I've been reaching young people face-to-face by going to college campuses in my area, first to help kids register, and this coming week to help them make a plan for voting. It is so fun to engage with young people and they are really appreciative that an older person wants to help them vote. I'll just pass out quarter sheets of paper with early voting opportunities, the voting website for our state, etc., and pass them out from 11am-1:30pm. Hope to go to three campuses this week.
Can still help register new Democrats in Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Last chance to make sure that our Democratic candidates have the best possible chance to win, because we know that so many of these elections will be decided by the smallest margins.
The deadline in Pennsylvania and Michigan on October 24th.
After that, help encourage people to register at their polling place on Election Day, including in Wisconsin, Nevada, California, and North Carolina. North Carolina only allows same-day registration during early voting, up to November 5th.
The best response for comments like this is 'no response' . Let them sit in the corner speaking to themselves while the adults speak with mutual respect and honest insight.
Perhaps you’re confused. The last 40 plus years watching and listening to corporate owned propaganda media and the religion of evangelical republicanism has hijacked the true message of the gospels of Jesus Christ. It’s called “political Christianity “. The gospels are about the “souls of humanity”, NOT $$$$ prosperity. Personally, I no longer believe in organized religion because of what I just explained to you. An educated citizenry is not in the Republican party’s best interest. Just a small clarification that I hope is helpful to you. Have a great 😊 weekend.
What would be hilarious if it weren't tragic is you seem blind to the fact that 'conservatives' (what exactly are they conserving) have been trying to inject God into politics for generations and are preaching politics in their churches today and should have their tax free status revoked. You are continuing the tradition of blaming others for what you are and have been doing for many years.
Yes, politically motivated religion should pay taxes. In the 1960s Barry Goldwater commented that leaders of religion could not be reasoned with. This was understood during the inception of our country. Separation of church and state.
Hey Tom - Typical methodology from your party. Troll the other side. Be unproductive. Be a disruptor. But whatever you do, don’t put any ideas out there. It must be a drag to be you.
Janet ya I can't figure out why any democratic candidates are not going to college campuses and having a flyer or pamphlet of some type showing that there are six republican controlled state legislatures in the USA filing a law suit against the student loan forgiveness program. Get up on stage say it hand our these flyers pamphlets showing which states and tell the audience this is what republicans are doing. They are trying to take away this excellent benefit for all of you with student loan debt. So if you vote republican you are voting to take away this $10,000 dollar gift from the Democratic leaders.. etc..etc.. just blows my mind. I don't think there has been a rally at one college anywhere for these mid terms from any politician. And the Democrats sure could lock into and motivate thousands if not millions of younger Americans to go vote.. and vote Democrat..
Beto (O'Rourke, democrat running for governor in TX, for the few on this site who may not know) has been out in all 264 counties MANY times over the past 4 years, focusing on rural areas. For a month now, he's been on one college campus after another, drawing HUGE crowds. He is not shy about comparing what Abbott's been (mostly not) doing vs what he thinks should happen, and hits on allll the critical issues. At all his rallies (colleges or other), they not only help people register to vote on the spot, they help them become certified to register others if they desire. Can't speak to others, but he'd certainly disagree with your last sentences.
That's 254 counties. And while I admire Beto, and his campaigning style, I certainly hope he wins. But his campaign is one of the many sending e-mails and texts begging.
You are so true. We have so many phone banks, 10 to 30 second blips. Many of our candidates, both parties, spend their face to face time pleading with wealthy donors for more money. Instead, Democrats at least should get out with REAL people, listen to the problems of the vast majority of Americans, instead of the rosy picture painted by the greedy wealthy. I get about 200 e-mails and text messages each day begging for money, with pleas like 'The Republicans have outstripped us on donations. Not a single word about their platforms, what they (personally) will do for ordinary Americans, just send more money. Know where these go? Delete, delete, delete, unread and unwanted. Now I look at the sender to make sure I've read this crap before and then delete.
Yes, it is frustrating & this kind of advertising turns people off. They should at least utilize such campaign outreaches to promote their issues & say what they'd do for their constituents. Some do, especially the more progressive, but most don't.
