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Post by aj2hall on Apr 10, 2023 14:58:46 GMT
For everyone who was motivated to vote as a young person, that's great. But not every family actively watches/ listens or reads the news. Not every family actively follows politics. Some people think all politicians are liars, crooked, corrupt etc. Some people don't see the difference between one politician and another. Not every family makes voting a priority. For young people, parents tend to be their greatest influence on voting.
My parents were active in local politics. I voted a few times, but then I confess, I moved around a lot and didn't bother to register to vote. We moved to NJ in Oct 2020 and I didn't get around to registering to vote before the election. After the 2000 Bush v Gore election, I realized the importance and significance of every vote. Before that, I felt like my single vote didn't really matter, my husband's vote and mine would cancel each other out etc. Not everyone prioritizes voting.
It is our collective responsibility to encourage others to vote. Send postcards, volunteer to drive, help with voter registration drives etc. Democrats, in particular, need to make the effort to get out the vote. Some college campuses do a great job of registering students to vote. Stacey Abrams in GA did a great job of getting out the vote. We need more efforts like that and more people like that. And maybe you think we shouldn't have to encourage people to vote. But that's not the reality. Thinking we shouldn't have to do something is not going to win elections.
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Post by mollycoddle on Apr 10, 2023 15:58:54 GMT
For everyone who was motivated to vote as a young person, that's great. But not every family actively watches/ listens or reads the news. Not every family actively follows politics. Some people think all politicians are liars, crooked, corrupt etc. Some people don't see the difference between one politician and another. Not every family makes voting a priority. For young people, parents tend to be their greatest influence on voting. My parents were active in local politics. I voted a few times, but then I confess, I moved around a lot and didn't bother to register to vote. We moved to NJ in Oct 2020 and I didn't get around to registering to vote before the election. After the 2000 Bush v Gore election, I realized the importance and significance of every vote. Before that, I felt like my single vote didn't really matter, my husband's vote and mine would cancel each other out etc. Not everyone prioritizes voting. It is our collective responsibility to encourage others to vote. Send postcards, volunteer to drive, help with voter registration drives etc. Democrats, in particular, need to make the effort to get out the vote. Some college campuses do a great job of registering students to vote. Stacey Abrams in GA did a great job of getting out the vote. We need more efforts like that and more people like that. And maybe you think we shouldn't have to encourage people to vote. But that's not the reality. Thinking we shouldn't have to do something is not going to win elections. And apathy is what could get Donald Trump a second term-and more conservative judges like that quack in Amarillo.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 10, 2023 16:07:08 GMT
Voting is just not for president.. keeping and adding to the Senate can stop GOP judges. The House holds the purse strings, we do need to rule there also.
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Post by Merge on Apr 10, 2023 16:46:33 GMT
This tweet sums up why extreme gerrymandering depresses turnout for statewide races. Beshear's hands are largely tied in Kentucky due to GOP supermajority. If we had elected Beto, it would have been the same in Texas. It leads a lot of people to think, why am I going to make time for this if it won't change anything?
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huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,990
Jun 25, 2014 20:22:13 GMT
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Post by huskergal on Apr 10, 2023 16:52:58 GMT
I do not understand why Gen Z doesn't vote. Most of them are active on social media. You can't avoid social topics. Do they not understand that these social issues are directly impacted by their vote?
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Post by epeanymous on Apr 10, 2023 17:11:56 GMT
I do not understand why Gen Z doesn't vote. Most of them are active on social media. You can't avoid social topics. Do they not understand that these social issues are directly impacted by their vote? I don't know that this is true in TN but in many red states Republicans shut down or limit polling places in or near universities.
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 10, 2023 17:29:11 GMT
I do not understand why Gen Z doesn't vote. Most of them are active on social media. You can't avoid social topics. Do they not understand that these social issues are directly impacted by their vote? Not just Gen Z, but some people in general don't understand or see the connection. I think some people looked at the first 2 years with Democrats in control of the White House, Senate and House and wondered why they couldn't pass the big social infrastructure plan? Not everyone understands or knows the nuance of the filibuster. It's similar to the disconnect that people support cutting entitlement programs in general but when you ask about Social Security or Medicare specifically, they don't support cutting those programs.
