How do we get young people to come out and vote in 2010?

[Pryderi]

Off year elections are the Achilles heel for the Democratic party.

[Skittles]

1. run people who give purty speeches

[avaistheone1]

20. .

:fistbump:

[roguevalley]

75. tell them to get off their fat asses and do their duty to their country.

My group got to vote at eighteen and I have never missed a vote since. There is NO EXCUSE not to vote and if they do the usual whining and bitching about how it doesn't matter, then fuck them. I have a huge disdain for anyone who would not exercise their franchise. There are people who died overseas to get an election and we sit around during our own? Shame on people. Get them to vote? They should be fined for NOT voting. Those young ones who care enough to vote, they are citizens and good for them. The rest? Fine them.

[Eric Condon]

78. People "whine about how it doesn't matter" for a reason, and it's not just young people.

To be clear, I'm 24 (I guess that's still considered a young voter) and I've voted in every single election I could since I turned 18, including primaries, local elections, etc. But with the exception of a few local races, I've never harbored any delusion that it "mattered." Maybe things were different for previous generations, but for people like me, who turned 18 post-Florida 2000, it's hard to think of concepts like "the will of people dictating elections" with a straight face.

I vote mostly out of respect for the fact that I have the right to vote. That's good enough for me, but I can't really blame others for being disillusioned.

[LooseWilly]

81. Things weren't different for "older generations"...

GWB was a bit of a shock of difference making/"matter"ing... relative to the routines before... but since things seem to be changing rather little after the GWB thing... and since the difference between GHWB & Bill Clinton were similarly "wonkish"... let's just say that the notion of national political votes "mattering" has seemed laughable for longer than you can attest of your own knowledge.

Don't be afraid of voting for Cthulu if it comes to it...

:+

[roguevalley]

85. both of you don't get what I was saying. It matters to me.

[jwirr]

2. Many of President Obama's workers were young people. They did

a wonderful job in the campaign - and youth were one of the primary reasons he won the election. It is time to set that team back to work convincing the youth that President Obama needs their help now more than ever.

[Hippo_Tron]

5. From experience, they liked Obama a lot more than they liked the Democratic Party

[Zhade]

8. They don't anymore. I know, I've heard their fury and disappointment with him.

He fucked himself over by fucking us over.

[FrenchieCat]

57. 60% approval rating. I don't know who you are talking to, but it sounds like your wishful thinking!

The young people I'm talking like him a lot, and are happy about the progress so far. If they can stay on their parents insurance till they are 27, that helps them a lot.
And in fact, the college students will be even stronger supporters soon.

Latest from Washington

December 11, 2009

House passes bill overhauling financial regulations, which includes language requiring certification of private student loans by colleges. AASCU has signed-on to a letter supporting this provision.
http://diverseeducation.com/article/13280/obama-s-higher-education-agenda-may-lead-to-expanded-federal-role.html

Obama’s Higher Education Agenda May Lead to Expanded Federal Role
by Ronald Roach , December 21, 2009
Scholars, academic administrators and higher education policy officials have largely interpreted the administration's pronouncements, more than $100 billion in education stimulus funding and the community college-focused American Graduation Initiative, as markers of a significant shift in federal higher education policy and the making of a credible push for an expanded federal role in American higher education. It's also significant that the "Race to the Top" initiative, the administration's K-12 education reform effort, focuses on school districts getting more students prepared for college, experts note.

"The federal role has been traditionally to support economic access through need-based student aid, through loans and grants, and through some categorical programs. But it's not had a policy role, particularly around the agenda of (college) completion and increasing overall attainment," says Jane Wellman, executive director of the Delta Project on Postsecondary Education Costs, Productivity, and Accountability.

"They're talking about more access, more degree completion. It's a tremendously important extension of where the federal government has been historically."
snip
One early test for the Obama administration will be whether it can persuade Congress to pass the Student Assistance and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). Major funding for Obama proposals would be made available through SAFRA, which has passed the House and was pending before the Senate earlier this month. SAFRA includes $3 billion for a college access and completion fund along with $2.5 billion for community college facilities and $630 million in other grants to community colleges.

