2016 Postmortem

CBHagman

(17,139 posts)

1. Same here, and I wanted to vote more than I wanted a driver's license.

Sat Dec 3, 2016, 03:52 PM

Dec 2016

I actually registered to vote before I got a driver's license.

And now that I'm older and I hear my young neighbor telling me that people his age don't vote in the midterms because they're not excited about the candidates, I'm struck by how passive that sounds -- i.e., ceding power because one doesn't feel like using it.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

115 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

When I was a "millennial," I never expected candidates to "inspire" me [View all] EffieBlack Dec 2016 OP

Same here, and I wanted to vote more than I wanted a driver's license. CBHagman Dec 2016 #1

So, it's not just me? EffieBlack Dec 2016 #2

Of course not. J_William_Ryan Dec 2016 #31

I made a special trip to downtown Chicago to register. greatauntoftriplets Dec 2016 #36

Yes, exactly. DavidDvorkin Dec 2016 #3

Not all young people think like that, but madaboutharry Dec 2016 #4

Obviously, you were never a millennial. aikoaiko Dec 2016 #5

but when it comes to voTing it's not much different. young people always have low turnout JI7 Dec 2016 #8

Sure. That's true, but the solution motivating millennials to vote may lie in their perspective aikoaiko Dec 2016 #10

they will vote more with age as other generations have done JI7 Dec 2016 #13

Sure, but who will they vote for with the "earn my vote" mindset aikoaiko Dec 2016 #16

demographics include race gender and many things JI7 Dec 2016 #19

I can assure you that my cohort (I'm the same age marybourg Dec 2016 #101

I have twins who Chiquitita Dec 2016 #6

i always ask about how they felt for candidates of other offices JI7 Dec 2016 #7

In defense of millennials... RealityChik Dec 2016 #9

If Millenials had their way Hillary Clinton would be President JonLP24 Dec 2016 #11

Oh no you don't! murielm99 Dec 2016 #17

There was nothing pie in the sky about Bernie JonLP24 Dec 2016 #18

Where did I mention Bernie? murielm99 Dec 2016 #21

What did you mean by? JonLP24 Dec 2016 #22

I'm sensitive, too. murielm99 Dec 2016 #23

Why are you telling me to go away? JonLP24 Dec 2016 #24

pie in the sky mush...ashamed. Gross. JCanete Dec 2016 #95

Unfortunately, as a group their turnout was low. n/t pnwmom Dec 2016 #25

As a group most people older than them voted for Trump JonLP24 Dec 2016 #30

Who's scapegoating? EffieBlack Dec 2016 #49

This is who... progressoid Dec 2016 #77

Whoosh! EffieBlack Dec 2016 #79

Right. Because your OP has nothing to do with blaming millennials. progressoid Dec 2016 #82

these axes aren't going to grind themselves, jack! Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #100

And when you were that age, most people your age DIDN'T vote. Ken Burch Dec 2016 #12

Inspiration is the difference between you showing up at the polls, or.. killbotfactory Dec 2016 #14

I stayed off people's grass, too, back when I was that age, QC Dec 2016 #15

Lmao... Docreed2003 Dec 2016 #78

Millenials inherited the worst recession since jake335544 Dec 2016 #20

People in the 60s grew up with the threat of nuclear war LisaM Dec 2016 #26

Younger generations still grow up with threat of nuclear war. Growing up in the cold war era, Exilednight Dec 2016 #45

In case you weren't paying attention, Obama-Clinton policies have been drumming up a new cold war jake335544 Dec 2016 #50

I empathize with millenials' struggles... YvonneCa Dec 2016 #90

Every generation believes they have harder lives and greater challenges than any previous generation EffieBlack Dec 2016 #54

Our party does quite a bit for smart kids that's for sure... jake335544 Dec 2016 #61

And every generation grows up to be cranky, pissy complainers about the younger folks. Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #94

Actually, the closest we came to nuclear war after the cuban missile crisis was during the 80s Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #93

One would think the idea of having a future would be exciting enough. I guess not. LisaL Dec 2016 #27

The idea of having a few million in my bank account is exciting, but I don't run out and buy lottery Exilednight Dec 2016 #46

This "inspired" thing is a talking point of the M$M talking idiots. What really produces celebrity Bill USA Dec 2016 #28

I am a millennial and you are 100% right. nycbos Dec 2016 #29

As a voter, I never expected a candidate to agree with me 100% either tammywammy Dec 2016 #32

i agree. i don't understand all this DesertFlower Dec 2016 #33

Exactly. ananda Dec 2016 #34

I don't know if that is unique to millenials Lotusflower70 Dec 2016 #35

I didn't either, it would never have entered my mind. Ridiculous. betsuni Dec 2016 #37

