seeing red

[roguevalley]

a kid who works at our shop just said he never votes, he doesn't care and nothing anyone could say would make him care.

I don't think I've ever felt that much anger that fast.

A head count of other workers there found that three of their kids feel the same way. GOD. HELP. US.

[Broderick]

1. Apathy this time around seems evident

I sense it.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Renew Deal]

3. They're "kids"

It will change. ;)

[w8liftinglady]

4. Had a long talk with my 21-year old.

he says pretty much the same thing...."what difference does it make?They represent the rich- both parties...even YOURS"
I've had to educate him on the differences, but that is the consensus of his generation- no one is in it for the masses...not even The Democrats.

[murielm99]

5. My daughter had a high school history teacher who would

register everyone to vote as soon as they turned eighteen. Some of the students told him that they did not want to vote, because their vote did not matter anyway, and both parties were the same.

The teacher told them that they would not have a democracy if everyone did that. He did not force anyone to register. If students told him that we do not have a democracy now, he would tell them that they would be in a better position to change that if they voted and stayed informed.

There were a few times I shared information and resources with him about close elections, and the value of voting in primaries. I sent him articles every time there was an agonizingly close election that was fairly local. I gave him a poster that showed how Kennedy won by such a narrow margin in 1960, that it sometimes came down to one vote per precinct in our state of Illinois.

I guess you could try some of that. But maybe they have to lose it all before they wake up. I'm proud to report that my grown children are all politically active and aware. I tried to set an example. At least in this case, it worked.

[ellisonz]

17. It's the message the MSM has been pushing since 2000.

It's intended to demoralize young people to believe they have no stake or role in society.

[Chorophyll]

22. At least your kid has an opinion based on evidence.

That's a good thing. The kid described in the OP just sounds entirely indifferent, unless I'm mis-reading it.

[MadHound]

6. This has been going on for a long, long time

The apathetic voters are the largest voting bloc in this country. Mostly liberal, my bet is that they would be flocking to the polls if a candidate gave them a good reason to go. But after watching how badly our government has failed over time, their attitude is "why bother."

I don't vault these apathetic voters, I fault our candidates. If they would truly inspire these people, they would come out and vote. Sadly, they're not doing their job, and these folks stay home.

[roguevalley]

7. we need a damned draft for both boys and girls. That would do it.

maybe.

[MadHound]

11. Actually, probably not,

Given that the draft didn't do anything for boosting turnout in the sixties. What did, and will boost such turnout is a candidate who has real ideas, real plans that will improve the lives of these people.

[coalition_unwilling]

16. Given that the federal voting age was 21 until 1971 but boys could be

drafted at 18 throughout the 60s, I don't think you can say that the draft held down turnout, since most of those drafted could not legally vote. Yeah, the voting age was 18 starting in 1971 and the draft didn't end until 1973, but I would say that's not enough time to draw any valid sociological conclusions about the draft's influence (or lack thereof) on election-day turnout.

[stuntcat]

8. seems like they'd be the ones most interested in trying to shape the future

I mean it is a big thing our most powerful people are deciding for us.. what the future will be like. (soooo glad I'm 41, not 14)

I've voted ever since I was old enough, every chance I got.

[markpkessinger]

20. It isn't that they're disinterested, it's that they see no possibility of effecting real change n/t

[JoePhilly]

9. That is the GOP's goal. Get everyone to hate government and stop voting.

Except for the far right wing nuts.

[TBF]

15. That is insane -

it doesn't matter because they own the voting machines.

The best thing we can get is tons of folks in the street to affect change - as they are doing in NY right now. Today's kids are doing what our generations failed to. I am with them 100%.

[JoePhilly]

19. Both of those claims are false.

Yes, the GOP is trying to manipulate vote counts by any means they can access. But as we saw in 2008, we can still beat them.

And, No .... the events in NY will have little to no effect.

Not just because the media will not cover whatever happens there, but also because what happens there has almost zero focus. We on the left fail because we can not focus. When we demand that every issue be the TOP priority, we ensure that no issue is the top priority.

[TBF]

21. Did I say we should focus on "issues"? I have no interest in that -

my focus is getting rid of capitalism.

[gratuitous]

10. Try this: You're probably right, but vote anyway

Think of how countercultural you'll be, not conforming to the nonconformist model.

[DaveJ]

12. Tell them "That's exactly what they want..."

"...They want you to be unrepresented so they can pillage all of your hard work, while you continue as their fast food servants for the rest of your lives." Or something like that.

[TBF]

13. Thank god the kids get it -

they are the ones who will be in the street and protest.

[coalition_unwilling]

14. Anger at the kid or anger at the Democratic Party for being such a

pathetic failure in representing the working class' interests?

[Bandit]

18. I have two forty year old sons that I badger constantly about the need to vote

Neither one has ever voted...EVER.. Both are suffering from this economy and yet whenever I bring up voting I see their eyes glaze over.....I have never not voted and consider it a civic responsibility every bit as important as defending the country from any and all enemies....:shrug: They just feel they have no impact and voting won't change that.. they are probably not that far off either...

[MindPilot]

23. Some smart kids. It took me about 45 years to figure that out.

I harbor no illusion that my vote is even counted let alone actually means anything. And the people who do get elected don't represent me or my interests.