Other measures include $2.5 billion for minority-serving institutions and a $1,350 increase in the maximum Pell Grant over the next decade. To finance these investments, SAFRA would do away with bank-generated student loans in favor of less expensive, government-backed Direct Loans. Officials have estimated the federal government can save $9 billion annually by eliminating loan subsidies for private banks.

SAFRA's passage will be critical, but the administration's long-term success in higher education policy will depend on how well it builds a consensus with states on making college completion a high priority, Wellman says.
http://diverseeducation.com/article/13280/obama-s-higher-education-agenda-may-lead-to-expanded-federal-role.html


The bank-based federal student loan program that President Obama has proposed eliminating in the 2010 federal budget. Voices from both sides of the debate chimed in, with one clear theme emerging: in 2010, student loans are definitely going to change. The questions at this point are to what extent federal student lending will change and whether the banks currently involved in FFEL will still have a place in the new system.

The Obama administration proposes switching all federal Stafford and PLUS loans to the federal Direct Loans program, then using the savings from eliminating lender subsidies to increase Federal Pell Grants and make funding mandatory, while also greatly expanding the federal Perkins Loan program and spending more on college completion. Opponents of this plan, primarily consisting of FFEL lenders and representatives of schools that participate in FFEL, have suggested alternatives that would restructure student lending, but still leave a place for lenders to service the loans. Not one witness at the hearing advocated keeping the system as it is, though, and it seems that a shakeup in student lending is inevitable. Hopefully, this will result in more available financial aid for students. Inside Higher Ed has more information on the hearing.
http://blog.scholarships.com/tag/president-obama /


It appears that young people are much more patient
and since they have seen the reality of politics;
how difficult it is to get anything through,
they apparently understand what Obama is faced with.


Do you just pull your feeling out of your ass
and consider them facts?

[laughingliberal]

59. Perhaps the OP meant the Non-Panglossian young people nt

[FrenchieCat]

67. Perhaps the Poster was talking about the youth in the anarchist movement,

and the Ron Paul supporters.

In any case, the youth WHO VOTED still approve of Barack Obama.
Just because folks here don't, that sad fact doesn't translate to everyone else...
to the deep chagrin of some.

[laughingliberal]

70. Turnout has always been key to Democratic victories for as far back as I can remember

It has always been a stretch for us in the midterm, especially. Young people, especially, are prone to not voting. Different for my generation. But we were energized by civil rights and Viet Nam. Approval ratings in polls are all well and good but they don't necessarily translate into people who go to the polls. Obama is not on the ballot in 2010. Perhaps there will be some Congressional or Senate races in areas that will energize them. Maybe there will be some who would run on help for education or jobs. I don't know. It's always an uphill battle to get Democrats to the polls at the midterms and young Democrats are harder. Some of my husband's grandkids voted the first time in '08. They don't seem energized. I talk to them about trying to support more progressive candidates and they're tuned out right now.

edited for grammar

[FrenchieCat]

71. These are not national elections.......

so each district and state that have an election must do what they can.

Young people are never prone to voting...so what's new?
How did we get a majority in 2006; certainly not youth at the polls.

They are probably not energized, because you most likely are making sure of that.

I speak to young folks at my church every Sunday, and they will be voting,
because that's part of my responsibility; to inspire them.

If you don't want them to vote, then you can make sure that they won't. It's really that simple.

[laughingliberal]

73. I think the OP was asking about how to get young people to vote in 2010

That would be my reason for addressing young people. I don't talk to many young people. My days are spent at my husband's shop sanding, masking, staining, trying to do the little work we have coming in so we can eat and put some gas in the car. Talk to his grandkids some and encourage them to work for progressives but, as I said, they're tuned out right now.

When they were a little younger we were able to help them out some with expenses but now that we've become destitute their lives are worse and they don't really see much getting better for them. It's hard to convince them there's hope for the future when the most successful people they had in their lives lost everything in 2 years and no end in sight. Just how it is.

[Zhade]

65. I'm just curious -- how do you breathe through all that sand?

NT!

[FrenchieCat]

69. The same way you walk around like eeyore!

You are one of the most cynical poster at this site,
I wouldn't expect anything more than what you have contributed over time; next to nothing.