These students aren't 'skipping out on a debt'. The debts they acquired to attend school were a scam to begin with. Somewhere along the line to increasing inequality, we lost the main reason for educating ALL Americans, not just the wealthy, to the betterment of the Nation as a whole. One of the huge benefits I achieved by emigrating from Canada, and becoming an American citizen, was the ability to obtain a College education at Community and State Colleges at an affordable cost. This was not available in Canada, but California offered that opportunity to the benefit of both the State and the Federal Government, as well as me and my family. I have paid many times over in taxes, and in direct service as a public school teacher and County employee. For the final 17 years of my career I did go into the private sector to earn more money, but I also paid higher taxes. In those final 17 years I paid about 42% of my gross income in Federal and State taxes plus FICA, which is a higher rate than many billionaires are paying. Why should any person have to go into 10's of thousands of dollars in debt to gain an education so that mega billionaires can pay little or nothing in taxes. And don't give that crap about billionaires "earning' that money BS. The GOT that money by reducing wages and benefits to their employees, shipping jobs overseas to pay starvation wages in foreign countries so they could add to their tax-free money pile.
I disagree : no one forced them to take on a huge debt load .
I'm a Blue Collar guy who made it in So. Cal. without going to college .
Bought a house, raised a family and everything .
I agree that educating ALL Americans as far as they want to go for NO CO$T as long as they maintain a C grade average is the right way to go but I've talked to many in my (Baby Boomer) generation who went to college planning to get a pass on the debt after a few years, that's not right and unfair to all others here .
I absolutely agree that not everyone needs a college degree IF and only IF they get a full education that leads to a reliable career. I have written a tract on Substack on this subject, it is free to anyone who cares to read it. At this time even kids with a Bachelors Degree, heavily in debt, are unable to find employment that pays enough money for them to live modestly. You were able to buy a house so was I. BUT, I bought my first house in 1962 for $14,500 and the last house for $140,000 in 2000. I did put about $250,000 into it in upgrades and repairs into this house - it was just a tract house, nothing special, but it sold for $415,000 in 2021, even I couldn't have afforded it. I was born in 1933 so am at least 12 years older than you. Because of my education (I hold a Masters Degree) and experience I was able to work at very decent wages until January 2021, when I retired (6 weeks short of my 89th birthday) I was lucky. A lot of people in this Senior Apartment complex are in terrible financial shape. My grandchildren are scraping by (with as much help as I can give them.) I was in college from 1964 through 1973 and then part time until 1977 when I completed the MA. You're in Southern California, I live in Sacramento. I left college debt free (State College had very reasonable tuition then) But now, younger co-workers were struggling under $60,000 to $100,000 college debt. My Grand kids have less debt. but only because they were able to get Pell grants. (All my children are dead, too young) All kids are told in school (irresponsibly in my mind) that they MUST go to college to get work. Then they can't find a job paying more than $30,000 a year or less. In 2022 in Sacramento County you can't live on that unless you live with your parents. So don't be too harsh on college debt forgiveness - these aren't well off persons taking advantage of taxpayers.
People who go to college and are able to make more money pay more tax. This is the whole point. Most other civilized countries provide free education. But in the American system someone wants to make a buck out of what should be free.
Yes and no ~ agreed that every citizen deserves a top quality education at zero cost .
Those who take the time and make the effort to get fully educated typically earn more and this is right and proper, at the same time they shift into higher tax brackets and therein lies the rub : the higher tax brackets have greater loop holes to help avoid paying their fair share of taxes, that's a fact not supposition .
The answer is simple and the same with all marginalized and disengaged groups... engage them in the process and in the conversation rather than make assumptions about their interests (if considered at all). Demonstrate that their interests and opinions are wanted and valued. Then prove it in the final product.
I'm letting them know dates for early voting and asking them to make a plan to vote. I also direct them to a website that shows them a sample ballot, and I answer questions they have about which offices are up for election this time.
Lol. What a fool you are. It’s being investigated by the Arizona Secretary of State and the department of elections. I don’t live in Arizona, but since you wouldn’t watch the kind of news that would give you appropriate information about these shenanigans, you wouldn’t understand. The deluded universe you live in is going to come crashing down on you very soon, like on November 8.
As someone who communicates with young people for a living, I'd like to add that using these platforms to impart knowledge of these issues is important, but empowering them to do something about it must also be part of our overall strategy. Yes, it's possible to get them to watch things, to like, share, retweet, etc. We can get them to learn about just how much their world is being destroyed, their future is being stolen from them, how the blame put on them is both completely unjustified and carefully crafted to demoralize them into a life of obsessing over created wants and surface-level "connections."
