on the eve of their Gotterdammerung, Mineral Moses offers Bernie bullies advice

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511831199

Oh my.

MineralMan (83,051 posts)    Mon Apr 25, 2016, 04:50 PM

Millennials: If you wait for the ideal candidate,
 
your non-participation in the 2016 presidential election will be noticed. Perhaps some of you think that is a good thing. It is not.

There are no ideal candidates, really. But the candidates there are direct their attention to the voters. They look back to see who voted in 2012 and 2014, and study the demographics of those voters. Why? Because those people are very likely to show up in November in 2016, too.

There will be elections in 2018 and 2020. In those elections, candidates will look again at the demographics of the 2016 election, and will campaign to win the hearts and votes of those voters, just like they always do. Will the millennial age demographic be well represented? Not if they stay home to avoid voting for the better of the two major party candidates.

A huge amount of research and planning is based on voter turnout statistics from the two most recent elections. If millennials show up in November, they will be noticed and attention will be paid to them in 2018 and 2020. If they do not show up or think they're protesting something by failing to vote, they will not be noticed, and no more attention will be paid than is being paid in 2016.

It's a vicious cycle, but one that repeats itself, whether non-voters like it or not. Candidates care only about voters. They ignore non-voters, because non-voters don't vote. There's no protest registered by not voting. There's only a low number of voters in a demographic that does not turn out and vote for the better of two candidates for every office.

So, if you're thinking about sitting on your hands for the 2016 General Election, consider thinking again. If you believe your age demographic should be noticed, go vote and you will be noticed. Vote for the better of the two candidates, based on your beliefs, and help that candidate win. Then, in 2018 and 2020, the candidates for all sorts of offices will notice that millennials came to the polls and voted. They'll work to appeal to the issues important to millennials. Change will occur.

Or, forget that there are no ideal candidates. This year, it's likely that a candidate from the Boomer generation will be the nominee in both parties. There will be a Democrat and a Republican. Don't like either one? OK, but make a choice and vote. If you don't, you won't count. You won't be noticed. You won't be considered until you demonstrate that you participate in the one action that elects people - voting.

If you don't care what I think, that's OK. I'll be voting. So will my age peers. We've been doing that for a long time now, because we know that if we do, candidates notice us and want our votes. You can do the same. Get noticed. Vote. Vote as sensibly as you can manage. Vote for the better of the two candidates. Help get that candidate elected. People will notice if you do that.

It's up to you, of course. It's your decision as an individual member of your primary demographic group. Make your choice. You'll be noticed either way, but you won't be noticed in a positive way if you stay home.

That's my opinion. Thanks for reading it.

berniepdx420 (1,712 posts)    Mon Apr 25, 2016, 04:52 PM

1. ...
 
settle settle settle... pick the least worst of the corporate candidate... Its a shell game my friends... been watching it my whole life... Enough is Enough!!!!

forjusticethunders (254 posts)    Mon Apr 25, 2016, 04:56 PM
in response to the Bernie bully above

6. You're throwing a ****ing tantrum.
 
This is that attitude that GETS us corporate candidates in the first place because why the **** should politicians care what lefties and young people think if they keep not voting? We've been doing the "don't vote out of protest" thing for 40 years and where has it gotten us? I guess the Dems really went hard left after they lost to Bush, as seen in that courageous, unanimous Democratic vote against the Iraq War...oh wait that didn't happen.

Not voting isn't a voice, it's silence.

nadinbrzezinski (150,005 posts)    Mon Apr 25, 2016, 04:59 PM

8. This is likely the funniest comedy I have read in a
 
Long time. Thanks 

MineralMan (83,051 posts)    Mon Apr 25, 2016, 05:00 PM

12. Oh, cool. I love to make people laugh...
 
when I'm joking. I'm not joking today. But go ahead and laugh on...

Warren DeMontague (69,845 posts)    Mon Apr 25, 2016, 05:07 PM
in response to Mineral Moses' original post

27. dude, they're not on DU, waiting to hear your advice.
 
In case you haven't noticed, this place is almost entirely filled with cranky-ass duffers like you and me.