[IndianaGreen]

13. Loyalty is a two way street

What has the Administration done for young people, other than a mandate for them to buy insurance from the evil health industry? Where are the jobs?

[avaistheone1]

29. Spiffy.

How about convincing young people that Obama is going to remove telecom immunity regarding FISA, stop the wars (not just substitute troops with contractors), give real support to the public option, dump NAFTA, increase tariffs, repeal the Reagan tax cuts, and create good paying jobs in the U.S. that can be sustained.

[tblue]

31. "is going to" Therein lies the rub.

"is going to" is hard to sell a second time. How about "has" and "did"?

[avaistheone1]

35. True.

THAT is the hard sell.

[Zhade]

53. Especially when he's a demonstrable liar.

NT!

[LWolf]

91. So we lie to them. nt

[femmocrat]

3. Why would they want to?

It will even be hard getting out the "older" voters since people are so disheartened.

I know my own kids are totally turned off by current politics, although they were all excited about the presidential election.

[tblue]

33. That's what makes me so sad.

We had the young people. We had them.

[Bluebear]

4. Keep talking about hope 'n stuff.

[Zhade]

6. A good start would be for our leaders to stop lying to our faces.

NT!

[avaistheone1]

30. Naw. They think we're stupid especially the young people.

They think the kids can live on slogans like: Change We Can Believe In.

[dkf]

7. We already blew it. Young people need jobs not healthcare.

Older people need both. Then we will penalize younger people who dont want to spend all their spare money on insurance.

[jwirr]

It is too bad everyone here is just going to lie down and let the repugs

have it back. I for one would rather hold the line than slide backward. I have seen several presidents who were absolutely deadlocked in their last 2 years of a term because we did not hold the House and Senate. IMHO in order to just not get worse than we are now we have to at least hold the houses. With the mess as bad as it is a repug win would be disastrous and the final straw.

[IndianaGreen]

24. Blame Pelosi and Reid for that

Compromise on what had been Democratic core issues is a form of suicide.

[jwirr]

36. I am poor and I have lived under both Democratic and repug administrations

and I can tell you that anyway you look at it a Democrat even one who only holds the line is better than the other choice. The Democrats are the ones who kept my daughter alive throughout her illness and sustained my family while I was taking care of her. The repugs make no bones about it they want to get rid of those programs. I will not chose worse poverty over what we have now - that could well be suicide for my family.

[IndianaGreen]

41. I have no problems with Indiana Democrats, except for Evan Bayh

At the state level, there are stark differences between Democrats and Republicans. At the national level, both parties serve the corporations that line their pockets.

[change_notfinetuning]

77. Bayh's a Democrat? Wow! I could have sworn he's a Republican. My bad. n/t

[Zhade]

55. Holding this administration's line IS sliding back.

NT!

[avaistheone1]

38. Actually young people need health care too.

Young people use a great deal of health care services. They utilize a lot of reproductive health services, pregnancy, abortion services, sports medicine, and chiropractic services etc. Most of those services are not cheap.

[DJ13]

9. Tell them they'll get change

from the thousands of dollars they'll be paying in mandated insurance premiums?

[IndianaGreen]

10. LMAO

You just passed a mandate for young people to buy piss poor health insurance from greedy health industry. I am sure that is going to go like a lead balloon!

Why don't you put a tax on soda to top it off!

[dysfunctional press]

11. we don't count on it happening.

because it's not going to.

A LOT of regular democratic voters won't be showing up either...like union members who are going to be taxed on their health benefits, for instance.

[NYC_SKP]

12. You ask a sincere question and get a number of numbskull answers. Pretty pathetic for a D.U.

Here is a sincere thought or two.

You educate them, you tell them that they need to learn as much as they can about MSM, corporations, how we've been sold out by members of both parties.

You explain to them that their vote and their activism are the only ways they'll ever see change and have a future.

They may be the last generation that will have this chance.

[IndianaGreen]

15. Don't forget to tell them about the Blue Dogs and endless compromises

to the likes of Lieberman and Nelson.

Might as well tell them the truth of how corrupt our political system has become, and how our elected representatives frak the working class on behalf of the corporations.

[DJ13]

19. Some people here like the "endless compromises"

They really do think corporations should control our country.

