Does anyone here really think people bashing the president will vote for the GOP in 2014, 2016?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

91. It's got to circle back to involvement.

People act when they feel they have 'ownership'. That what they do matters, and that what they're doing actually effects changes they can see and of which they approve. If they feel like they might be making a difference, you can get them out to vote once, but they have to see a real change for the better to get them out a second time. Which is why you've got to 'throw them bones', at the very least.

But we've gotten to the point where the board is so incredibly tilted economically, that the traditional Democratic bones (social changes) have diminishing impact. You can give all the majority rights to as many minorities as you want, and it still won't lift those minorities out of poverty. The 99% will be united, and equal, and either unemployed or wage slaves.

Democratic candidates have to start taking on wealth inequality head on, because that's the main issue that unites almost all voters. We're all being screwed by corporations and the people for whom wealth is merely counters in a competition with the other rich. So we need candidates who actually will work to raise people out of poverty and reduce wealth inequality.

If we don't own the populist candidates... then people like Rand Paul will win more and more elections. We have to have populists, or we're going to wind up with a government of libertarians.

Backing down to the street level politics, that means more up-front investment in pulling in young voters, getting them into the machinery, and giving them some power. not just using them as phone bankers and pavement pounders, but actually honestly listening to them, and working their ideas into party politics. Getting them to OWN the party, rather than are simply being USED by the party. As a first step, it's past time that social media networks got a lot more attention as a campaign tool. Your younger voters don't see themselves as being tied down physically to a home address or phone line. You've got to get them setting up their own social media networks and 'pledge campaigns'. Maybe even 'voting parties' on polling days, where they all meet up to go vote, then head out to hit the clubs. Or parties on those days where entrance requires an 'I voted' sticker.

Something, anything, that gives them a greater sense of ownership and belonging and empowerment. But it's got to be backed up with candidates who are willing to work for what those constituencies want, not just get into office and immediately start working for the 1%ers.