But these same systems will then quickly distract them, entice them into the next fad, the next Tiger-King binge, the next bleeds-it-leads story to convince them hope is absurd or the next fanciful fiction to convince them everything is just fine, nothing to see here. In short, we need to start coupling all forms of outreach with clear steps they can take to engage.
How can they mobilize to do something about these things that make them angry? What organizations should they join? What are other young people in their state, country, or across the world doing to fight back? What are some examples of short and long term goals people their age can work toward? And how can they do this without a future that drowns them in debt and forces them to give up their morals and rationalize entering a "career" that involves helping some for-profit find increasingly creative ways to siphon off disposable income from vulnerable populations?
Information without sufficient mobilization will end up as little more than entertainment for young people who do not find ways to do something with the hard truths we are trying to get them to accept.
Ian, I love this post. Some very solid and workable suggestions. This is where the Democratic campaigners need to put their efforts instead of lining the pockets of big time media
We reach young people in similar ways that we reach ALL people.
We set boundaries and have reasons that answer the big question”why should I” by supporting those who continued to believe in our LAWS. We make those who can’t follow the rules be accountable for breaking them.
We stand firm and demand (yes demand) that citizens understand that without order and without regulation and without boundaries things fall apart. This is how we give infants a sense of safety. We set up a safe and dependable “net” in which they can find a path forward to adulthood. Wishy-washy makes clean clothes, but confused humans.
Confused humans make serious errors while trying to find a path.
Today we ,the ADULTS, need to set the boundaries so that young people feel safe in a culturally diverse community.
Don’t pretend we have laws! Don’t make the laws only for a few. Stand by our young people and show them( no talking) show them that boundaries and regulations and order will allow them to expand their own worlds in the safest way possible. A world that supports the good that we do and not just one that purports what we pretend we do. Young people aren’t jaded in their thinking until everything they have come to depend on for a safe and vibrant existence goes up in smoke.
Young doctors, lawyers, teachers, parents depend on the support of a morally strong recipe for success. Our laws must help them become the best that they can be... not the most conniving .
Absolutely! Hold accountable those who break the law & don't let them get away with it just because they hold a high position in government or corporation. Excellent post!
And today ( or yesterday) Steve Bannon’s lack of sentencing proved to young people and to You, Me ,I that we are full of hot air! That is the lesson of today.
Thank you, Heather & Michael. In my gut, I feel it's time for all of us to start using our "spending discretion" : identify the most egregious goudgers, and then boycott their products until there is ownership of the corporate greed. Gandhi paved the way for this. Individuals actually have much more power than they realize and it's clean power, good power... rooted in personal choices. Thank you for today's klatch!
I learned about "hope" at the hooves of Eeyore. One of the worst things that can be done is to give young people false hope -- which eventually breeds cynicism. And so how to give REAL hope in a world confronted with problems like climate change? Are we wise enough to distinguish between real hope and false hope? I pray that we are.
This is so very, VERY important. "We're going to make it... and here is WHY we're going to make it." (And it helps if we really know the why.)
I'm here in Georgia, witnessing the most UNQUALIFIED human being in history who ever ran for a high public office -- and standing a chance of winning against someone who is clearly better. Young people see this and sense they're wandering through an insane asylum.
The first day of early voting in Georgia smashed the state’s previous record for first-day votes cast in a midterm election. In 2018 the first day of voting brought in 71,000 voters. This year that number hit more than 130,000. Let’s hope this bodes well for Democrats taking back our country.
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity"Was written by Martin Luther King,seems to fit the Thug party to a TEE.Also,why would anyone blame Dems(and/or Pres. Biden) for inflation when it started before him,is global,has much to do w/ Chinese supply chains(&lockdowns) & of course Major big time GREEDY CORPORATIONS.Too many seem to have a distorted sense of reality if they think that fouled up party will do anything for them,like second grade basic math,they will -----(take Away)
We reach young people by listening to THEM, not pressing our own views on them. They can and will think for themselves if given the facts of the current situation. I know this because I have some high school seniors and college student age great grandchildren. They know they are free to express the views they have and respectfully listen to mine. In this day of people of that age being super busy, they appreciate listening to someone who has the time to really watch what going on each day. My message has been; We have a serious political situation in our country right now that will decide if we keep our democracy or not! They invariably want to know more, why, and what can be done to prevent that. Neat thing is they pass the info on to friends and of course post on social media.