[laughingliberal]

64. I've been noticing that nt

[Zhade]

56. What's numbskull is pretending our answers aren't dead on.

How's the view under the Sahara, pal?

[jtuck004]

14. 1. Be a role model

2. Offer a ride?

3. Ask them if they have filled out the form to get their ballot in the mail, cause that's what most "adults" do, saves gas.


Whatever it takes. I took a kid by the cemetery one day and told him about how I was saying a silent "thank you". That started a conversation...he told me later he wound up voting for someone, never had before (I didn't ask who, nor did I care). Good for him.

[asdjrocky]

16. Good for you.

It's important to teach them young to get involved in the process.

[struggle4progress]

17. The real question is: How do we get them involved today in issues that concern them?

The involvement could be, for example, in particular nonprofits working on issues that interest them -- or it could be in grassroots groups

[IndianaGreen]

22. Excellent answer!

Change within the current political system has been proven impossible. A good alternative is to become an activist in those issues one is concerned about, and it doesn't have to be a political issue at all. Donate some time and money at something that will make things a little better for others.

[yourout]

18. Free beer.

[RainDog]

21. Offer a student loan bailout.

because, honestly, the money spend on wall street fuckers who already fucked over the middle class... while, yes, there had to be some emergency intervention but NOT what has continued to occur... was really wasted when young people cannot afford educations or start their working lives without major, crushing debt.

what do the assholes on wall street do? invent ways to pretend paper is money?

what can a student do who went to medical school? or learned to be a systems analyst? or a librarian (tho those jobs are also fading due to state cutbacks in funding, etc.)

since the job market sucks now, going to school/staying in school is one way to actually have some basic insurance, some basic amenities of life... sad but true. if someone has spend time learning skills that can be used in the American economy, why not offer them a way to get on with life?

[TK421]

95. Yours is an excellent idea!

It would especially suck to have those loans hanging over my head along with credit card debt ( which I accept ) but being unemployed doesn't help matters now

[AllentownJake]

23. Stop acting like assholes with legislation nt.

[iamtechus]

25. Run antiwar candidates who support student loan reform (nt)

[tblue]

34. I think, right or wrong, that's what they thought Obama was.

[RainDog]

37. because that's what he wanted people to think

if politicians want to get young people to get out and vote, they shouldn't shit on them and tell them it's raining, in other words.

[Zhade]

58. He's a very smooth liar.

Even I was taken in.

Never again.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

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

[laughingliberal]

68. +1

[mitchtv]

26. put a legalize marijuana issue on the ballot

we'll see what happens in Calif

[Mari333]

27. well, I know my 2 sons who are young and FINALLY voted for Obama wont vote again

they dont see much difference between either party.

[liberal_at_heart]

43. Yes that is a sad fact

There were so many hopeful, enthusiastic young people that believed the whole "change" speech. I think there are probably going to be many disillusioned young people who will be dissapointed in how many compromises have been made that have degraded gay rights, women's rights, education, and jobs. I have to wonder just how many young people will actually come out to vote after being let down.

[Touchdown]

28. Offer free piercings and those ear lobe expander things.

... I'm getting old.:cry:

[flyarm]

32. JOBS , JOBS AND JOBS..AND REAL JOBS ..not bullshit jobs..

my sons friends are all pissed because most have been laid off..of really good jobs they had out of college....and the job future is dim for them..and they are damned pissed..now in early 30's many now have to move home with the folks..or get $$ help from their folks, and they are pissed and depressed!

Over holidays Hubby and i visited our son and his new wife and their friends would come over and the talk of their outlook of their future was terrible..people here at du that post about doom and gloom posts..must not be listening to the reality of what is going on in our economy and the future of our youth..

I have 9 nephews and 1 neice we also visited..same scenerio..all college educated and neice lost a great management job and is now bartending ..and miserable..5 of the 9 nephews have All lost their jobs..3 have moved home ..all in their late 20's..with no hope of finding good jobs..2 have given up looking..they would rather be home with the folks than work at Mc Donalds..that would be if McDonald was hiring, which it is not where they live in Calif!..

