I am sure your parents have worked hard.

They have not worked hard to have those they have nurtured and worked hard for walk away.
Your father served his country - he didn't walk away.
Your Mother, raising a family, didn't and hasn't walked away from the daily pressures.
Those who walk away dishonor their sacrifices.

Re your statement " I do not know how much longer they can hold on while our political class can remove their heads out of the sand":
Isn't that precisely what you are proposing to do?

By the way, what precisely is your political class?

Thank you for your input. nt

No longer answer, no longer vote.

So be it.
It will be your country.
I'm sure your Dad didn't go home when going got tough.
The point is not politicians losing people.
It sounds more like faint-hearted college kids.
Sure hope there's not a lot of money borrowed and spent on that kind of college education.

That is known as nihilism and has never solved

any problems.

It also reveals a lack of creativity in problem-solving re current problems of the day.
Try giving your answer to a perspective employer and see if you get hired.

Did anyone tell you life would be easy?

I am at least half serious; don't know how it would work

in the practical sense, but the fact is people are drawn to free food, and even the aroma of food cooking is a draw.

I saw a story just last week where a local Dem. headquarters were having a cookout before the primary, and getting people to sign a candidate's nominating petitions, and it occurred to me that food is a great draw and why couldn't we Dems draw voters in a similar fashion.
The cost would not be large. I don't know if that would be considered a form of bribery, though I have understood that in some cities (Philadelphia? for one) that there is an expectation of some sort for coming out to vote.

Maybe this idea is a little outside the box, but I'd like to throw it out there and have the group toss it around and see how it could be useful.

Another idea: hot dog on a bun -

near voting polls of college-age students and in neighborhoods of the needy.

Wouldn't you like a nice warm hot dog before or after you vote?

I use a CPAP and talking doesn't fit with that very well.

It does enable me to have a good night's sleep, though.

I'm just so grateful that I don't have that type for neighbors. nt

Those babies will get even some day.

They do grow up, you know.

This week I learned

that some OPs have little or no interest for me in some of the groups that I've subscribed to;

that the reason there is no new post for me to read in some OPs is that I have put the commenter on ignore.

it was a slow week for religion and subgroups' news.

one commenter whose posts I've enjoyed hasn't posted for a good two weeks - what's going on?