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In reply to the discussion: Millenials skip elections because they are young. The rest is excuses. [View all]freshwest
(53,661 posts)91. Part of that was the draft and Vietnam. People were vested. Now that the services are voluntary
or working on contracted jobs as it is their answer to poverty. It's just another job to outsiders, and most youth will never have to serve involuntarily. That whip is no longer on their shoulders and whatever government does or fails to do for them means little.
And those paying soldiers or public workers no longer appreciate them. It's seen as a matter of individual choice and not national mandate. Everyone I knew was into politics in the sixties, they felt government affected their lives in either positive or negative ways. They were taught in school that they could affect change. All the youth hear is that it's all done and gone.
Now the majority of youth have a choice to not vote or not be involved in politics. There is no driving force. I don't see that ever changing back as society fragments. By not voting, people vote for that process.
I don't want the Draft back, but it made people THINK what they'd be dying for in a very profound, visceral way. I know Libertarians who say they don't believe in war, but do believe in making money by being contractors. They excuse it so long as the money is good and become the biggest 'patriots' in the room.
We are moving away from being a connected society, cooperating with large and diverse groups and to those who give direct benefits. The government can't compete with that way of thinking. It leads to chaos for many, but to those who thrive, the pain of others is a big Meh.
And those paying soldiers or public workers no longer appreciate them. It's seen as a matter of individual choice and not national mandate. Everyone I knew was into politics in the sixties, they felt government affected their lives in either positive or negative ways. They were taught in school that they could affect change. All the youth hear is that it's all done and gone.
Now the majority of youth have a choice to not vote or not be involved in politics. There is no driving force. I don't see that ever changing back as society fragments. By not voting, people vote for that process.
I don't want the Draft back, but it made people THINK what they'd be dying for in a very profound, visceral way. I know Libertarians who say they don't believe in war, but do believe in making money by being contractors. They excuse it so long as the money is good and become the biggest 'patriots' in the room.
We are moving away from being a connected society, cooperating with large and diverse groups and to those who give direct benefits. The government can't compete with that way of thinking. It leads to chaos for many, but to those who thrive, the pain of others is a big Meh.
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Millenials skip elections because they are young. The rest is excuses. [View all]
geek tragedy
Nov 2014
OP
Voter supression is an entirely different issue, and must be fought always and with the greatest
still_one
Nov 2014
#65
exactly, also on DU there was not much talk about 2014 elections and much more focus on 2016
JI7
Nov 2014
#6
when i was young many friends and others my age had very little interest in politics
JI7
Nov 2014
#10
They say otherwise in polls. I would think the self-described "reality-based community"
Marr
Nov 2014
#9
i meet people all the time who don't vote, they just don't have interest, people lie in polls all
JI7
Nov 2014
#14
But the reasons the young give for not voting could be used by Baby Boomers too.
Kaleva
Nov 2014
#12
"Anyone trying to blame anyone else...is peddling bullshit." I submit that it is you
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#18
most don't even know there is an election or who is running or the name of their senator
JI7
Nov 2014
#19
Was a federal minimum wage on the ballot? I did not know that. I knew it was up in
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#23
in alaska more voted for the republican candidate so this must mean they like what republicans offer
JI7
Nov 2014
#36
I was at a NASCAR race at Texas last weekend. At the end there was fight between
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#42
the problem i see has more to do with many of them wanting Fame and caring too much
JI7
Nov 2014
#47
That's right, they have no motivation. Give them something they can get excited
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#25
I think those of us who vote do so because we're engaged. Not everyone is. Those
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#35
It's really hard to get people excited about somethin when they are not interested.
Kaleva
Nov 2014
#45
That's good news! Thanks for the link. I wish I had better answers. We do need, though,
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#48
Here's the thing that motivated me to vote and organize at age 18. This was the question on my
Bluenorthwest
Nov 2014
#119
so you think politicians should do more late night tv, snl appearances , talk about pop culture
JI7
Nov 2014
#41
No necessarily, they (we) just need to find out what they see their issues are and then
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#46
the problem i have with rand paul is he is horrible on other issues and the people who support him
JI7
Nov 2014
#62
not all of them, i work in a town that gets a lot of college students and other young people
JI7
Nov 2014
#44
I don't get it. I don't know about the rest of you but when I was young, I couldn't
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#52
Too bad it's not mandatory and election day is not a national holiday. How...
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#59
Part of that was the draft and Vietnam. People were vested. Now that the services are voluntary
freshwest
Nov 2014
#91
“I recognize, unlike Sen. McConnell, the realities of global warming" N/T
Chathamization
Nov 2014
#101
Better than the Republicans is a hollow argument and that is the only one that can be made
TheKentuckian
Nov 2014
#118
Depending on who is counting, a Millennial is someone born either in the very late 70s or very early
MillennialDem
Nov 2014
#98
I'm sending this to the Greatest Page. Good discussion, geek. Thanks! nt
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2014
#53
Actually Bill Maher had some interesting comments. Those who voted seemed to vote for progressive
still_one
Nov 2014
#64
No the problem is Millennials are only pandered to in generals. Pander to Millennials in midterms
MillennialDem
Nov 2014
#100
The system is broken and you blame those that are getting screwed. Fix the system and they
rhett o rick
Nov 2014
#109