More People Shopped on Black Friday than Voted in Midterms

[Derek V]

Emphasizing Triana's point, this from Mediaite.

[Wella]

1. Absolutely mindboggling

A $10 waffle iron is worth more than the future of your country.

[Journeyman]

3. Do you want people with those priorities to participate in the political process? . . .

[Nuclear Unicorn]

15. If the answer is "no" then a low voter turnout should be celebrated, not seen as a sign of dismay.

Although, I think it's fair to say there are better deals at the mall then there are in the voting booth. At least in the mall I can find things I actually want whereas I look at the ballot and must content myself with that which I loathe the least.

[still_one]

2. no surprise from me

[Historic NY]

4. Sad...

[hollysmom]

5. if it is any comfort, I voted and I did not shop.

I also bugged my family to vote - each and every one of them.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. Good.

[Derek V]

12. ?

[Sherman A1]

7. not a surprise

there are more registered shoppers, than there are registered voters.

[Odin2005]

8. I am ashamed of my countrymen.

[tecelote]

9. Shopping is Patriotic!

Remember when Bush told Americans to jump on a plane and head to Disneyland as a way every American can fight terrorism.

Shopping would bring the economy back and show those terrorists how strong America is.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/did-bush-say-go-shopping-after-911.htm

[bvf]

10. Oh, naturally.

Is this a great country, or what?

[DeSwiss]

11. Which shows people still know a bargain vs a ripoff when they see one?

Blaming ''the people'' for not doing what you want them to do is not going to win them over. It's just going to piss them off more. And right now, they're not so much pissed as just resigned. If you make them mad with all these ''holierthanthous'' I'm seeing here they may get pissed. Tell me why should they care for your positions? Your party? The people who are quick to castigate and belittle, instead of convince.

You're all heat and no light.

Everyone seems to be more concerned with what ''the people'' are doing (or didn't do) more than why.

What it demonstrates to me is that some people really don't give a shit why you do what you do, just so long as you do what they want you to do. Very elitist.

Here's an idea: Ever thought the problem might be you and your perspective(s)? Your party? That you don't reach these people who will stand in the rain for an iPhone but drop-kick the idea of wasting one second on a bought and paid-for politician who is part of the absolute corruption that has become our lives?!

- Nawwww. Forget about it......

[djean111]

14. Absolutely true. Well said. Thank you.

Everyone seems to be more concerned with what ''the people'' are doing (or didn't do) more than why.

What it demonstrates to me is that some people really don't give a shit why you do what you do, just so long as you do what they want you to do. Very elitist.

Here's an idea: Ever thought the problem might be you and your perspective(s)? Your party? That you don't reach these people who will stand in the rain for an iPhone but drop-kick the idea of wasting one second on a bought and paid-for politician who is part of the absolute corruption that has become our lives?!

Bears repeating. (And yes, I voted, and no one in my household shopped yesterday).

People vote, and their lives get no better and the big money and corruption and using the poor and the middle class as mere pawns is now in your face, not behind the scenes.

THAT'S what Dems should run on - actually making life better for Americans (and the ACA did not touch all that many Americans in the great scheme of things, honest, there are 316 or so million of us) and then fucking FOLLOW THROUGH on it. No point telling someone out of work or in a shit job that the bad guys blocked the jobs bill once a year or whatever- shout it from the rooftops! Make an end run! Every week! The ACA is not the be-all and end-all. Lack of good jobs, lower wages - doing Pete Peterson's work for him, because yeah, Social Security will be underfunded because people are either not able to pay in or are paying in very little. What happens to them when they hit 62 or 65?

Don't promise "hope and change", and then pretty much ignore hope and change for the poor and middle class.

IMO most regular people who shopped got a lot more for their money than any campaign contributions got them.

From this OP -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12771293

Government has become a clearinghouse for corporations and plutocrats with deep pockets to buy the politicians who grease the wheels for lucrative contracts and easy regulation. It’s all pay for play, and look the other way.

According to the watchdog Sunlight Foundation, from 2007 to 2012, 200 corporations spent almost $6 billion in Washington on lobbying and campaign contributions. And they received more than $4 trillion in government contracts and other forms of assistance. Now that the midterm elections are over, it’s payback time, with the newly elected Congress ready to deliver to those who invested well in their chosen candidates.

Both parties are fucking DELIGHTED with all that money.

[99Forever]

16. It's worth noting that the OP...

... has yet to even attempt to respond to you. Typical, too busy pointing fingers for any self analysis I guess.

[Derek V]

19. Was the text of my post too long for you to read?

I was a) posting verbatim from Mediaite, and b) backing up Triana, a long-time member of this board.

[Kilgore]

13. And this surprises you how?

??

[Derek V]

20. Did I say I was surprised?

[wavesofeuphoria]

17. Kind of sketchy stats used

"Sixty-one percent of people who participated in a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation to gauge shopping trends for the Thanksgiving weekend said they would, or might, shop Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The figure equates to more than 140.1 million unique shoppers, the NRF said."

What is the percent of people who "would or might" shop on any other 4 day span?
Who was surveyed?
Are those shopping people also registered to vote or don't have voting restrictions?

Much better ways to make the point of low midterm turn out than to use screwy predictive stats from the NRF.

[Derek V]

21. Tell it to Mediaite

I didn't write the article.

[WhiteTara]

18. In a poll several years ago people were asked

if either they could vote or shop but not the other, the majority of people chose shopping.