I just thank God that the newer generations are SMARTER than the old, meaning they are significantly more PROGRESSive. They give this aging man hope for the future, social media be damned. (I just turned 35 last week, but thanks to my new exercise regime I am feeling BETTER.)
Funny, that’s not an imaginary being or what you call a god. That’s every generation beats out the last one. It’s why our best hope for the future has always been with the next generation!
Read or YouTube Robert Sapolsky‘s book, “behave” and you’ll never look at people the same. No free will. That’s not philosophy, that’s neuroscience and they can actually see how the brain works. Can’t read a mind but they can tell what you’re going to do next
Nice ads!!! I sincerely hope they reach people and convince them about the fallacies pushed by major corporations, the GOP agenda (keep 'em poor, and uneducated), and that worst economic "policy" called "Trickle Down Economics". The ONLY thing that "trickles down is the dregs.
As I've said before, "trickle-down" leaves the working classes to suck wet socks. We need to restructure our tax system to eliminate the hereditary oligarchy, and force them back into the upper middle class. Under Eisenhower, the last good Republican President, the top tax bracket paid about 91% in taxes, and not one of them had to sell a second house, yacht or mistress.
Oct 22, 2022·edited Oct 22, 2022Liked by Heather Lofthouse
Thank you, thank you, for making this so clear. I hope Gen Z and all the younger ones begin to understand how large corporations work. THEY are the ones who create most of the inflation trying to figure out how much consumers will spend before they stop buying.
And once big corps get used to those kind of profits, they will be blaming Democrats if the country tumbles into recession and people can't afford their product, or as much of it as they were buying.
platforms with youth attention are attractive, but I question the ability to 'persuade' on fast-twitch entertainment platforms. I think TikTok is better used to 'raise doubts' more than a traditional PSA medium. I don't believe in PSAs anyways.
We have to play the long game. I’m giving out democracy awareness möbius ribbons with candy and cookies this Halloween and holding arts and crafts workshops at libraries to make Stars and Stripes Möbius strips. If we can get the kids to believe in the power of voting they can persuade their parents and grandparents to vote for their future. 🇺🇸♾
I would encourage everyone to watch Jon Stewart on Apple or listen to his pod cast. He not only exposes how corrupt and broken our systems are, but also goes to the organizations and agencies to fight for the needed change and always lists other organizations you can contact to help. I wish rather than crime stories on the news, we could see more of these issues that effect all of us all.
I've been reaching young people face-to-face by going to college campuses in my area, first to help kids register, and this coming week to help them make a plan for voting. It is so fun to engage with young people and they are really appreciative that an older person wants to help them vote. I'll just pass out quarter sheets of paper with early voting opportunities, the voting website for our state, etc., and pass them out from 11am-1:30pm. Hope to go to three campuses this week.
Can still help register new Democrats in Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Last chance to make sure that our Democratic candidates have the best possible chance to win, because we know that so many of these elections will be decided by the smallest margins.
The deadline in Pennsylvania and Michigan on October 24th.
After that, help encourage people to register at their polling place on Election Day, including in Wisconsin, Nevada, California, and North Carolina. North Carolina only allows same-day registration during early voting, up to November 5th.
You are doing God's work if you'll pardon the expresion, Ms. Kay! If we can help and energize young people, these midterms will be in the bag!
What an asinine comment.
The best response for comments like this is 'no response' . Let them sit in the corner speaking to themselves while the adults speak with mutual respect and honest insight.
Perhaps you’re confused. The last 40 plus years watching and listening to corporate owned propaganda media and the religion of evangelical republicanism has hijacked the true message of the gospels of Jesus Christ. It’s called “political Christianity “. The gospels are about the “souls of humanity”, NOT $$$$ prosperity. Personally, I no longer believe in organized religion because of what I just explained to you. An educated citizenry is not in the Republican party’s best interest. Just a small clarification that I hope is helpful to you. Have a great 😊 weekend.
Well said Pam .
Always as it been so .
