnel and mccarthy, but they would respond inappropriately and make more news for gen z to hear and learn from. But the way our current media spins news, I don't think if it would be beneficial if he reached out to the repubs.

[halobeam]

212. 100% agreed. Thanks for saying it better than I might have lol!!

[SYFROYH]

12. uh oh, he called Schumer and cohort "establishment Democrats"

Let the outage begin.

[Walleye]

46. Being against the establishment is so 1960s

[J_William_Ryan]

13. "Hogg is well intentioned, but maybe he ought to tweet Kevin McCarthy or Mitch McConnell too."

Agreed.

Indeed, Senate Republicans would never allow an AWB to come to a vote.

And pursuing legislation that has no chance of passing to score political points with the base is what Republicans do.

[Magoo48]

14. More power to him and his young followers. Reasons, read excuses, are a dime a dozen.

As a party, we fuck with these young voters hopes and trusts at our own great peril.

[Demsrule86]

21. So you think attacking Democrats who want to fix guns is helpful? I do not.

Try sending a message to McConnell for a change and maybe lend a hand.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

171. And as usual

The Democratic party haters are in full force, I see. The same people who made TFG a President with their sniveling, sneering and fake persecution narratives.

Not to mention the complete detachment from reality.

[inthewind21]

226. Exactly

Only now they are demanding all the broke shit be fixed or they will repeat. Talk about walking in circles with one foot nailed to the floor!

[Demsrule86]

30. Right because we don't need no stinking majority to pass bills.

[treestar]

118. our peril?

They can enjoy the Republicans then. They aren't in peril with large Republicans majorities?

[Magoo48]

233. I doubt they'd turn to Republicans. There are other options which exclude Democrats.

[treestar]

257. not realistic ones

at present, no third party is going to win - Republicans will.

[spanone]

15. K&R

[intheflow]

18. Probably because the younger generation is

waaaaay more liberal/progressive that the party’s leaders. As an old progressive, I have felt the Democratic Party treated me this way all my life: takes my vote for granted, rarely listens to my concerns - like gun violence, rape culture, racism, etc. Just did enough to keep my vote but never fought back against corporate interests as enthusiastically as I wished. It’s getting better now that so many Dems can see the fascism after tfg, but for those of us who’ve been watching and warning about rising authoritarianism since the Reagan era are still frustrated at the incrementalism of the party overall.

[Demsrule86]

22. Are they really? Maybe they should understand that we need to toss out Republicans

out and elect a robust Democratic majority. Blaming your allies gets you nowhere. I always wonder why some enjoy seeing our side attacked when there is no path forward and this sort of crap has stacked the courts against us.

[emulatorloo]

37. ++++. Very tiresome that some people falsely blame Democrats for what Republicans do.

[Demsrule86]

65. Thank you! This is why we find ourselves in this position....

I have little respect for such 'messages' sent to allies...both divisive and worthless.

[betsuni]

96. +1

[edisdead]

228. Exactly!

Ohhhh but he’s such a fighter!


Yeah and he is punching us in the face!

[inthewind21]

85. LITEREALLY

The courts are stacked against us. Funny thing, Hogg didn't mention that little tidbit. Huh, wonder why?

[intheflow]

146. You can call it blame or you could consider it constructive criticism.

Assuming I'm blaming the party for its past behavior tells me more about your lockstep attitude than it says about the party. I didn't blame the party for *gesters broadly*, but like Hogg, it's constructive criticism that much of the older Dems would rather argue against instead of taking an opportunity to say, "Maybe we can learn something going forward." Doubling down on actual bullshit and assuming the worst of anyone who says anything that doesn't supplicate to the human party leaders is exactly what drives otherwise sympathetic citizens away from our party and voting in general.

[treestar]

119. it's life and the system and

there's no gain to looking at it like that. We have to be a part of it, not sit there waiting to be served. It was called self government for a reason. This is not a consumer product.