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 10, 2023 17:34:21 GMT
I do not understand why Gen Z doesn't vote. Most of them are active on social media. You can't avoid social topics. Do they not understand that these social issues are directly impacted by their vote? I don't know that this is true in TN but in many red states Republicans shut down or limit polling places in or near universities. Republicans in NH and other states passed stricter voter ID requirements targeting college students like not accepting college ID cards, even if they were issued by state colleges or universities. NH tried to pass a law that only in state students could vote. I'm not even sure that would be constitutional.
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Post by Merge on Apr 10, 2023 17:40:13 GMT
As the parent of two Gen-Z voters, I think for a lot of them, they see it as a chore that won't result in anything changing. I harangue my two until they do it, but not every parent can do that.
My kids have grown up in a Texas that has been solid red for their entire lifetimes. They don't see much, if any, hope of that changing. The oldest was born shortly before 9/11 and we're still in conflict with the middle east. They've lived through dozens of school shootings and have dealt with lockdown drills forever. The world has been a sad and scary place all their lives. They've had a front row seat to what Trumpism has done to our country. A lot of them are pretty nihilistic and disconnected and prefer to inhabit the world they create themselves with their friends and online, rather than participating in a system that seems to be stacked against them. While I don't agree with that, I can certainly understand where the feeling comes from.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,380
Jun 25, 2014 19:28:04 GMT
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Post by RosieKat on Apr 10, 2023 18:21:08 GMT
I think 27-30% turnout in that lower age group is a great start. Instead of being critical that more of them aren’t voting, we need to do whatever we can to support and encourage even more young people to make that effort. They need to be educated much earlier than we were as to the importance of it, and that’s on us. For everyone commenting on this thread that they never needed to be motivated to vote...well, lots of people do. I was always pretty good about voting, not 100% of the time when it came to the (perceived as) less important elections, but still most of the time. But very few people I knew ever voted in anything except presidential elections, if that. Why would we NOT want to get out more voters who share our opinions? The Republicans have figured out that they need to do that in every little way possible. Every percent we gain is a bit that they lose. How does it hurt us to invest time into getting every fraction of the vote we can? It does add up! And I utterly agree that I wasn't very aware as a 12-year-old, or frankly, even as a 17-year-old. But I can tell you my 17-year-old is counting down the days till she can register (I think it's 17 years, 10 months before your bday that you can fill out the paperwork though not vote till 18, I haven't verified that 100%). My 14-year-old who hasn't been interested in any politics before about a year ago is actually showing some interest and (gasp) a little common sense in how he looks at things. And we do have to make them aware. I've never been politically active, and I've had restrictions on what I'm allowed to do or say at times due to jobs. I have some minor restrictions now still. But I've learned that I have to do what I am actually able to do, and to speak out where I can. I blame the Peas. Nothing changes if no one speaks up. And it still may not change fast enough or enough in general, but a little bit is at least a start.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 10, 2023 18:30:04 GMT
Reminding people to register and vote should not be a problem. Discussing details of who and what could/might be!
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huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,990
Jun 25, 2014 20:22:13 GMT
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Post by huskergal on Apr 10, 2023 19:01:44 GMT
As the parent of two Gen-Z voters, I think for a lot of them, they see it as a chore that won't result in anything changing. I harangue my two until they do it, but not every parent can do that. My kids have grown up in a Texas that has been solid red for their entire lifetimes. They don't see much, if any, hope of that changing. The oldest was born shortly before 9/11 and we're still in conflict with the middle east. They've lived through dozens of school shootings and have dealt with lockdown drills forever. The world has been a sad and scary place all their lives. They've had a front row seat to what Trumpism has done to our country. A lot of them are pretty nihilistic and disconnected and prefer to inhabit the world they create themselves with their friends and online, rather than participating in a system that seems to be stacked against them. While I don't agree with that, I can certainly understand where the feeling comes from. My children have grown up in a red state. At least in Nebraska, we split our electoral votes, so they were actually part of the Biden blue dot in the last election. They are aware of the gerrymandering and other tactics used to suppress voters, but they keep voting. I keep telling my kids that their generation is the only one that can save our world and shape it into what they want it to be. The baby steps start with voting in every election. The Republicans are geniuses at keeping local control. I have watched my purple state turn completely red other than the blue dot for the Presidential election. It is frustrating.
