Young and Politically Illiterate

[Zephie]

It seems like young people in my demographic (end teens to mid twenties) have no concept of what each side stands for. It bothers me quite a bit as when I ever try to engage in political discussion with peers I am met with one of two things: Apathy or complete lack of understanding. This is extremely distressing, annoying, and in the end baffling to me as I became truly political in 2006, when others my age were jumping on the Obama train with gusto. Unfortunately when the Obama train pulled into the station most of us got off and didn't get on the next one headed towards true involvement and change.

Today I asked a friend of mine that I have avoided discussing political maters with why he was on the right. He's a sweet, caring, understanding guy and certainly not someone most would pick out of a crowd and point out as a conservative. His answer truly stunned me when he came back with this:

"It's the shock factor. The right is more interesting than the left, and it's not like either party makes a difference in the end anyway - they all just want our money."

Is that truly what the young voters of America are doing? We're letting the SHOCK FACTOR determine our votes? How is it that the message of what the left and right truly stand for hasn't reached them? Where is the failing? I sat down and spoke to him truly about what it was the right stood for and pointed out all the reasons that the ideology that he is (was?) a member of is totally against the person he truly is. As an Atheist, bisexual, low income earning individual I had always been boggled by the idea that he would vote against his own interests, and yet it turns out that the only reason he has done it at all is because he has been filled with rightwing rhetoric and "shock factor". How do we combat that?

[Brilliantrocket]

1. I would agree with him in some ways.

Both parties suck. Neither party gives me what I want or even comes close. I hate when people stand with their party no matter what as if their party is perfect. Both sides are guilty of this. That being said, the only thing I can really agree with Republicans on is gun rights and maybe some foreign policy / tax ideals.

[Zephie]

2. The Dems have been letting us down lately

I am hoping that the actions of the WI Dems will remind the rest of the leadership that they are for the people not for their wallets. That said, I am not a party-pusher for the Democrats - I actually fall a bit farther left than what would be considered traditional Democratic ideals. However the US is afraid of the word I would use for myself so I try not to use it too often in my posts as even here we are a bit afraid of it. I have seen some people who used it to define themselves here attacked quite viciously and I like you guys and would rather not deal with that.

That is actually another example of the pervasiveness of rightwing talking points on people who are actually liberal.

[lunatica]

3. It's always been like this

Don't worry. Your friends will engage in politics again in the presidential elections in 2012. That's when you can talk to them again.

Don't blame them. Most people aren't political junkies nor do they care about what's happening in politics because they simply don't think it affects them. It's all far far away in Washington DC and it has nothing to do with real life. It's always been that way.

[Zephie]

5. That may be the disconnect

I don't see how it DOESN'T effect them. That gas price they're complaining about? That's because of politics. How much of that tiny pay check goes into taxes? Politics both on the part of the checks amount and how much of it they do or don't get in their pocket. I don't understand how they are so blind, and completely uninterested in figuring out how these things they're complaining about can be resolved. Obviously they're unhappy with things, but it seems like they have no interest in actually correcting what is causing the unhappiness. Jumping on board because of the media hype surrounding the presidential elections just doesn't do it! How and why are we voting on these two people anyway? Why should we be voting for them? It just doesn't make sense to say "Sure, you tell us all what to do" and then forget about it to me.

[lunatica]

6. They simply don't know how anyone can stop such things

When I try to talk to people I see them actually getting dispirited and depressed as they hear the facts I tell them. They don't believe they have the power to do anything. I've stopped trying to educate people who don't want to know the facts. It doesn't take much to figure out who simply can't deal with the truth. You can see them withdrawing.

[leftstreet]

4. "they all just want our money" LOL this person is NOT stupid

:-)