[intheflow]

150. And yet, this particular system is a human construct.

We can improve it. We can do better. I mean, c'mon, are you really arguing that Democrats are above constructive criticism from their own party members? That there's no worth in examining our past actions to see how they might have contributed to the current political clusterfuck? Trump did not win in a vacuum, and it's absolutely worth our while to see where we've excluded would-be supporters by our past actions. To say it doesn't have value or it's equivalent to bashing the party is to demand we all walk lockstep in smug arrogance of our own supposed infalability.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

170. Good grief

You really haven't paid attention to anything for decades if that's the takeaway you got about the Democratic Party.

[intheflow]

198. Good grief.

You’ve been here for less than two months and you think I haven’t been paying attention to politics when I’ve been 19years. I was immersed in politics long before that. Sorry to burst your bubble but the political left has people on the LEFT who are sick of being ignored and mocked even though we’ve voted Dem party line our whole lives.

[inthewind21]

227. Well

You showed us all in 2016 didn't you. Maybe one more time will get you what you want.

[intheflow]

229. I voted for Clinton in 2016 so I don't know what the fuck you're talking about. n/t

[inthewind21]

231. Well

You showed us all in 2016 didn't you. Maybe one more time will get you what you want.

Wanting what you want is all fine and well. I want what I want as well. But, I'm smart enough to know, when it comes down to nut cutting time, all I need is the answer to one simple question, who is going to do more harm than good? It's not, maybe this time a Green party candidate will win. Or maybe this time sitting out will be ok. Or maybe this time republicans will change.

You think ANY of us have got everything, or even 20% of what we'd like to see from the government? Hell no we haven't. But some of us recognize that voting 3rd party or not voting at all or turning on the ONLY choice we have because they didn't (fill in the blank here) is a risk that we (the country as a whole) CANNOT afford to gamble with.

So, Trump WAS elected President, the courts are already stacked, the Supreme Court is lost, state houses are already stacked and Dems barely hold the senate. But go ahead, stand your ground and protest. We're only one cycle away from Republicans having TOTAL domination. Maybe that will get gun control, climate change, student loans, medicare for all and such taken care of.

[Celerity]

20. kick for visibility!

[SYFROYH]

31. Interestingly, bringing the AWB to vote will increase sales of ARs.

Even it fails, which it most likely will do.

The NRA thanks you for your service, David Hogg.

[AntivaxHunters]

40. By that logic...

Being quiet reduces the sale of AR-15's.

[SYFROYH]

45. It does.

Other things can promote sales, but I do think there are unintended consequences for promoting gun bans.

[AntivaxHunters]

78. I think it's time for action

We have a huge crisis in this country & 2A needs to be completely rewritten. It's incredibly outdated & is literally getting people killed.

[inthewind21]

88. The time

for action is long since past. You think the 2A should be repealed/amended, NOW, AFTER the courts have been completely lost? Nothing like waiting until the house is a blaze THEN deciding you need a fire extinguisher and insurance NOW!

[Celerity]

43. Would have you offered the same counsel in regards to Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts during the

1960s? What about school desegregation and the attempts to smash 'separate and most certainly unequal'?

Would you have argued that trying to pass those bills, or take action to rectify systemic racism in public education would stir up race hate-driven violence against Black Americans in many parts of the US, especially (but certainly not limited to) the deep South, so therefore we should not make the attempts?

[SYFROYH]

51. I don't see legal sales of guns as the same category of race hate-driven violence.

The later being prohibited and illegal already.

Sometimes you do have to consider the unintended consequences of your actions if you're goal is to reduce gun sales of certain weapons and them being used in violent crime.

[Demsrule86]

69. My goal is to reduce the number of guns...ban automatic weapons and get an amendment through

that will end the militia bullshit that was wrongly decided by a corrupt supreme court...wonder how much money was given to them to buy their votes.

[Celerity]

70. The 'there are too many battle weapons out across the fruited plain' horse has already left the barn

The goal to simply slow sales is entirely inadequate. It should be to remove them from the playing field at the end of the day. Will that happen? On that I have no idea, but I can say with 100% certainty that it will never happen if we do not make the effort at a multiplicity of levels and attempts.

