General Discussion

WSHazel

(549 posts)

83. They just don't know

Wed Jul 2, 2025, 06:06 PM

Jul 2

It has been a long time since this country has undergone real pain resulting from bad policy. The Great Recession could have been really painful, but Obama and Geithner were magicians and we got out of it a lot faster than anyone, especially me, thought possible. Other than that, the last 40 years have been a gravy train of job and economic growth largely driven by three great Presidents when it came to the economy, Clinton, Obama and Biden, and one decent President, Bush Sr. Reagan was not a completely train wreck although his policies were "voodoo economics".

No Great Depression, no decade of stagflation like the 70's (followed by a really thorny recession in the early 80's), no war that anyone was drafted for since Vietnam. Not only do young people not remember any bad times, but most of their parents barely remember any bad times. The Pandemic was scary, caused many deaths, and was a shock, but through a miracle of vaccine technology, we were coming out of it less than a year after it started. And it felt more like bad luck than bad policy, although bad policy made it much worse than it should have been.

Prior generations lived with serious consequences of bad elections. The generation that lived through the Great Depression and World War II took their votes very seriously, and so did their children. While Nixon was insane, he was a serious person, and Reagan was a serious person even if I disagreed with a lot of his policies. It wasn't until we got to the mid 90's and the Contract with America, that we started to see unserious politicians winning in large numbers. Ultimately this trend resulted in Bush Jr. and then Trump.

Unfortunately, I only know of one way for young people to learn that elections have consequences, and we are living it right now.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

PeaceWave Sparkly cksmithy

135 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

At some point, young voters "broke bad" and turned on older voters. Maybe they didn't mean to hurt us. But, they did. [View all] PeaceWave Jul 2 OP

You mean Medicaid, right? Ocelot II Jul 2 #1

We're dying off. Some would say finally. So we have less power and we aren't used to it. scipan Jul 2 #2

What do we have to offer the young? LuvLoogie Jul 2 #3

It isn't the Democratic party who is offering them those things.... Jack Valentino Jul 2 #7

Neither is the party, as a whole, nor with leadership, standing in the gap. LuvLoogie Jul 2 #47

what do you mean, WE Skittles Jul 3 #129

Younger people need to realize that they too will get older and need those services. totodeinhere Jul 2 #4

that concept is lost on young people, just like it was for us when we were that age. Mother Nature gives the young a msfiddlestix Jul 2 #40

They also need to realize that this will affect their... sheshe2 Jul 2 #80

Any insight on how screwed young people have been by older people? RockRaven Jul 2 #5

I know right? meadowlander Jul 2 #12

I find these arguments that ascribe generational blame to be singularly unhelpful, not to mention inaccurate markpkessinger Jul 2 #44

Yes Starbeach Jul 2 #52

But clearly not enough to take issue with the OP blaming young voters for Trump's Medicaid cuts. meadowlander Jul 2 #58

Yes it was the ww2 generation that brought us Reagan blubunyip Jul 2 #59

Right. H2O Man Jul 2 #61

I would suggest a more significant issue is people ignoring the historical context, refusing to take responsibility for meadowlander Jul 2 #92

Beautiful! H2O Man Jul 3 #128

Amen. 58Sunliner Jul 2 #93

Thank you. H2O Man Jul 2 #60

That's wedge politics - a backlash against the 1960s and progressive politics Sparkly Jul 2 #99

But younger people are a monolith? Ilikepurple Jul 2 #107

Did I say that? Sparkly Jul 2 #113

Gen X'er here... That was my immediate thought. VegasVet Jul 2 #101

You are misinformed Fiendish Thingy Jul 2 #6

We certainly should give them more heed, since they are the only possible future Jack Valentino Jul 2 #8