Nate
❤
Absolutely correct!!!
Because you are an ass!
Tom....just go away. You are like a buzzing horsefly. You eat shit and bother people.
What would be hilarious if it weren't tragic is you seem blind to the fact that 'conservatives' (what exactly are they conserving) have been trying to inject God into politics for generations and are preaching politics in their churches today and should have their tax free status revoked. You are continuing the tradition of blaming others for what you are and have been doing for many years.
Yes, politically motivated religion should pay taxes. In the 1960s Barry Goldwater commented that leaders of religion could not be reasoned with. This was understood during the inception of our country. Separation of church and state.
It’s pretty obvious, Tom, that YOU have lost your way if the only thing you can add is demeaning and destructive rhetoric. Now, go get a life!
God took a crap and out slide a Republican named Trump and his servant Tom.
No more responses to this troll.
Democracy is also a verb.
HA, you really need to stop identifying yourself that way…
Hey Tom - Typical methodology from your party. Troll the other side. Be unproductive. Be a disruptor. But whatever you do, don’t put any ideas out there. It must be a drag to be you.
And my good idea for the day? Prosecute Trump.
Fuck off, Tom!
No ;
tom is being obtuse and trying to deflect by blaming what he and the gop does on others .
-Nate
Janet ya I can't figure out why any democratic candidates are not going to college campuses and having a flyer or pamphlet of some type showing that there are six republican controlled state legislatures in the USA filing a law suit against the student loan forgiveness program. Get up on stage say it hand our these flyers pamphlets showing which states and tell the audience this is what republicans are doing. They are trying to take away this excellent benefit for all of you with student loan debt. So if you vote republican you are voting to take away this $10,000 dollar gift from the Democratic leaders.. etc..etc.. just blows my mind. I don't think there has been a rally at one college anywhere for these mid terms from any politician. And the Democrats sure could lock into and motivate thousands if not millions of younger Americans to go vote.. and vote Democrat..
Beto (O'Rourke, democrat running for governor in TX, for the few on this site who may not know) has been out in all 264 counties MANY times over the past 4 years, focusing on rural areas. For a month now, he's been on one college campus after another, drawing HUGE crowds. He is not shy about comparing what Abbott's been (mostly not) doing vs what he thinks should happen, and hits on allll the critical issues. At all his rallies (colleges or other), they not only help people register to vote on the spot, they help them become certified to register others if they desire. Can't speak to others, but he'd certainly disagree with your last sentences.
From what I've seen, Beto appears to be running a model campaign.
That's 254 counties. And while I admire Beto, and his campaigning style, I certainly hope he wins. But his campaign is one of the many sending e-mails and texts begging.
You are so true. We have so many phone banks, 10 to 30 second blips. Many of our candidates, both parties, spend their face to face time pleading with wealthy donors for more money. Instead, Democrats at least should get out with REAL people, listen to the problems of the vast majority of Americans, instead of the rosy picture painted by the greedy wealthy. I get about 200 e-mails and text messages each day begging for money, with pleas like 'The Republicans have outstripped us on donations. Not a single word about their platforms, what they (personally) will do for ordinary Americans, just send more money. Know where these go? Delete, delete, delete, unread and unwanted. Now I look at the sender to make sure I've read this crap before and then delete.
Yes, it is frustrating & this kind of advertising turns people off. They should at least utilize such campaign outreaches to promote their issues & say what they'd do for their constituents. Some do, especially the more progressive, but most don't.
It's a constant struggle to unsubscribe from these guys. You do, & then a couple weeks later they're back.
Matt ;
I have to say that skipping out on a debt isn't a good thing .
-Nate
These students aren't 'skipping out on a debt'. The debts they acquired to attend school were a scam to begin with. Somewhere along the line to increasing inequality, we lost the main reason for educating ALL Americans, not just the wealthy, to the betterment of the Nation as a whole. One of the huge benefits I achieved by emigrating from Canada, and becoming an American citizen, was the ability to obtain a College education at Community and State Colleges at an affordable cost. This was not available in Canada, but California offered that opportunity to the benefit of both the State and the Federal Government, as well as me and my family. I have paid many times over in taxes, and in direct service as a public school teacher and County employee. For the final 17 years of my career I did go into the private sector to earn more money, but I also paid higher taxes. In those final 17 years I paid about 42% of my gross income in Federal and State taxes plus FICA, which is a higher rate than many billionaires are paying. Why should any person have to go into 10's of thousands of dollars in debt to gain an education so that mega billionaires can pay little or nothing in taxes. And don't give that crap about billionaires "earning' that money BS. The GOT that money by reducing wages and benefits to their employees, shipping jobs overseas to pay starvation wages in foreign countries so they could add to their tax-free money pile.