[treestar]

120. they passed because the votes were there

and did not have to be brought up again and again, which is the stupid idea behind it all.

Heck I could demand bring single payer up again and again just as well.

You bring up things that can pass, and whether or not they can pass depends upon who voted. People who don't vote may as well have voted for the opposition party.

[Celerity]

133. They passed those knowing it would wipe them out. They should at least force the Rethugs to go on

record as opposing gun law reforms that are extremely popular with the overall American electorate (even with Republican voters on balance).

[ananda]

35. Get some brass balls, Dems, and just do it!

!!!

[emulatorloo]

38. And Get some brass balls voters, vote out the Republicans who are blocking gun control.

[Demsrule86]

60. Tell me how? We do that now...what is your plan...what actions do you suggest that would actually

pass this legislation.

[liberalmuse]

39. Don't mess with Gen Z.

Millennials were the first generation in a long time that gave me hope for the future. The millennials I know are extremely impressed with Gen Z. Yeah, they think they are weird and adorable, but they also know they aren't fooling around. It's weird to hear a millennial tell a Boomer they think Gen Z is THE generation to watch, especially after seeing my fellow Boomers disparage the younger generations and eat their young, so to speak.

[Demsrule86]

62. Right...I guess every generation has to make their own mistakes. This sort of division will merely

elect more Republicans and make things worse. Send a letter to McConnell...or better yet. Get out the vote in Florida.

[Hortensis]

41. "if YOU make US lose enthusiasm"

Sure hope we don't.

But people who believe their voting is the responsibility of others tend to reap what they sow for themselves. Unfortunately, there aren't enough who stand on their own convictions to carry everyone.

[Walleye]

47. Public sentiment is everything

[Hortensis]

53. For some all through life. And most Gen Z are still adolescents,

for whom what their group thinks does tend to be everything. I hope we find a way to inspire belief in those who haven't developed the commitment to principle to carry themselves to the poll.

[Walleye]

56. Public sentiment is mostly on our side. The bullies are running things

There has got to be a way to change that, and I think voting in great numbers is the only way. Yes I am proud of the Gen Z voters who came out but what of the ones who didn’t? They didn’t have enough enthusiasm or something?

[Hortensis]

86. Good point. In the end, only whether and for whom WE vote matters.

The electorate is as important to the function and continuation of democracy as all the other parts put together. It's interactive -- government offices CAN'T perform our functions for us.

Public sentiment is for mostly the same things, and more people have voted Democratic for a long time now. Just need a few percent more to overcome the EC...!

[Walleye]

95. Exactly, it's really quite simple when we think about it

[Act_of_Reparation]

188. I can think of at least one thing that isn't going to change the situation:

Scolding the young for not showing up in force to undo the shitty choices their elders are making. We need to stop doing that.

Youth turnout is complicated, and difficult to predict. There are systemic, habitual, and educational barriers to the youth vote, and their impact can be highly localized (i.e., there is not likely a single fix we can make at the national level).

[Walleye]

190. I don't know, going out to vote seems pretty simple to me and the minimum a citizen can do

I think voters are too old is scold. They are the ones going to have to live with the results. They aren’t punishing us by not voting.

[Act_of_Reparation]

216. Who said anything about voters being "too old"?

[Walleye]

220. I meant, poorly expressed, that 18-year-old voters are not children, we shouldn't scold them

[brooklynite]

52. David Hogg is smart enough to know you don't communicate with the Senate Leader by Tweet

He could contact Schumer directly if he wanted to.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

136. He's also smart enough to know how social media works and how you persuade through it.

Did you miss that or are you being deliberately obtuse?

[brooklynite]

139. IOW he DIDN'T write a letter to Schumer...

It’s just a device to create some buzz.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

140. Do you want a quick lesson on primary, secondary, and tertiary audiences

and how those can be used in persuasion?

You seem like you're probably smart enough to know that, but I might be wrong.