Thank you. H2O Man Jul 2 #62

If they care, why'd they stay home? Sparkly Jul 2 #76

Go back and reread my post Fiendish Thingy Jul 2 #78

You think they'll learn this time? Sparkly Jul 2 #91

See last week's NYC primary Fiendish Thingy Jul 2 #95

As a former Manhattanite Sparkly Jul 2 #97

this seems backward to me quakerboy Jul 2 #9

Those senators have "free" healthcare. Justice matters. Jul 2 #15

This. Considering how old the Republicans pushing this shit that will throw seniors into the street are themselves, I Karasu Jul 2 #16

or if only the over 65 had voted for kamala quakerboy Jul 2 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author krkaufman Jul 2 #17

Whatever young voters voted for Trump and Republicans, I think Jack Valentino Jul 2 #10

This message was self-deleted by its author krkaufman Jul 2 #19

... Prairie Gates Jul 2 #11

Just another splinter cultivated by Republicans to keep America divided and distracted. live love laugh Jul 2 #13

Uh huh orangecrush Jul 2 #14

This old person remembers trying to B.See Jul 2 #18

Maybe they don't want to wait for inheritance. Buddyzbuddy Jul 2 #21

can't read, can't write, can't go 30 seconds without their phone. at least they have tik tok to care for them lol nt msongs Jul 2 #22

Disappointed to see this from you. If I broadbrush slated old folks using stereotypes of them, I'd be roasted alive here Celerity Jul 2 #25

Jesus Fucking Christ. NT Midwestern Democrat Jul 2 #26

You're in for a treat when you need them to pick your nursing home and sort your meds Orrex Jul 2 #28

While yet others use political message boards Torchlight Jul 2 #32

They were Harris's biggest voting block by age though uponit7771 Jul 2 #51

I have three Gen Z kids Bettie Jul 2 #57

Wow blubunyip Jul 2 #63

Definitely. H2O Man Jul 2 #64

Meanwhile you have 71,000 posts on DU Hassin Bin Sober Jul 2 #75

What an unfounded and divisive attack on a whole group. Heidi Jul 3 #133

De rec X 100 Celerity Jul 2 #23

Thank you. H2O Man Jul 2 #65

This message was self-deleted by its author krkaufman Jul 2 #73

That's some high-octane bullshit there in that OP. Mister Ed Jul 2 #24

Truth. H2O Man Jul 2 #66

Golly! And after the older generations have done so much for them! Orrex Jul 2 #27

Ungrateful kids! H2O Man Jul 2 #67

After women's reproductive freedom is gone nationally, Sparkly Jul 2 #84

You are silly! H2O Man Jul 2 #88

Thank you for your service Sparkly Jul 2 #90

I am so H2O Man Jul 2 #96

You got in trouble for long hair and got out of things with boxing?? Sparkly Jul 2 #98

Oh, I did. H2O Man Jul 2 #104

I believe you are dodging the point. Sparkly Jul 2 #112

Nope. H2O Man Jul 3 #119

I don't read any understanding of social issues, sorry. Sparkly Jul 3 #126

Right. H2O Man Jul 3 #135

Please tell me what political activism you engaged in that would make any of the things I mentioned "silly" Sparkly Jul 2 #100

Oh dear! H2O Man Jul 2 #105

Oh my! Sparkly Jul 3 #115

Oh, it is! H2O Man Jul 3 #120

You've used "attractive" and now "unattractive" as adjectives. Sparkly Jul 3 #125

I'm old & long retired. H2O Man Jul 3 #127

:snort: Stinky The Clown Jul 3 #121

Always. H2O Man Jul 3 #122

Wrong as usual. RandiFan1290 Jul 2 #29

Good to see I am not the only one to see a pattern here. Celerity Jul 2 #45

Seriously. H2O Man Jul 2 #68

Simple OC375 Jul 2 #30

Yes, but H2O Man Jul 2 #69

this shit is so tired WhiskeyGrinder Jul 2 #31

Any solutions to provide these asserted divisions? Torchlight Jul 2 #33

This is completely lost, and if the Dem leadership remains the same nothing substantial Passages Jul 2 #34

