What's the Difference?

 
How often is it when you talk to a young person who has never voted, the reasons they give for not voting are, "What's the difference? They're all the same. None of them care about what I think. The rich always win. We can't make a difference by voting. They're going to do what they want anyway."
There has to be a clear difference to ignite their passion.

This article, Let's Swim, with excerpts from "Dispatches from the Culture Wars: How the Left Lost Teen Spirit." illustrates the problem vividly:

...most Democratic candidates had deliberately avoided issues of interest to younger voters and to many other parts of the Democratic base.

...Instead of looking at long-term opinion growth, they were focusing year-round on the sliver of "swing voters" who represent approximately 10 percent of those who actually vote. No attention was given to the half of the eligible people who choose not to vote. Far too little attention was given to issues that inspire emotional intensity on the part of activists who can influence media and turnout.

...I couldn't understand why the Democrats weren't calling for energy independence. It seemed obvious to me that oil affects our relationships in the Middle East, where so much terrorism originates. Moreover, Bush and Cheney both have oil industry backgrounds. Progressive publicist David Fenton suggested that a goal of energy independence could be a progressive goal similar to President Kennedy's commitment to get a man on the moon . . . .

...As Clinton media advisor and CNN commentator James Carville lamented on election night, "A party that won't defend itself is not going to be trusted to defend the country."

Does the DLC (and the centrists) have a clue as to why people call the Democrats spineless? This article should be required reading for all Democratic leaders. They desperately need to define differences, and provide solutions loudly and clearly!



posted by Cyndy | link | | |
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