[intheflow]

152. Deliberately obtuse.

[intheflow]

156. And you are smart enough to know how public pressure works through social media.

He calls out Schumer and then lots of people call him out. Some of those folks will write letters and emails, will call his phone, and will he will hear the message. And you have no idea if he's reached out to Schumer in other ways. This tweet could be a direct result of Schumer blowing him off. You don't know, but hey! Let's jump to conclusions and assume the worst of our allies.

[Beastly Boy]

54. It is not up to Schumer to tell Gen Zers that their votes mstter.

It is the Gen Zers who have to show Schumer that their vote matters.

And the way to do this is not just vote, but vote in sufficient numbers to replace gun humpers (mostly Republicans) with... well it's up to gen Zers to then decide who they want to replace them with.

Then, and only then, the so called establishment Democrats will listen. Then Schumer will listen. Tweets won't do.

Just make sure this doesn't backfire: if the "establishment Democrats" end up being replaced with Republicans thanks to your votes, you may find a lot of bullet holes in your foot (pun intended).

[Bev54]

59. It is also why dems need to run candidates in every race, particularly the state races

that are often unchallenged.

[Demsrule86]

63. And how many times do I hear complaints about Democratic fundraising or an annoncement that

THEY will back individuals but no money to the DNC until XYZ happens. Elections cost money. It would help if we picked the best individuals to run the DNC and stopped treating it in a political manner. I like Jaime Harris and he is a good fundraiser but we could have kept the House in 22 had an experienced person been in charge.

[Bev54]

82. I agree but I do think a lot is on the dems in charge in the states. Look at NY

they were asleep on the job there, which cost the dems the house. Make sure the people in charge of each state is doing their jobs.

[inthewind21]

94. Well

a good place to start would be to make sure those VOTED IN to run the states are sane. The federal government doesn't run EVERYTHING and can't fix it all when the voters royally fuck it up. See Santos.

Tell me this, what has Hogg and his "Juggernaut" voting block done to get control of his home state of Florida? Because the state governments ARE IN FACT a crucial piece of the puzzle in un-doing the damage already done and getting back to some semblance of sanity. Last I checked Florida still had a loon Republican Governor, a State House dominated by Republicans, and as for federal offices, 2 Republican Senators, and 17 out of 25 Representatives are Republicans. Yet it's NY's fault we lost the house. Yeah, sure it is. Theirs and theirs alone huh.

Yet he calls out Schumer as if he can fix it all? Pardon me if I ignore Little David Hogg and his Tweets making demands when clearly he and his POWER HOUSE still don't grasp civics 101 and can't get their own house in order.

[Bev54]

132. I did not blame Schumer at all, perhaps you can read it again.

I blamed and still blame the head of the state dem party for losing NY and yes that list the house.

[CousinIT]

71. Republicans would do what Hogg says: bring the vote to the floor

over and over and over and over and over....and just keep doing it until it goddamned passes. Leave it to the younger voters to vote the obstructionists out, meanwhile.

[tritsofme]

199. Right! Like when they voted 10,000 times to repeal Obamacare.

That worked really well! Those crafty Republicans!

[flying_wahini]

72. I will always remember when he was hounded by MTG and he showed such grace and control.

[emulatorloo]

74. Agree. She is such a bully, and he stood up to her.

[beathimlikeadrum]

79. Unfortunately

This kind of simplistic understanding of politics is endemic among a lot of young people. They somehow do not understand the basics of how government works, and that Biden or Schumer can't simply will laws into existence. People like Bernie and AOC have not helped at all in this regard (Bernie promising a medicare for all plan that would get one or two votes in the senate, or AOC protesting outside Nancy Pelosi's office about climate change). One would hope this kind of ignorance was limited to the right, but it's far from it.

[AntivaxHunters]

83. I really disagree

See reply above about what Republicans did

[inthewind21]

107. You mean

Those ELECTED republicans? Those? Or are we going to go down the BUT THEY CHEATED, BUT THEY GERRYMANDERED, BUT THE RUSSIANS, BUT BUT BUT it's everything BUT the voters fault road? The poster is correct. There is a HUGE lack of understanding how the government works. Only I'll add, it's not with JUST the young voters.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

137. Wait, are you seriously saying that the man who is a senior at Harvard

studying conservative political movements has a simplistic understanding of politics.