Hell yes! There it is. Autumn Jul 2 #37

And the music they listen to! So loud! Have you seen how they dress? Indecent! And their hair? Long, short, and Solly Mack Jul 2 #35

One of the things H2O Man Jul 2 #71

And walking faster means they get there first. The nerve! No shame. Solly Mack Jul 2 #85

Entitled brats, I tell you! H2O Man Jul 2 #87

Did you say party? Woohoo! Solly Mack Jul 2 #89

I think it breaks down to older voters don't care what younger voters need. Autumn Jul 2 #36

We need to stop this generational blaming. The main problems are income inequality travelingthrulife Jul 2 #38

ABSOLUTELY! blubunyip Jul 2 #70

This old person feels old people have abandoned the young. Nanjeanne Jul 2 #39

Interesting spin... seems to me a good portion of older voters turned on themselves. Chakaconcarne Jul 2 #41

Young people voted for Harris, it was the over 50 crowd that elected Trump Johnny2X2X Jul 2 #42

Yep, I thought boomers broke towards Harris they didn't... Just damn uponit7771 Jul 2 #50

Or, comparing 2004 and 2024 CNN exit poll data muriel_volestrangler Jul 2 #72

Only GenX broke towards Putin's Puppet, they literally were the deciding votes uponit7771 Jul 2 #43

That is not true. AP Votecast: 45yo to 64yo went for Trump +6, and 65yo and up went Trump +4 Celerity Jul 2 #46

Damn that's worse than I thought, GenX broke towards TFG hard followed by boomers.. dann uponit7771 Jul 2 #49

After the 2022 midterms I started to sound the alarm on Gen X and also (well before even then) Latino voters and younger Celerity Jul 2 #55

Yep, the right has been aiming SM code hard at men mostly mysogonostic content uponit7771 Jul 2 #74

That's a wild way of looking at it. pinkstarburst Jul 2 #48

I feel its a bit more complicated than that. Samael13 Jul 2 #53

Completely unsubstantiated proposition Patton French Jul 2 #54

The claim doesn't fit with reality voters below 50 voted for Harris standingtall Jul 2 #56

These younger adults might have to take in their grandparents and parents in if things get back and we'll go back kimbutgar Jul 2 #77

I didn't know lovesfruit Jul 2 #79

The fact that there are few engaged "younger people" indicates the issue. Sparkly Jul 2 #94

Just because young people lovesfruit Jul 2 #109

I really don't care where you hang out. Sparkly Jul 2 #110

I can't speak for all of my age bracket lovesfruit Jul 2 #114

It's all about voting, if nothing else. Sparkly Jul 3 #116

Congress critters lovesfruit Jul 3 #123

I've been feeling so alone! vanessa_ca Jul 3 #124

Reddit, Discord, Facebook, my "mom group" lovesfruit Jul 3 #132

Medicaid cuts will be devastating to the nursing home industry TexasBushwhacker Jul 2 #81

Wait till the nursing homes close on their grandparents and blm Jul 2 #82

They just don't know WSHazel Jul 2 #83

In my small world I don't see this. KentuckyWoman Jul 2 #86

Oh, gee! And we've been so warm and welcoming to our younger members! Iggo Jul 2 #102

As I recall, Gen X was the most disappointing group in the general election tulipsandroses Jul 2 #103

Social media really, really, really fucked things up for the worst. Initech Jul 2 #106

when have older and younger voters ever coincided with voting preferences? Takket Jul 2 #108

General question lovesfruit Jul 2 #111

My simple answer is YES! nt cliffside Jul 3 #117

I try to welcome young people with open arms and, more importantly, Heidi Jul 3 #130

Thank you lovesfruit Jul 3 #131

sorry, but this is just divisive bullshit fishwax Jul 3 #118

Thank you for courageously stepping up to further divide our party and DU. (nt) Heidi Jul 3 #134