All I heard from the young ones while in Calif for the holidays, was very pissed off disillusioned young folks who bought into all the hope and change shit..now I won't even type here the words I heard from these kids..( they are always kids to me) but it was not pretty..and most I would say would not be voting in the next election..or they won't be voting the way many here would like to believe they would be.

Ahh and their folks are none to happy either!!

[RainDog]

40. thanks for your post

I have relayed some of the things that I have heard from people too.

when you do, you get polls that show how happy people are and get discounted as being a debbie downer or wendell whiner.

but the truth of the matter is, honestly, that our govt is not representing the interests of the AMERICAN PEOPLE on the whole, not one industry or another or one religious group at the cost of others' life choices.

I don't know if politicians are really so disconnected from people's existence or if they just want to think they can ignore the anger and hopelessness that comes from watching the wall street bailout and the insurance company give away.

I'm not a kid anymore, but I did buy into the "hope and change" because things were SO SHITTY with Bush in office. but this administration seems like it wants to pretend it is 1990 (and maybe the people in apppointed positions are the reason.. and a big part of the problem).

but it is NOT 1990. This is the worst economy since the great depression.

Reaganomics has FAILED MISERABLY. Negative job creation, dismantling of the middle class by attacks on unions, an oligarchy that can torture, lie, steal, murder with impunity.

so, yeah, how DO you get people to come out to vote when their vote has been treated like an obligation due from the serf to the nobility?

[omega minimo]

46. Good luck to them all, but a lot of youth now want to start at the top, not work their way up

through "bullshit jobs." If BS jobs is all there is, they gotta get real,

[flyarm]

50. hey they are losing entry level jobs..the jobs they work their way up with..

and now those jobs are gone.

A co-worker of my son lost his job with a double masters degree and he was a high end manager who did work his way up!

My neice has her masters, worked her way through school to management and got let go because of the economy and all she could get to live on was a bar tending job..she took it to survive. Don't even mention Hope and change to her..she will give you one fucking nasty earful! ( I know i heard it loud and clear over the holidays!!!) She lives in the California Capitol, Sacramento!

Spare the judgments..all are from hard working middle class families, and most worked their way through college to get their degrees...and worked hard in their jobs.

[liberal_at_heart]

52. that depends on where you are

Most of the kids from our neighborhood get rent paid, new cars, and all their little electronic toys and designer clothes paid for by mommy and daddy even while in college. They get use to that lifestyle. Their self worth is wrapped up in what they own and if they have to do with generic stuff for many it means they are worth less and so they throw temper tantrums and mommny and daddy pay for their toys. I've never been that way with my kids. We go shopping at Target and Payless. My daughter loves shoes. She has 5 or 6 pairs of shoes but they are all from Payless and she pays for them with her allowance. Alot of college kids believe that they will make 70, 80, 90 or even 100 thousand dollars right out of college. For them working at places like Subway is what kids from poor families do, not them. Some of them are willing to work at high end beauty boutiques as long as they get discounts on the designer clothes. Even my daughter may be in for a reality check when she grows up. She wants to be a veterinarian surgeon. Traditionally they make good money. She expects to make good money when she gets out of college, but in this economy nothing is guaranteed and she may be in for a rude awakening.

[flyarm]

62. i guess where you are from is not Calif where the unemployment is highest in nation

I was visiting there for the holidays..I live in Fla with the second highest unemployment in the nation..right now is the beginning of the height of our tourist season , what our area depends on.it is a ghost town right now..and even the waitresses and waiters are being let go! There are no high paying jobs ..and no low paying jobs to be had..so alot of that hope stuff is out the door depending on where you are living and the unemployment levels!..and don't let the numbers make you comfortable..in parts of Calif and Fla..so many have lost jobs with no jobs available..people have given up..but it is really hitting the youth!

[flyarm]

94. "We need to create more than 10 million new jobs"

"This is a society in deep, deep trouble and the fixes currently in the works are in no way adequate to the enormous challenges we’re facing. For example, an end to the mantra of monthly job losses would undoubtedly be welcomed. But even if the economy manages to create a few hundred thousand new jobs a month, it would do little to haul us from the unemployment pit dug for us by the Great Recession. We need to create more than 10 million new jobs just to get us back to where we were when the recession began in December 2007."