Holy shit the hubris. Or the ignorance. Or something. Whatever it is, just stop. You look ridiculous in your attempt to bash Gen Z.

[Autumn]

235. He doesn't understand how government works? Nonsense

He is a senior at Harvard studying Political Science and will soon graduate. There are plenty of people that don't know how government works and they are fucking elected. Older people don't seem to understand how young people feel. They expect young people to fall in line because the other side sucks. It doesn't work that way for them. They don't owe either party anything and they don't have anything to lose with what they are facing. But yeah you keep on trashing them and those that actually inspire them like AOC and Bernie. That will give you a whole new group to blame. You're sort of right, one would hope this kind of ignorance is limited to the right but it's not.

[democrank]

80. This doesn't seem like an "attack" to me

When the Parkland kids speak, I listen. They have experiences most of us do not and they have solid reasons to be disappointed. We DO need leadership and courage….over and over and over and over and over again….until gun safety measures become law.

We should be open to listening to what David Hogg’s generation has to say. Why? Look around and then tell me we have all the answers. We don’t.

[Biophilic]

84. Well, now, some of the responses to David Hogg's tweet are certainly eye-openers.

I finally have a sense of why the Democrats failed so badly in Florida. The disdain for a large block of young voters that several of the commenters have made is sort of appalling to me. Not to mention, the inability of some to hear what Hogg was actually saying. And finally, the self-righteousness of some of the commenters. You know, I remember these feelings from a long, long time ago when we said, "never trust anyone over the age of 30". Good grief people, use that energy to attack republicans and magats, instead of on our young party members and our up and coming Democratic leaders. He is simply advocating that we use some of the republican tactics that have, unfortunately, been so successful; repeat the message, repeat the message, repeat the message in as visible way as possible.

[emulatorloo]

90. I do like your idea. But curious, what is the connection to Democrats and young voters in Florida

and the reason Florida is a red state now?

[Biophilic]

98. Not much, I confess, but I've been stymied as to what happened to the Democrats in Florida.

I moved here from Michigan 18 months ago. The Democratic Party just hardly existed. I could find very little helpful info on line for the 2022 election and watched as the Republicans put out sign, after sign, after information online. Bluntly, everyone I know is a Democrat here, but they seemed apathetic at best. They voted, mostly, but not enthusiastically. I was told the party had alienated a bunch of people and then just sort of disappeared. It's been a puzzle to me. I guess it's always sort of in the front of my brain. How do we get some sane government back? So, yes, it's a loose connection, but reading several of the comments I really did remember how I felt in the 60s against the establishment. Both Democrats and republicans seemed to have a disdain for young people and their ideas.

[emulatorloo]

173. Thanks very much for the long reply. Really appreciate it.

Hope the Democratic Party will work harder there.

[Biophilic]

205. Always good to have an opportunity to rethink ideas.

I'm rooting for the Democratic Party here also. Hard to see much change yet, but I believe that some leadership changes have happened. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[kacekwl]

87. If the Democratic party brings the AWB up

over and over maybe the 80% I hear who support such a ban and more will pressure the Republicans to get in gear and vote for what people want. I doubt it but if they start losing elections the gun money from the NRA won't matter. That's another reason to stop them from stealing elections in so many ways.

[betsuni]

89. So "establishment Democrats" don't know young people vote, don't listen, take

Last edited Tue May 16, 2023, 12:23 PM - Edit history (1)

them for granted, don't "fight," leadership is bad and has no courage.

The silly idea that Democrats could do anything they want (even without the votes) but don't because everyone's corrupt and immoral and beholden, both sides the same, everything's about money. The big punishment is making Democrats lose their jobs -- they MADE us lose enthusiasm and we totally are not inspired -- that'll teach them!

Whining about being told to vote and not understanding what majorities in Congress are, how government works.

Same old talking points. Seems like an old tweet.

