I was responding to a comment when it occurred to me that this is an issue that will need a diary. This is one in particular that has been bothering me.
It should not be so hard to understand, but for some reason I don’t think like-minded people even understand what I am trying to say. Let me first say that it is really arrogant to be the type of person to just lay out of bunch of well-researched facts in response to a comment just to seem smarter than others, when really, that is literally all you’re doing. Sure, you know some things, and someone could have presented an idea that you disagree with or maybe they were dead wrong. People should certainly be informed when their information is wrong, but in a polite way. That being said, what are you actually doing? Are you making a difference just because you know more than someone else? Maybe, maybe not, I don't know what everyone is up to. Maybe your occupation or hobbies truly do make a difference in the lives of some people. I don’t know everything, that’s for damn sure. But one thing I do know is that not enough young people vote and it is a problem.
Before you get all hot and bothered, I’m not trying to say that young voters are the only votes who matter, but they matter a great deal when less than half of those who can vote, do vote. There are so many people in this country, the younger generation in particular, who pay absolutely no attention to what’s going on in the world and in their government that, if they do vote, they end up voting against their own interests without even knowing it. The younger generation has the ability to make a difference in a way they are unable to foresee or comprehend.
Please consider this when drawing conclusions about the youth vote.
I had said in a comment I was responding to that, although Bernie is the best candidate for president, I believe he is going to experience just as much gridlock as Obama has experienced. People argue with me giving me all these reasons Hillary does not deserve to become president and it becomes a little ridiculous at some point because I don’t think we should kid ourselves here. Hillary Clinton is certainly qualified to be president and I do not doubt for a single second that she loves her country. Does she have my vote? Uhm, no? Bernie’s the man. Someone commented on my last entry saying the issues come before the need for a woman president and they are absolutely right. However, I anticipate a struggle for Bernie Sanders that is very similar to the one Obama has been enduring for the last eight years. Whether it’s Obama or a woman or a socialist in office, I believe republicans hate all those things equally. If the Republicans still have the majority in either House or Senate, they will not give Bernie a break just because he isn’t Obama. Compromise isn’t even a word in their vocabulary anymore, especially with a radical. Not radical to myself and those alike, but to the GOP.
Okay so, what is the secret formula needed to cure gridlock? My co-workers, colleagues, classmates, friends, family, and strangers all seem to give me the same answer, and they are correct. The people need to vote the republicans out of congress, right? More recently someone said that “If” people listen to what Bernie is saying… that they will come together and fight for the policies they believe in as he does. The word “if” is the word that really bothers me here because this is just a hopeful statement. You cannot force or convince the demographic of people who don’t vote to go out and vote the “right way” or to vote in their best interest if they themselves have no interest. Unless, for example, young people are taught from an extremely young age the importance of participating in American democracy, it can be very difficult to encourage the younger generation to take time out of their day to go to do something they do not normally do when some don’t even feel educated enough to go cast a vote or maybe just do not care. This is understandable. You, also, cannot interest someone in something that simply does not interest them and I can understand how politics might not be so interesting to people of a younger age. Little do they know that everything is political and these politicians make decisions that end up affecting us all in one way or another. I find it funny how I know some people who are so unbelievably opinionated on social issues and yet would never think to associate all that with politics.
I have been preaching the importance of voting to everyone I know, so much so that they must be sick of it at this point. The key is not to get burnt out because sometimes I do feel as though I am not making a difference. But then, all of the sudden, someone comes up to me and asks how they go about registering to vote and it makes it all worth it. Even when it is only one person. In any attempt to convince an individual to go vote, in this case, it’s important to maybe not be so straight-forward as to tell someone the importance of voting, rather, explain the reasons that voting for someone like Bernie Sanders is in their best interest.
Someone said to me that Bernie has said repeatedly that he cannot do it on his own, as if to suggest that as long as people are listening, change will occur. Maybe it was a misinterpretation, but we cannot just sit and hope that independent voters or non-voters are listening to Bernie. The fact of the matter is that Bernie can say that he cannot do it on his own until he is blue in the face. He can call for a political revolution every day from now until election time. If elected, there if a good chance that Bernie will most likely be fighting alone just as Obama is and has been. If the independents in this country don’t feel inspired to the point where they feel they need to actively participate in collective change, then change will not happen. As much as we would all love to overthrow the government in an Occupy-esque fashion, nothing typically happens without reaching mass consensus.
Then, the question presents itself- How does one persuade a critical mass of people to ignite a successful political revolution that wins us congress and the policies we want? How does one excite a group of people enough to ignite a collective demand for change and the implementation of progressive ideas? Bernie does this but we something need more. Please let me know when you have the answer because I’m dying to know myself. Until then, I will encourage everyone to contribute to change in any way they know how. During the last midterm election I went around to multiple classes at my community college and stressed the importance of voting for congress (particularly to the women because “did you know someone died for your right to vote?”). This is what I am able to do by myself. I crave and thirst for a political revolution as Bernie does, but I cannot do it alone either.