Op-Ed Columnist
An Uneasy Feeling
By BOB HERBERT
January 4, 2010

Please read the full article at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/opinion/05herbert.htm...


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Maybe some where you are "spoiled"..but for the vast number of Americans out of work, and that involves many of our youth..that is not the case!

[omega minimo]

54. That wasn't a judgment

It was a fact. Spare your projections. Can't this goddamned board volley two posts without a bullshit argument? :evilfrown:

I understand those jobs are going and I DID NOT TRY to overgeneralize about whoever or WHATEVER :wtf:

What I said stands on its own. You are arguing with somebody else and your bullshit is not needed here.

[Captain Hilts]

39. Threaten a draft?

[WillyT]

42. Ya Know... I Really Would Love To Be Snarky Here, But...

But I just can't bring myself to do it. The OP question is just too sad.

A year ago I would have had several great answers... today, I have none.

Regarding the OPQ... I have not one clue...

:shrug:

[Romulox]

44. More $$$ for banksters? SURGE! into Yemanistan?

:shrug:

[omega minimo]

45. Pay them

[WT Fuheck]

47. I believe it is too late for this crew of Democrats.

They've done everything possible to screw the youth. Who knows though? Today's youth are *very* well-trained consumers. Maybe all it will take is another purty voice making pretending to make purty promises.

[jillan]

48. Hopefully the people who ran Obama's campaign have something up their sleeves.

As angry as I can get at this administration, I sure don't want to see McConnell as Majority Leader. Or Boner as Speaker of the House.
Our worst is better than their best.

[FarLeftFist]

49. Tell them they will receive a $50 itunes giftcard

[flyarm]

51. or do what was done the last time..hand out Ipods!! eom

[LeftyMom]

72. Pay for music? *confused*

[superduperfarleft]

88. LOL. Seriously.

They'd be better off handing out waffles invites.

[anonymous171]

60. The same way you get everyone else to vote for you: Pass legislation that benefits them. nt

[Zhade]

66. Oh, then it's pretty much over for him.

Most young people aren't rich corporatists.

[laughingliberal]

61. I've got it! We could try Change!!!

Perhaps if they see some before the election (the good kind, I mean) they will be energized and show up for a midterm election.

[girl gone mad]

63. A politician who promises to cancel the national debt will be very popular with young people.

They have not derived any tangible benefits from the enormous deficit, and they should not be asked to pay for it.

[LeftyMom]

74. Good fucking luck. Obama blew that shit by being a dissapointing lying sell-out.

I'd be surprised if you see many young people who enthusiastically bought into his shit show up in 2012, for that matter. Nobody likes being manipulated.

[Name removed]

76. Deleted message

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

[change_notfinetuning]

79. Lower the drinking age to 18. (BUT throw the book at DUI's. Enforce the law.)

Or tell them if they vote in the government elections they'll get extra votes for American Idol.

[lib2DaBone]

80. Move the Dem Party more to the right...mandatory prayer at every event.

[change_notfinetuning]

82. Run candidates that offer a REAL choice. n/t

[gleaner]

84. Remind them that they are first in ....

line to go to war. Eventually, if Obama continues as he has, enlistments are not going to cover it. There will have to be a draft. They might find that more daunting than going out to vote.

[leeroysphitz]

86. Try representing them. n/t

[MerryBlooms]

87. My sons are 23 and 26

Both Dem voters and will vote in 2010. Presidential cycles are much more 'glamorous' and exciting, but the off-years that focus on our local issues, are some of the most important times to cast your vote. My kids have heard me ranting on this subject for so many years, I doubt the thought of not voting even crosses their minds.

[Vinca]

89. No more bait and switch candidates.

You can't get people revved up on "hope and change" and then continue the policies of the previous administration.

[change_notfinetuning]

92. Yep. The next time I hear "change", they've lost my vote. "Revolution"? That's

a possibility, so long as it calls for "change?" You know what I mean. Fine tuning ain't change. Business as usual is outright betrayal. How can you get back on track if you've derailed and like the scenery?

[Hannah Bell]

90. offer them something worth voting for?

[jpak]

93. Don't let them read posts in GD

:evilgrin:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

96. Offer them something beyond "not as bad" and the status quo.