Thank you, and it's not just "millennials" that spew that "I need to be inspired" crap. GoCubsGo Dec 2016 #38

exactly they aren't running to be your friend treestar Dec 2016 #44

Since 1960, voter turn out has been steadily dropping. jman0war Dec 2016 #39

I have mixed feelings on this. Amimnoch Dec 2016 #40

That's a false media narrative right up there with red vs blue states.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2016 #41

It's not the voters portlander23 Dec 2016 #42

Me too I remember saying the same treestar Dec 2016 #43

It's a different time.. JHan Dec 2016 #47

Yeah, it's not like the Greatest Generation had an FDR to inspire, or Boomers a JFK. Exilednight Dec 2016 #48

Or even a Bill Clinton for that matter... vi5 Dec 2016 #53

Gutting welfare and expanding the prison state is so inspiring /sarcasm jake335544 Dec 2016 #64

Right. That explains why Bill Clinton never won any major elections. DanTex Dec 2016 #67

The Clinton tech-debt boom, disguised the "welfare reform" lie from laypeople jake335544 Dec 2016 #68

I get it. When a Clinton loses, it's her fault. When a Clinton wins, it's other factors. DanTex Dec 2016 #70

We dodn't know rhat at the time.... vi5 Dec 2016 #73

And in the meantime, they had Eisenhower and Nixon and Reagan and Bush EffieBlack Dec 2016 #57

Not really. Look at the opponents of Nixon, Reagan and Bush. Exilednight Dec 2016 #60

Hillary inspired millions of people EffieBlack Dec 2016 #63

Trump inspired millions. Reagan inspired millions, Exilednight Dec 2016 #66

And Hillary inspired millions. Several million more than Trump did. EffieBlack Dec 2016 #69

But not as many as Obama and not enough to win an election. Exilednight Dec 2016 #71

They won't think the world revolves around them when the next war comes. Cattledog Dec 2016 #51

We're currently fighting three wars. They're the only generation to the mainland attacked. Exilednight Dec 2016 #56

Why are millennials more obligated to vote for a particular candidate? vi5 Dec 2016 #52

older non white people did vote for her. and Obama did not win young white voters JI7 Dec 2016 #58

I didn't say older non white people. vi5 Dec 2016 #72

they didn't vote for her because she supported mothers of innocent black people killed JI7 Dec 2016 #74

Their choice: align with a diverse group of voters to support a woman who was the most qualified EffieBlack Dec 2016 #80

And I definitely get all of that..... vi5 Dec 2016 #83

What do those people have in common with Donald Trump? EffieBlack Dec 2016 #86

And again...all of that is well and good and true... vi5 Dec 2016 #87

Milleneals are a very different generation. azmom Dec 2016 #55

I was upset when Jimmy Carter instituted Draft Registration to fight the Afghanistan War. stone space Dec 2016 #59

Younger voters are less mature and sophisticated about the political geek tragedy Dec 2016 #62

I voted for the Democrat mcar Dec 2016 #65

I've Been Wondering RobinA Dec 2016 #75

OFFS. progressoid Dec 2016 #76

I voted when I was young because my parents marlakay Dec 2016 #81

Exactly! MineralMan Dec 2016 #84

It's not just millennials; it's everyone with that mindset. TwilightZone Dec 2016 #85

I was too young to vote for him but I remember this guy named John F. Kennedy. Seshat Dec 2016 #88

And Hillary inspired millions, with more than 65 million voting for her. n/t pnwmom Dec 2016 #98

I agree. That's why this thread is so silly. Seshat Dec 2016 #102

Welcome to DU, Seshat! n/t pnwmom Dec 2016 #104

Thanks. Seshat Dec 2016 #106

My generation must be made to feel oh so SPECIAL bravenak Dec 2016 #89

I know you're a thoughtful and smart member of this community, so if we dig deeper than the Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #92

I think you are right bravenak Dec 2016 #107

You weren't a Millennial. Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #91

Duh - that's why I put it in quotes ... EffieBlack Dec 2016 #96

well, okay then. Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #97

It's all new to everybody, because it's all bullshit TransitJohn Dec 2016 #99

as an rely politics fan, i knew dukakis was popp. but so was GHWB. pansypoo53219 Dec 2016 #103

Millenials voted for Clinton NobodyHere Dec 2016 #105

Same here Gothmog Dec 2016 #108

I sure feared Reagan, so I stood in a really long line LeftInTX Dec 2016 #109

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2016 #110

+1,000 AgadorSparticus Dec 2016 #111

Trump's swift kick in their asses will get them inspired enough. oasis Dec 2016 #112

Millennial here! ProgressIsLeft Dec 2016 #113

... LexVegas Dec 2016 #114

Commercial branding has replaced policy analysis for far too many people. LanternWaste Dec 2016 #115