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Post by Merge on Apr 10, 2023 19:08:55 GMT
As the parent of two Gen-Z voters, I think for a lot of them, they see it as a chore that won't result in anything changing. I harangue my two until they do it, but not every parent can do that. My kids have grown up in a Texas that has been solid red for their entire lifetimes. They don't see much, if any, hope of that changing. The oldest was born shortly before 9/11 and we're still in conflict with the middle east. They've lived through dozens of school shootings and have dealt with lockdown drills forever. The world has been a sad and scary place all their lives. They've had a front row seat to what Trumpism has done to our country. A lot of them are pretty nihilistic and disconnected and prefer to inhabit the world they create themselves with their friends and online, rather than participating in a system that seems to be stacked against them. While I don't agree with that, I can certainly understand where the feeling comes from. My children have grown up in a red state. At least in Nebraska, we split our electoral votes, so they were actually part of the Biden blue dot in the last election. They are aware of the gerrymandering and other tactics used to suppress voters, but they keep voting. I keep telling my kids that their generation is the only one that can save our world and shape it into what they want it to be. The baby steps start with voting in every election. The Republicans are geniuses at keeping local control. I have watched my purple state turn completely red other than the blue dot for the Presidential election. It is frustrating. I understand all that. Just sharing some insight into why GenZ might not be rushing to the polls, based on what I see and hear.
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huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,990
Jun 25, 2014 20:22:13 GMT
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Post by huskergal on Apr 10, 2023 19:33:53 GMT
My children have grown up in a red state. At least in Nebraska, we split our electoral votes, so they were actually part of the Biden blue dot in the last election. They are aware of the gerrymandering and other tactics used to suppress voters, but they keep voting. I keep telling my kids that their generation is the only one that can save our world and shape it into what they want it to be. The baby steps start with voting in every election. The Republicans are geniuses at keeping local control. I have watched my purple state turn completely red other than the blue dot for the Presidential election. It is frustrating. I understand all that. Just sharing some insight into why GenZ might not be rushing to the polls, based on what I see and hear. I get it. It is just frustrating. I know my oldest 2 were deeply disappointed by the DNC in 2016. They were Bernie supporters. They feel like the DNC handpicked Hilary. They are only Democrats so they can vote in the primary. They hate both parties.
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lizacreates
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,856
Aug 29, 2015 2:39:19 GMT
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Post by lizacreates on Apr 10, 2023 21:48:01 GMT
One might think that when Boomers like me were as young as Gen Z in the ‘60s and ‘70s, we were voting in droves that would shame today’s younger people. No. As a voting bloc of 18-29-year-olds, our participation rate was hovering around 20%-25%, pretty much the same rate as later generations at that age. Whether it be Boomers, Millennials, Gen Xers or Gen Zers at present, the rate of this specific age bloc has always been lower.
Also, someone here must not be a fan of exit polls. It was Gen Z that got Biden in the White House and weakened the anticipated red wave in the midterms, with a participation rate of 27%. I’d say that’s pretty impressive considering they’re only 8% of the electorate. 62%-65% of them voted for Biden. Who had the lowest votes for Biden by age group? The Boomers.
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Post by hop2 on Apr 10, 2023 22:19:24 GMT
I understand all that. Just sharing some insight into why GenZ might not be rushing to the polls, based on what I see and hear. I get it. It is just frustrating. I know my oldest 2 were deeply disappointed by the DNC in 2016. They were Bernie supporters. They feel like the DNC handpicked Hilary. They are only Democrats so they can vote in the primary. They hate both parties. They did, Hillary had the dnc’s full support when she stepped aside in the primaries for the 2012 election. She ‘paid her dues’ and 2016 ( fixed typo ) was her time. Right or wrong that was how the party worked then. I’m not sure they’ve learned their lesson and will run Biden again and that is a mistake imo. Not a damn thing I can do about it - never once has my primary candidate won.