What does "It's not 1994 anymore" mean? Hope it means he understands a bipartisan bill including an assault weapons ban isn't possible because Republicans would never allow it now.

[TeamProg]

108. K&R Thanks for posting. n/t

[JohnSJ]

109. What did they do in 2016 when the Supreme Court was at stake Mr. Hogg? Mr. Hogg, in except

for maybe two Senators, it isn't the DEMOCRATS that are the problem.

In the House, why don't you send a message to McCarthy where the republicans have control, and ask him to bring gun control legislation to the floor

[Texaswitchy]

204. Yep

David is doing but harm.

I see a lot of third voting because of people like him.

[Walleye]

114. Do they think of themselves as Democrats?

I hear young people speak of Democrats as if none of them are. Is it an identity problem?

[Texaswitchy]

202. I don't think they know what they are.

They need social media to tell them.

A bunch of them will vote third party.


Not looking forward to 2024..

[Cyrano]

121. David Hogg is wise beyond his years.

[Sympthsical]

123. One who cannot self-criticize cannot grow

Last edited Tue May 16, 2023, 01:14 PM - Edit history (1)

That's my axiom on these things.

(Also, this thread escalated quickly, LOL)

[Mimi Susi]

141. The Republicans already Know

The Republicans already know the commitment of the Gen Z voters. Why else would we have a Republican running for president who wants to raise the voting age to 25?

[BlueCheeseAgain]

169. I assume Hogg knows full well that with a GOP House and slim Senate majority...

That there's no way an assault weapons ban will pass. And that bringing it up over and over again won't do a thing. The media may mention it the first time, but it will get ignored every time after that. And does anyone not know which party wants gun control and which one doesn't?

And seriously, what is with this attitude that we voted and now we should get everything we want or we'll stop? Geez.

[betsuni]

180. Voting over and over might only feed into the bullshit that Democrats are "ignoring" "not fighting"

"not standing up to" "beholden" -- that it would happen if they were morally pure and righteous enough.

When the whining about "Those mean old Democrats told us to vote harder" I couldn't believe it. I wonder who thought that one up.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

182. I feel like in online forums the word "performative" gets brought up a lot...

... as an insult.

Bringing up something over and over again for no purpose seems about as performative as it gets.

[JI7]

249. I feel like for some that's what politics is

it's not really about policies to improve things .

[betsuni]

255. Because "incrementalism" is immoral.

Like voting against Biden's infrastructure bill because nonsense that Biden promised every pipe in America will be fixed and it won't so people will will be disappointed, better not fix any pipes at all.

[malaise]

176. Well said David

ime for action

[demmiblue]

184. He's right... +1. n/t

[CrispyQ]

185. I love his passion, but we currently have a two party system & our side doesn't have the majorities

needed to do much of anything except keep things from sliding backwards! Things don't change in a few elections, especially then they've gotten as extreme as they have. Sometimes it takes decades. Women couldn't vote until 1920. Keep voting & keep voting democratic.

[Texaswitchy]

224. Yes

Exactly.

The women who started the movement died before they got the right to vote .

Takes time.

[Calculating]

187. My family and I are those 'moderates'

We all support common sense gun control like raising the age to 21 for AR15's and universal background checks. None of us support a new AWB as most of us own those items.

[NowsTheTime]

192. I don't have a problem with this at all. Any advice that anyone can think of and offer is worth it.

[Texaswitchy]

200. I think David Hogg is a closet Republican, noticed he attacks Democrats.

I have shoes smarter then him.

Just remember Gen Z is not all liberal Democrats.

Go attack the Republicans David.

Gen Z is very immature and have the my way or the highway view of life

That is how we got Trump as president.

Learn how politics work.

All of us are in danger when we go out, not just schools

Gen Z is causing to us loose teachers in schools.
Their generation is attacking the teachers.
Gen Z has a lot growing up to do.

[intheflow]

225. He is a gun massacre survivor.

WTF are you talking about, he's a closet Repuke? All of his efforts go to banning guns. Hogg has never attacked teachers (his mother was a teacher), he votes religiously, and Gen Z is not what you think it is. Mostly you sound like an unpleasant old person with your "Kids these days!" faux indignation.