Well Fay ;
I disagree : no one forced them to take on a huge debt load .
I'm a Blue Collar guy who made it in So. Cal. without going to college .
Bought a house, raised a family and everything .
I agree that educating ALL Americans as far as they want to go for NO CO$T as long as they maintain a C grade average is the right way to go but I've talked to many in my (Baby Boomer) generation who went to college planning to get a pass on the debt after a few years, that's not right and unfair to all others here .
-Nate
I absolutely agree that not everyone needs a college degree IF and only IF they get a full education that leads to a reliable career. I have written a tract on Substack on this subject, it is free to anyone who cares to read it. At this time even kids with a Bachelors Degree, heavily in debt, are unable to find employment that pays enough money for them to live modestly. You were able to buy a house so was I. BUT, I bought my first house in 1962 for $14,500 and the last house for $140,000 in 2000. I did put about $250,000 into it in upgrades and repairs into this house - it was just a tract house, nothing special, but it sold for $415,000 in 2021, even I couldn't have afforded it. I was born in 1933 so am at least 12 years older than you. Because of my education (I hold a Masters Degree) and experience I was able to work at very decent wages until January 2021, when I retired (6 weeks short of my 89th birthday) I was lucky. A lot of people in this Senior Apartment complex are in terrible financial shape. My grandchildren are scraping by (with as much help as I can give them.) I was in college from 1964 through 1973 and then part time until 1977 when I completed the MA. You're in Southern California, I live in Sacramento. I left college debt free (State College had very reasonable tuition then) But now, younger co-workers were struggling under $60,000 to $100,000 college debt. My Grand kids have less debt. but only because they were able to get Pell grants. (All my children are dead, too young) All kids are told in school (irresponsibly in my mind) that they MUST go to college to get work. Then they can't find a job paying more than $30,000 a year or less. In 2022 in Sacramento County you can't live on that unless you live with your parents. So don't be too harsh on college debt forgiveness - these aren't well off persons taking advantage of taxpayers.
People who go to college and are able to make more money pay more tax. This is the whole point. Most other civilized countries provide free education. But in the American system someone wants to make a buck out of what should be free.
Fay & John ;
Yes and no ~ agreed that every citizen deserves a top quality education at zero cost .
Those who take the time and make the effort to get fully educated typically earn more and this is right and proper, at the same time they shift into higher tax brackets and therein lies the rub : the higher tax brackets have greater loop holes to help avoid paying their fair share of taxes, that's a fact not supposition .
-Nate
Are you envious Nate?
Not one bit .
I made my choices in life and have lived with them very well .
You're the only one who sounds envious, like tom .
-Nate
The answer is simple and the same with all marginalized and disengaged groups... engage them in the process and in the conversation rather than make assumptions about their interests (if considered at all). Demonstrate that their interests and opinions are wanted and valued. Then prove it in the final product.
1. Registering them to vote.
2. Making a plan to vote.
3. Distributing state voter website info.
4. Educating them on what is on the ballot.
5. Making sure they mail their ballot back in time according to the required deadlines.
6. Sharing info on early voting in person and drop boxes for turning in their ballot.
Providing transportation to the polls for those who need it by those who can provide it is another potential service.
Souls to the polls!
https://www.mobilize.us/nextgen/
❤
I'm letting them know dates for early voting and asking them to make a plan to vote. I also direct them to a website that shows them a sample ballot, and I answer questions they have about which offices are up for election this time.
Hey, Tom....you are a troll.
they say only
Vampires cannot see
themselves in a mirror
& now you've
got Echolalia
.
thank God for
Obamacare eh?
.
or have you Denounced
all "SOCIALISM!"
.
'cept for those
Not in need of it?
