Younger Voters Are The Key To Democratic Success and Failure at the Polls

[mikekohr]

There is a lot of soul searching right now about how we fell short on Tuesday. The chart below lays out in clear detail what happened not only this year but in 2010 as well. Progressive ballot initiatives passed everywhere by overwhelming majorities which show, even considering the demographic metrics of this last election day, the American People are with us on individual issues.

Where we fell short is on turnout among our younger voters who are overwhelming more diverse. The Millennial Generation are a historical aberration in that they are breaking in unprecedented numbers away from previous generations in voting patterns and skewing heavily Democratic.

Steve Bennen writes, "The age gap between younger voters and seniors was huge in 2010 and had a lot to do with the Republican wave election. As NBC News’ exit polls found , this was even more pronounced yesterday."

The overall Republican demographic shrinks by approx. 2% every 4 years, but they also have increased their total participation rate in off year elections since 2008 from 29% to 35% while the under 30 generation remains static in such years at 12-13%.

Father Time will eventually erase this trend permanently, but we would be better served to reach out, inspire and engage these voters now. Elections are after all about the future and no voter group has a longer future or more to lose than the Millennial Generation.

see also: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/11/05/msnbc-pundit-sees-doom-victorious-gop-old-white-people-die-some-day-video/ . .



?itok=bkycV-jT?

[saintsebastian]

1. We Need (Actual) Change

Last edited Fri Nov 7, 2014, 01:18 AM - Edit history (1)

If Democrats were able to show real contrast between themselves and Republicans, then maybe my generation would be more likely to get out there, get active and vote. Where are the anti-war millennials supposed to turn when the choice is between McCain-types who'd turn the entire Middle East to rubble and the Democrats who've supported Obama, who's bombed more countries than Bush ever dreamed of, nearly every step of the way? Where are the environmental-minded young people supposed to turn in a state like mine, Texas, when the choice is between a Republican party awash in oil money and a Democratic party who are equally as hooked on the frack-pipe? What about DREAMers? Where are they supposed to go when Senate Democrats ask the President to delay executive action on immigration?

The list goes on. Millennials are the cutting-edge of American progressivism today and we need candidates who realize this and are willing to act upon our concerns.

[mikekohr]

2. You got actual change From President Obama

Make no mistake about it. You are part of the "Big Tent Party." You, I will never get all that we want, but make no mistake about it you and I have no friends on the Republican side of the fence. None.

Look at the economic record:

cached at: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/job-growth.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mHSyEv8vBt4/S6Zvl-nui8I/AAAAAAAAACQ/3j0wUSj78mk/s1600-h/Job+growth+graph.jpg?

[saintsebastian]

4. Where's the Choice?

My point was that there sometimes isn't even an actual choice, though. Many millennials simply do not have anti-war, anti-fossil fuels, anti-corporate choices available. It's often the case that the decision to make is how much war we want, rather than if we want war at all. The decision is how much influence the oil and gas industries have on climate-change discussion -rather than if they should have any influence at all. The same thing could be said about issues across the board. Many, many young people will turn out in droves if they feel like they're given an actual choice between the past and the future (see: 2008). Democrats should seize upon this opportunity, and upon this vastly untapped constituency, by billing themselves as a real, and true progressive choice.

[mikekohr]

5. Abso"'F'ing" lutely nt

[bravenak]

3. We need democrats to look forward and push policy that will help US today.

Our generation gets ignored as our legislators seem to be living in the past, on both sides, and fight old battles with us as the cannon fodder. It is time to reach out to the younger generation and give them some hope for the future. We are a fearless generation and we cannot understand the weakness inherent in our legislators. It is hard to get people to vote for candidates that do not excite them or appeal to them, who push policy that is not helpful in their lives.(like the drug war, which targets young people)

It's great to want to help the middle class and small business and Seniors, but guess what? Millennials are kinda poor right now and most are not small business owners and do not consider themselves middle class because of debt. And we have families and there is nothing in the pot for us but taxes, debt, school loans, bad pay, long hours, costly child care, expensive education, shrinking safety net , and politicians who ignore the time-bomb of our reality. We have to vote ourselves raises. While all of this is going on our candidates are still pretending not to know the president who got us interested in politics in the first place. And we know why. And many just decided to only vote for what they wanted to vote for. Their minimum wage and legalizing pot. If life is going to suck so hard at least they can have medication. And not go to jail.

[mikekohr]

6. "We are the People we have been waiting for." -B. Obama-

Engage, participate, organize. I've been in the political process for 14 years, political activist, blogger, precinct committeeman, Township Trustee, Township Clerk, County Board member. Change is very hard. There are entrenched interests and institutional resistance.

But persistence pays off, over time. We need you. You need us. Thanks for being here. You are making a difference whether you know it or not.

[bravenak]

7. I see the change happening before my eyes.

Republican PEOPLE voted with us to pass minimum wage in my state, a democratic proposal. They will vote for policies that they can understand and that help them and their families. They voted to protect the environment, a democratic proposal, they helped us legalize pot (by smaller margins than the rest). They like our policies, Millennials like our policies, so why don't we campaign on our policies? I don't get it. At least we have fierce Democrats who get things put on the ballot no matter what problems the party is having. I will take my cues from them.

[ellennelle]

8. well, no, actually....

we just need to get ALL our numbers to register and vote, not just the youth:

we really should do what australia does, and make it a law that everyone has to vote, or get fined. and of course make it a holiday so no one is doubly penalized.

but then, that would make too much sense.

[mikekohr]

10. That would be nice also, however

against the historic backdrop of overall shitty turnout in this nation, it is the huge drop off in the youth vote in 2010 and 2014 that hurt us, and ultimately them.

And they are the future. Us, not so much, or at least not so long.

[A Simple Game]

9. We are doomed if people don't start realizing it is not the voters,

it's the candidates that are not worth voting for.

[mikekohr]

11. One side, the smaller side, votes consistantly and monolithically

our side, the larger and far more diverse, votes in lower margins. A Democratic voter that stays home magnifies and multiplies a Republican voter that shows up. They are already over represented in a system stacked heavily in their favor. We ought not surrender our power to them.

If you are disappointed in the candidates on our side then run or work for someone you can get behind enthusiastically. That takes work, effort, persistence and patience. I know something about this. Trust me.