[ancianita]

246. He's young. He knows Democrats are safe to criticize because they listen & do the best they can.

So what. Let him vent. Let him give voice to Schumer. Schumer can handle it in the spirit it's intended, which is not threatening to Schumer or Democrats. A spirit that still wants to be with Democrats.

[NowsTheTime]

253. I think Gen Z is more democratic that republican...& they have more to lose than old cogers like me

The following is a discussion of the Democratic youth vote that is helping us, and how important it is to our cause.

[betsuni]

254. He's an Our Revolution/Justice Democrats type, thinks the Democratic Party must be taken over

by purity-tested True Progressives because "too big of a tent": corrupt, immoral, not progressive, must be constantly threatened and insulted, pulled/pushed to the Left because both sides are the same. Then the alliance between left and right wing economic class populists will begin the revolution: "it's pretty clear it's time for change in the Democratic Party. We need to take it over the way hardcore conservatives took over the GOP in the 60s and 70s in my opinion."

They think the Tea Party was a grassroots movement, want to do the same and take over the Democratic Party. Liberal Democrats are the enemy.

[tritsofme]

201. Aside from anything else, it's a dumb idea.

Who is going to be impressed by watching a bill fail for the 50th time? What does it accomplish besides making people snore?

The kid has seen some incredibly shitty stuff in his young life, that doesn’t make him some sort of master strategist.

[Sogo]

209. That strategy is exactly what the GOP did on banning abortion: held countless votes to ban it.

Let their voters know where they were on the topic and who was not for it. Eventually their voters got what they wanted with the Dobbs decision.

David Hogg is nobody's fool.

[Evolve Dammit]

214. I approve this message.

[intheflow]

232. The level of bigotry against young people in this thread is disgusting.

Boomers here with the "Gen Z are all brats" do know your parents said the exact same things about your youth activism in the '60s and '70s, right? You all need to get over yourselves, respect this survivor of gun violence, and support his fight for sane gun laws. WTAF, People?!

[demmiblue]

234. No kidding.

And some wonder why DU can't/doesn't attract younger posters. Which is sad, really, because this site will only get smaller and smaller. I wouldn't mind swapping a few...

[JI7]

248. DU doesn't attract young people because they are doing other things

that interests them more.

[Autumn]

236. To see him called ignorant is way over the line.

[Alpeduez21]

241. Yet, it's easily predicted. n/t

[Blue Owl]

239. K&R

[ancianita]

243. I remember reading something around here (can't remember the poster, sorry) about politics being

like taking the bus. It was a great analogy, though I can only remember the main point of it.

So here's the variation I'd say to David Hogg:

You're 23, right? Life is long, right? No one's perfect, right? No democracy is perfect, right?

So why not look at voting this way:

The Democratic politics bus line is the one we take to get us close to our destination -- we don't expect it to get each one of us to our exact address -- and so we take the bus line that gets us closest to the street where we the people want to end up.

When the bus drops us off there, we have to walk together the rest of the way, being neighborly, to get to our separate places/goals.

To get there, our best guide is not to make the perfect the enemy of the good. Or else we'd never get on the bus in the first place. But if we don't get on the bus, we're on our own, and getting home is so much longer, lonelier, and wearying.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

244. So this guy thinks Schumer is a coward?

And that gun control is only a youth issue? Can't he make his points without insulting the people who are on his side, and maybe point the finger where it belongs-- at Republicans?

[Takket]

245. After all this time Hogg doesn't know about the filibuster?

For real dude?

Here’s a dose of reality:

In 2021 there was no way to get an assault weapons ban passed the filibuster.

In 2023 there is no way to get it past McCarthy or the filibuster.

In either case even if a ban is passed it is DOA at this SCOTUS

In 2063 if we are really lucky we might get these lifers off SCOTUS and have a chance.

[Texasgal]

251. Can you please link this?

I am not finding it anywhere. Thanks.

[Patton French]

258. Why Schumer?

I’m not following the logic.