Lol. What a fool you are. It’s being investigated by the Arizona Secretary of State and the department of elections. I don’t live in Arizona, but since you wouldn’t watch the kind of news that would give you appropriate information about these shenanigans, you wouldn’t understand. The deluded universe you live in is going to come crashing down on you very soon, like on November 8.
As someone who communicates with young people for a living, I'd like to add that using these platforms to impart knowledge of these issues is important, but empowering them to do something about it must also be part of our overall strategy. Yes, it's possible to get them to watch things, to like, share, retweet, etc. We can get them to learn about just how much their world is being destroyed, their future is being stolen from them, how the blame put on them is both completely unjustified and carefully crafted to demoralize them into a life of obsessing over created wants and surface-level "connections."
But these same systems will then quickly distract them, entice them into the next fad, the next Tiger-King binge, the next bleeds-it-leads story to convince them hope is absurd or the next fanciful fiction to convince them everything is just fine, nothing to see here. In short, we need to start coupling all forms of outreach with clear steps they can take to engage.
How can they mobilize to do something about these things that make them angry? What organizations should they join? What are other young people in their state, country, or across the world doing to fight back? What are some examples of short and long term goals people their age can work toward? And how can they do this without a future that drowns them in debt and forces them to give up their morals and rationalize entering a "career" that involves helping some for-profit find increasingly creative ways to siphon off disposable income from vulnerable populations?
Information without sufficient mobilization will end up as little more than entertainment for young people who do not find ways to do something with the hard truths we are trying to get them to accept.
Check out: https://studentpirgs.org/campaigns/new-voters-project/
Thanks Daniel, looks like a really great organization.
Ian, I love this post. Some very solid and workable suggestions. This is where the Democratic campaigners need to put their efforts instead of lining the pockets of big time media
We reach young people in similar ways that we reach ALL people.
We set boundaries and have reasons that answer the big question”why should I” by supporting those who continued to believe in our LAWS. We make those who can’t follow the rules be accountable for breaking them.
We stand firm and demand (yes demand) that citizens understand that without order and without regulation and without boundaries things fall apart. This is how we give infants a sense of safety. We set up a safe and dependable “net” in which they can find a path forward to adulthood. Wishy-washy makes clean clothes, but confused humans.
Confused humans make serious errors while trying to find a path.
Today we ,the ADULTS, need to set the boundaries so that young people feel safe in a culturally diverse community.
Don’t pretend we have laws! Don’t make the laws only for a few. Stand by our young people and show them( no talking) show them that boundaries and regulations and order will allow them to expand their own worlds in the safest way possible. A world that supports the good that we do and not just one that purports what we pretend we do. Young people aren’t jaded in their thinking until everything they have come to depend on for a safe and vibrant existence goes up in smoke.
Young doctors, lawyers, teachers, parents depend on the support of a morally strong recipe for success. Our laws must help them become the best that they can be... not the most conniving .
Absolutely! Hold accountable those who break the law & don't let them get away with it just because they hold a high position in government or corporation. Excellent post!
Who are "we"?
And today ( or yesterday) Steve Bannon’s lack of sentencing proved to young people and to You, Me ,I that we are full of hot air! That is the lesson of today.
You! Me! We!
I guess “ADULT” would come under that too?
Thank you, Heather & Michael. In my gut, I feel it's time for all of us to start using our "spending discretion" : identify the most egregious goudgers, and then boycott their products until there is ownership of the corporate greed. Gandhi paved the way for this. Individuals actually have much more power than they realize and it's clean power, good power... rooted in personal choices. Thank you for today's klatch!
How to reach young people? Give them hope!
Thank you for this comment, Jo. Hear, hear. Hope combats cynicism!
I learned about "hope" at the hooves of Eeyore. One of the worst things that can be done is to give young people false hope -- which eventually breeds cynicism. And so how to give REAL hope in a world confronted with problems like climate change? Are we wise enough to distinguish between real hope and false hope? I pray that we are.
Showing a viable path for a positive outcome is essential for giving real, not false, hope.
This is so very, VERY important. "We're going to make it... and here is WHY we're going to make it." (And it helps if we really know the why.)
I'm here in Georgia, witnessing the most UNQUALIFIED human being in history who ever ran for a high public office -- and standing a chance of winning against someone who is clearly better. Young people see this and sense they're wandering through an insane asylum.
