Unending war, unnaffordable college, unemployment, low wages WILL drive away the youth vote.

[Union Yes]

A bleak future for a young person. If never ending war, Serf wages, little or no access to affordable higher education, and unemployment are what a young person has to look forward to, do the Dems really think they will keep the youth vote?

Please say it ain't so, that our party is making the grave mistake of taking the youth vote for granted.

I'm tired of hearing that Obama's 'rock star' effect is what brought out the youth vote in '08.

Gee perhaps the prospect of endless war, or a bleak jobless future, or impending economic collapse drove them to vote.

Perhaps the fear of a bleak future drove them to vote.

The prospect of change brought them to the Dem party and Obama. According to pundits, the youth vote are a bunch of empty headed college kids that don't know what their talking about and that they are disloyal voters prone to voter apathy etc.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The young voters that I know are very informed and very active in voting and politics. I'm not trying to make that blanket statement about all young voters.

But, they're active in politics because they fear a bleak future. Think about it. If you're a 20 year old today, knowing you have several decades of life ahead of you living in a nation on the brink of collapse. That's scary stuff. For any age. But a bleak future is certainly motivation to vote.

Unless...

There is cause for apathy.

People WERE motivated to vote in '06 and '08 because of war and economic collapse. The youth vote turned out in both elections. Especially in '08. Driven by the need for change, fearing a bleak future(and present) caused by Bush/GOP policy.

The youth flocked to Obama and the Dem Party.

'06 and '08 were clearly voter mandates for change. The voters charged the Democratic party with the difficult task of changing the way America operates. Simply, we handed the Dem Party political capital by electing a Dem majority and President. Solid majorities too.

The voters sent a message to the Dem Party along with the mandates of '06 and '08.

Fight. Act. Voter mandates are the will of the people. When voters put the will of the people behind a Party, they expect action and change.

Inaction, squandering political capital, ignoring voter mandates turn motivation into apathy, disgust, or a feeling of why bother voting? All effect and lower voter turnout. Inaction turns away the voters.

Ignoring the concerns of young American voters is political suicide for a PARTY.

Democrats, please say it ain't so.

The young voter is interested in our party. Perhaps, not for long but they still seem to be on board with Dems. The fact that young voters have voted Dem in the last 2 elections is a beautiful thing.

Our Party should be proud of that fact. In return, The Dem party should be ACTING to protect the futures of ALL Americans, including the youth.

Yet, we're still at war. We're still in a fragile state of economic collapse. We're heading toward the Walmart/Serf wage for all. Public education is in decay. Affordable access to college is out of grasp for too many. Health care is too costly. Unemployment awaits.

DLC, if you folks think that policy direction will maintain the youth vote and youth support, think again. Pull your head out of your...

Rahm, pay attention.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, open your eyes.

Inaction turns motivation into disgust which causes voter apathy. Massachusetts put that disgust on display for all of America to see. We lost Teddy's seat and yet our Party doesn't seem like it learned anything.

Inaction is political suicide. So is ignoring voter mandates. So is ignoring the concerns of young voters.

War, unemployment, low wages, a dieing economy are very real concerns for a 20 year old and for any age.

When a 20 year old is handed his/her first health insurance premium bill, it's an eye opener. HC becomes a concern to 20 year olds when they see their first health insurance bill or paycheck deduction.

Democrats, don't commit political suicide by ignoring and failing to address these very real concerns of the youth vote.

We have the support of the youth. That's a great thing.

Don't turn away the youth vote.

Inaction is political suicide.

[glinda]

1. Note that College Tuition rising is tied to Health Insurance to cover Staff.

I cannot say this enough.

The Government should realize the danger that they are putting our Country in with the dissatisfaction of our young and loss of hope.

[Union Yes]

6. For profit "Health" "Insurance" has an anti-Midas effect on everything it touches.

It makes every aspect of our life more expensive.

I agree 100% with everything you said.

:fistbump:

[glinda]

15. Husband worked for a University for years and noted this with every rise in HC

coverage, Union negotiations on HC and the rise in tuition every time this happened.

[readmoreoften]

2. The Democratic Party now *fully* relies on the "who else ya gonna vote fer" strategy.

They don't care about any of their core voters--not the youth vote, not LGBTs, not the elderly, not workers, no one-- unless they have Inc. as their last night. That and they're relying on their rhetoric to get them through. They speechify so they can pocket health insurance kickbacks and still say they "tried." Apparently, some voters have a pavlovian response to dog and pony shows,

[Union Yes]

7. Sad and true. I wish it weren't so.

:grr:


:fistbump:

[Horse with no Name]

3. It will also cause some of the base to be apathetic as well

That is something that will hurt.
Excellent OP. K&R.

[Union Yes]

8. Yup, I agree 100%.

:fistbump:

[bvar22]

4. On top of all that...

FORCE them to buy Health Insurance they don't want, and won't be able to afford to use (high Co-Pays and Deductibles).

I am beginning to think that the Democratic Party leadership simply does NOT care if they win another election. They have looked at the numbers, and decided that there is time for One More Smash & Grab for them and their Corporate Sponsors before the whole damn thing implodes.
Just enough time to grab as much cash as possible, and then get the hell out of Dodge.

The NEW "Centrist" Democratic Party campaign strategy:

Take the Money and RUN!!!
We're going to lose BIG in 2010/2012 anyway.
Why not got out RICH?
Hahahahahaha!

Some of the smarter ones are already cashing in the chits for their 30 pieces of Silver, like Evan Bayh.

I am coming to DESPISE "Centrist" Democrats more than I despise Republicans.
I EXPECT Republicans to be Republicans.


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[Union Yes]

10. Another money grab or two. Another Bank bailout/treasury plunder or two.

Nothing to see here. Move along, Serf.


Agree 100% with everything you said.

I expect 'thugs to be 'thugs. But, these f'n conservadems are making me lose interest in participating in the political process altogether. I'm almost to the point of saying screw democracy.

I've never missed an election. I've always voted. I've donated and volunteered and I'm growing weary of all that. Only because of inaction and because Dems have turned their back on the little people.

I still want to work for a party that works for the little people. The Dems seem to no longer stand for the little people.

I'm tired of war. I'm tired of Serf wages being shoved down our throats. I'm tired of being an obedient Serf. I'm tired of seeing this once great nation fall off a cliff, when our economy was roaring and we were running balanced budgets only a decade ago.

It's disgusting. Sorry for venting.

Peace
UY

:hi:

[maryf]

5. Poverty draft...

Keeping the youth unemployed and unschooled is the best way to keep the military recruiting machine running...

[Union Yes]

11. True.

Sadly I think it'll also drive away the youth vote.

[amborin]

16. they deserve to lose it!

the bait and switch is so blatant; to think of all the ordinary Americans who put their trust in this administration, only to see that trust cynically abused, is sickening.

[OhioChick]

9. Well Said. n/t

[Union Yes]

13. ..

:fistbump:

[Johonny]

12. Perhaps the fact they get no credit for the things they did do

makes them less eager to act faster. It's not like anyone ever gives them credit for a single positive occurrence in the Obama/Pelosi/Reid era. When you know all you'll get is scorn it's hard to get motivated by possible voter apathy.

[seeinfweggos]

14. what youth vote? lowest turnout of any demographic group in the us

people have been talking youth vote since they lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 40 some odd years ago and they haven't shown up yet.