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,514
Nov 14, 2016 23:47:03 GMT
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Post by pinklady on Apr 10, 2023 22:49:46 GMT
So the point of expelling them was what...to prove the good ol' white boys are racist piece of shits. YEP, that exactly what it did. VOTE THOSE OLD WHITE MEN OUT!!!
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Post by ntsf on Apr 10, 2023 22:54:25 GMT
I watched a few clips from local tv station on the corruption of the legislature of tennessee. it was so sad to see such a disregard for representative demoncracy
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 10, 2023 22:58:13 GMT
One might think that when Boomers like me were as young as Gen Z in the ‘60s and ‘70s, we were voting in droves that would shame today’s younger people. No. As a voting bloc of 18-29-year-olds, our participation rate was hovering around 20%-25%, pretty much the same rate as later generations at that age. Whether it be Boomers, Millennials, Gen Xers or Gen Zers at present, the rate of this specific age bloc has always been lower. Also, someone here must not be a fan of exit polls. It was Gen Z that got Biden in the White House and weakened the anticipated red wave in the midterms, with a participation rate of 27%. I’d say that’s pretty impressive considering they’re only 8% of the electorate. 62%-65% of them voted for Biden. Who had the lowest votes for Biden by age group? The Boomers. I always appreciate your insight. Thank you for posting.
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PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,739
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Apr 10, 2023 23:03:51 GMT
I think they just gave Justin Jones a bigger voice than they could have imagined. Come back and bite ya in the a$$ much? 👍
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Post by onelasttime on Apr 10, 2023 23:45:01 GMT
In this country, despite the best efforts of the current corp of Republicans, individuals have the right to vote. But it is also our duty to vote as that is how the government, on all levels, is formed.
The last figures I saw have shown this country has had low voter turnout since the early 1900’s. People got all excited when roughly 70% of those eligible to vote actually showed up for the 2020 Presidential elections, one of the most important elections in modern times. Those who keep track of this stuff were almost giddy with excitement. Even in CA where it’s easy to vote 30% didn’t show up.
The year I became old enough to vote there was a presidential election. Robert Kennedy was running and I wanted to vote for him so I registered to vote. That was my motivation , I wanted to vote in the presidential election for Robert Kennedy! Unfortunately I never got the chance. Although I did take my lunch hour the day he was campaigning in San Francisco so I got to see him driving by waving.
The lack of voter participation over the years, IMO, has kept this country from being better. But it didn’t bother me too much because I was doing my bit by voting.
But, IMO, that all changed big time when this country elected the “you’re fired” guy for president in 2016. All the signs were there that he was not qualified to be president. But yet he made it through the Republican primaries against somewhat sane Republican candidates. More signs came the light leading up to the general election that showed he was not qualified to be president . Yet he was elected by 77,000 votes spread across three swing states.
Add to that what the Republicans were doing leading up to the election of gerrymandering and voter suppression laws were put in the spotlight for all to see. Then it got even worse when the Republicans circled their wagons around trump determined to protect this totally unsuited individual regardless of what he did. As well as expanding their own efforts to gain total power without governing.
These past years and especially this past week we have seen examples of what happens with voter apathy. We have a big mess on our hands and to be blunt only the voters can fix what they broke. This is all hands on deck time.
So pardon me if I don’t get all giddy because 27% of those under 29 decided to bless this country with their presence at the voting booth. Especially since it was down from 31% in 2020.
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Post by onelasttime on Apr 10, 2023 23:49:48 GMT
So there! I love it.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Apr 11, 2023 2:37:27 GMT
So they reinstated one but why not both? I haven’t seen anything about the other man.