The first day of early voting in Georgia smashed the state’s previous record for first-day votes cast in a midterm election. In 2018 the first day of voting brought in 71,000 voters. This year that number hit more than 130,000. Let’s hope this bodes well for Democrats taking back our country.
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity"Was written by Martin Luther King,seems to fit the Thug party to a TEE.Also,why would anyone blame Dems(and/or Pres. Biden) for inflation when it started before him,is global,has much to do w/ Chinese supply chains(&lockdowns) & of course Major big time GREEDY CORPORATIONS.Too many seem to have a distorted sense of reality if they think that fouled up party will do anything for them,like second grade basic math,they will -----(take Away)
https://www.mobilize.us/dailykos/?link_id=15&can_id=c21edc35afceb939e29222ede000e0fb&source=email-all-hands-on-deck-volunteer-at-mobilize-to-get-out-the-democratic-vote-6&email_referrer=email_1710014&email_subject=re-all-hands-on-deck-volunteer-at-mobilize-to-get-out-the-democratic-vote
Remind everyone what the Democrats have passed with a 50-50 split in the Senate, and why we need at least two more senators to finish the agenda.
Climate change
Voting Rights/Electoral college
Right to privacy/abortion
SCOTUS
Gun laws
Economy
Education
Health care
Taxes
We reach young people by listening to THEM, not pressing our own views on them. They can and will think for themselves if given the facts of the current situation. I know this because I have some high school seniors and college student age great grandchildren. They know they are free to express the views they have and respectfully listen to mine. In this day of people of that age being super busy, they appreciate listening to someone who has the time to really watch what going on each day. My message has been; We have a serious political situation in our country right now that will decide if we keep our democracy or not! They invariably want to know more, why, and what can be done to prevent that. Neat thing is they pass the info on to friends and of course post on social media.
EXCELLENT!
I just thank God that the newer generations are SMARTER than the old, meaning they are significantly more PROGRESSive. They give this aging man hope for the future, social media be damned. (I just turned 35 last week, but thanks to my new exercise regime I am feeling BETTER.)
Funny, that’s not an imaginary being or what you call a god. That’s every generation beats out the last one. It’s why our best hope for the future has always been with the next generation!
Read or YouTube Robert Sapolsky‘s book, “behave” and you’ll never look at people the same. No free will. That’s not philosophy, that’s neuroscience and they can actually see how the brain works. Can’t read a mind but they can tell what you’re going to do next
Aging man!
Nice ads!!! I sincerely hope they reach people and convince them about the fallacies pushed by major corporations, the GOP agenda (keep 'em poor, and uneducated), and that worst economic "policy" called "Trickle Down Economics". The ONLY thing that "trickles down is the dregs.
As I've said before, "trickle-down" leaves the working classes to suck wet socks. We need to restructure our tax system to eliminate the hereditary oligarchy, and force them back into the upper middle class. Under Eisenhower, the last good Republican President, the top tax bracket paid about 91% in taxes, and not one of them had to sell a second house, yacht or mistress.
Thank you, thank you, for making this so clear. I hope Gen Z and all the younger ones begin to understand how large corporations work. THEY are the ones who create most of the inflation trying to figure out how much consumers will spend before they stop buying.
And once big corps get used to those kind of profits, they will be blaming Democrats if the country tumbles into recession and people can't afford their product, or as much of it as they were buying.
platforms with youth attention are attractive, but I question the ability to 'persuade' on fast-twitch entertainment platforms. I think TikTok is better used to 'raise doubts' more than a traditional PSA medium. I don't believe in PSAs anyways.
We do need them to vote!
"How do we reach young people?"
... give them something to hope for..
We have to play the long game. I’m giving out democracy awareness möbius ribbons with candy and cookies this Halloween and holding arts and crafts workshops at libraries to make Stars and Stripes Möbius strips. If we can get the kids to believe in the power of voting they can persuade their parents and grandparents to vote for their future. 🇺🇸♾
Thank you so much for this! I am clueless about TikTok (and even Twitter), and mostly find them incomprehensible.
I would encourage everyone to watch Jon Stewart on Apple or listen to his pod cast. He not only exposes how corrupt and broken our systems are, but also goes to the organizations and agencies to fight for the needed change and always lists other organizations you can contact to help. I wish rather than crime stories on the news, we could see more of these issues that effect all of us all.