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comment by user-inactivated
user-inactivated  ·  3107 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Sanders Crushes in EVERY Post Debate Poll -- 7 Different Poll Results

    I'd love to see it, but I find the argument that 'voting validates a system I am opposed to' very common among young folk that can vote. Personally, I find that argument ridiculously convenient and self-defeating, but it persists. Coupled with plenty of young voters that just don't care, I find it unlikely they will put Bernie in the Whitehouse.

This is what I tell young people with this attitude, hope that I can help smack some people with a 2x4 here.

Old people vote and then go to church, or bingo or their social clubs and shame those who don't vote. Want to know why social security is untouchable? Want to know why Medicare is untouchable? OLD PEOPLE VOTE. Want to know why politicians don't seem to give a shit about the future? OLD PEOPLE VOTE. Want to know how a climate change denier can get reelected every two years? OLD PEOPLE VOTE.

Even if you go to the polls and write "I love weed" as the candidate you vote for, GET OFF YOUR ASS AND FUCKING VOTE. Want a politician to treat you like a human being? Show up to the polling place, sign in and return a ballot on the next 3-4 primaries and then don't miss a general election. When I was young and stupid I did work for a campaign. We got a list of people who voted in the last election. The people working on the campaign also had the lists going back 10 years. If a name showed up in those lists, THEY GOT A CALL. They got a personalized letter from a city councilman asking for a vote. They did not get the junk mail, they got the fancy letter.

Be the person who's ass gets kissed. Start local. Vote in every election, even if all you do is vote against the judges and keep the fundamentalists off the school boards. The reason politicians don't give a shit about millennials, and continue to make fun of them is that they don't show up and at least put in the effort to look like they care.

Every time you don't vote, the old people win. Remember that.





mk  ·  3107 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Agreed. Every person in elected office is there because they got more votes than the next candidate.

When eligible voter turnout hovers around 50%, turnout is what decides the election.