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Post by refugeepea on Apr 11, 2023 2:39:03 GMT
I'm a Gen X who votes, but I'm fucking frustrated living in a red state that is gerrymandered and has closed primaries. I even registered as a Republican in hopes of voting the crazies out. It didn't work.
I'm so sick of giving a shit, wanting to know what's going on, I vote, and I'm continually disappointed. Yeah, I know what's going on in Tennessee and I can't do a damn thing about it because I don't have money, influence, or time to do anything meaningful.
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Post by volunteergirl on Apr 11, 2023 3:04:55 GMT
Scrapper100, Mr. Pearson is from Memphis. Their meeting to decide about reinstatement is on Wednesday, I believe.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Apr 11, 2023 3:13:04 GMT
So, it sounds like the state is threatening to withhold money if Pearson is reinstated. I’m curious why that didn’t happen for Jones as well?
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Post by volunteergirl on Apr 11, 2023 3:33:25 GMT
iamkristinl16, it did. There is a project in Nashville for the Titans that was supposed to be funded. The threat not to fund it was definitely hinted at. But the Nashville group did not back down and voted for Mr. Jones anyway.
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Post by Bridget in MD on Apr 11, 2023 11:41:02 GMT
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 11, 2023 20:48:10 GMT
www.nytimes.com/2023/04/11/opinion/tennessee-justin-democrats-expulsion.htmlWhen the expulsion votes were cast, Jones and Pearson were removed, but Johnson was spared.
These Republicans wanted payback. They wanted to bring these Black members to heel. They wanted to demonstrate the power of the proverbial whipping post: to publicly shame, signify dominance and try to force submission.
Their real point wasn’t about the gun-control debate or even order in the legislature. It was an attempt to silence dissent.
Expulsions from state legislatures have been rare in American history, with most cases involving “state lawmakers who faced criminal charges or accusations of sexual misconduct,” according to The Times.
But Republicans’ lust for vengeance and opprobrium not only failed — it backfired. They made martyrs of their marks. People in Tennessee and across the country were outraged by the severity of their treatment of fellow legislators, their underlying obduracy on the question of gun violence and the unavoidable racial symbolism of it all.
The expelled lawmakers became causes célèbres. Instead of being muzzled, their voices were amplified.
Anti-democratic fervor, unbridled power and thirst for revenge have come to define today’s Republican Party. Indeed, Trump, the party’s de facto leader, recently declared, “I am your retribution.”
Republican legislators and governors have deployed that principle in their own form of federalist authoritarianism. The expulsions of the Justins is a case in point — a symptom of a widespread, dangerous and creepy disease.
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 11, 2023 20:50:31 GMT
I hope the fact that by expelling the members, their voices were amplified, discourages Republicans from trying this again somewhere else. More than likely, though, they will just try it in a state where the Republican governor can appoint replacements. www.nytimes.com/2023/04/11/opinion/tennessee-justin-democrats-expulsion.htmlWhen the expulsion votes were cast, Jones and Pearson were removed, but Johnson was spared.
These Republicans wanted payback. They wanted to bring these Black members to heel. They wanted to demonstrate the power of the proverbial whipping post: to publicly shame, signify dominance and try to force submission.
Their real point wasn’t about the gun-control debate or even order in the legislature. It was an attempt to silence dissent.
Expulsions from state legislatures have been rare in American history, with most cases involving “state lawmakers who faced criminal charges or accusations of sexual misconduct,” according to The Times.
But Republicans’ lust for vengeance and opprobrium not only failed — it backfired. They made martyrs of their marks. People in Tennessee and across the country were outraged by the severity of their treatment of fellow legislators, their underlying obduracy on the question of gun violence and the unavoidable racial symbolism of it all.
The expelled lawmakers became causes célèbres. Instead of being muzzled, their voices were amplified.
Anti-democratic fervor, unbridled power and thirst for revenge have come to define today’s Republican Party. Indeed, Trump, the party’s de facto leader, recently declared, “I am your retribution.”
Republican legislators and governors have deployed that principle in their own form of federalist authoritarianism. The expulsions of the Justins is a case in point — a symptom of a widespread, dangerous and creepy disease.
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