Seventy six percent of non college educated voters supported Youngkin, the Republican, in the Virginia race for Governor. 76%!
My late husband was a middle school shop teacher- yes they call it Industrial technology teacher now but shop teacher is what he called himself.
Glen ranted against the defunding of Industrial education that happened over his 30 year career because he understood that “his kids” would not likely graduate college. That they could, in fact, be good plumbers, carpenters and even wind turbine technicians and make good money that would support their families didn’t make much difference to his principal(s) nor to many school board members. Those folks wanted lower taxes so programs had to be cut. Music, Art, Theater and Industrial Tech were always on the chopping block and got smaller and smaller and smaller.
Looking at the results in Virginia makes me want to drill down in that white non college educated voter demographic and find out what they do or did for a living. The one thing I’m certain of is that the stories I would hear would include the idea that they feel entitled to all the toys and lifestyle “stuff” they see in the media - and they didn’t get it and someone else is responsible. They feel “left out,” and don’t want black and brown people taking their share through higher taxes. Climate crisis? Don’t you dare try to take away my big ass truck, or my boat/RV/weekends at NASCAR races. Yup, pretty certain we are talking racism and an abiding sense of entitlement- along with a huge streak of snobbery from highly educated white dems stupid enough to use the phrase deplorable. I voted for Clinton but that phrasing was the singular most tone deaf comment ever. They already feel left out so let’s insult them and push them off a cliff. So incredibly damaging!
Locally, we voted in three excellent school board members and turned away the anti vaxxer/anti mandates/defund education BS. The top vote getter was Sakawdin Mohamed, a Somali-born man, Muslim, with a career in public service and six kids in the district. Yes!
I love my little bubble of democracy. How the hell do we make it so appealing that we can expand and replicate it in places like Outstate Virginia?
The next generation understands, I believe. I’m a adjunct instructor at a local nursing school in a solidly red Christian town in Michigan. My students are in their 20s and are all solidly democratic. Environment is their biggest issue, pandemic issues (pro-vaccine, pro mask) even more so than single payer healthcare. They are pissed. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say about this election. I think we need to do more to mobilize this age group.
From what I can tell they are mostly even year voters. Michigan did not have any controversial measures that effected our part of the state, so as busy nursing students I suspect they didn’t make it to the polls yesterday. But voting/holding office to take control of the country after boomers messed everything up is a constant theme.
This is exactly why it is so important to have both early voting and mail voting. Many people have been effectively disenfranchised because they work jobs and schedules which do not allow for Tuesday voting and have no paid voting time.
Agree! An online/mail in voting system would be ideal for this group I think. They do everything online. They all take notes on their iPads. We communicate via Blackboard and texts. I see those long lines of people quad up to vote and find them heartening, and at the same time I think “voter suppression”. The voter rights and the infrastructure bills absolutely must get done!
I was just wondering about this as Kornacki was talking about the Republicans largely vote in person on Election Day and Dems tend to vote absentee or early. I have always fallen in the latter group because of my work schedule. What does this tell us about Republicans and work?
I am a boomer. I respectfully request you do some serious homework on what things you take for granted today that are the result of political action by boomers.
Barbara, I too am a boomer and take great umbrage at that whole blame game the young people play. And then to be "too busy" to not vote--pathetic. To have a better country, be a better citizen ALL THE TIME, not just when it suits your schedule. All politics is local, pay attention. Boomers did NOT mess everything up but it's so easy for them to blame us, n'est pas?
Easy now, I’m just sharing my observations after listening to my students’ thoughts and opinions during leadership discussions. My role as an instructor is to facilitate a discussion on leadership, not influence political opinion/activism. Please reread my original post. And yes, I think they were probably too busy to vote this last election or perhaps the motivation was not there as there were no controversial issues on the ballot in our part of the state.
They need to vote and stop blaming other generations for what is wrong. It really is that simple.
We raised families and worked. And voted.
People find the time to do what they really want to do. The motivation is that we live in a Democracy and the right to a free and fair election is precious. No important issues?!
“Looking at the results in Virginia makes me want to drill down in that white non college educated voter demographic and find out what they do or did for a living.”
Seventy six percent of non college educated voters supported Youngkin, the Republican, in the Virginia race for Governor. 76%!
My late husband was a middle school shop teacher- yes they call it Industrial technology teacher now but shop teacher is what he called himself.
Glen ranted against the defunding of Industrial education that happened over his 30 year career because he understood that “his kids” would not likely graduate college. That they could, in fact, be good plumbers, carpenters and even wind turbine technicians and make good money that would support their families didn’t make much difference to his principal(s) nor to many school board members. Those folks wanted lower taxes so programs had to be cut. Music, Art, Theater and Industrial Tech were always on the chopping block and got smaller and smaller and smaller.
Looking at the results in Virginia makes me want to drill down in that white non college educated voter demographic and find out what they do or did for a living. The one thing I’m certain of is that the stories I would hear would include the idea that they feel entitled to all the toys and lifestyle “stuff” they see in the media - and they didn’t get it and someone else is responsible. They feel “left out,” and don’t want black and brown people taking their share through higher taxes. Climate crisis? Don’t you dare try to take away my big ass truck, or my boat/RV/weekends at NASCAR races. Yup, pretty certain we are talking racism and an abiding sense of entitlement- along with a huge streak of snobbery from highly educated white dems stupid enough to use the phrase deplorable. I voted for Clinton but that phrasing was the singular most tone deaf comment ever. They already feel left out so let’s insult them and push them off a cliff. So incredibly damaging!
Locally, we voted in three excellent school board members and turned away the anti vaxxer/anti mandates/defund education BS. The top vote getter was Sakawdin Mohamed, a Somali-born man, Muslim, with a career in public service and six kids in the district. Yes!
I love my little bubble of democracy. How the hell do we make it so appealing that we can expand and replicate it in places like Outstate Virginia?
The next generation understands, I believe. I’m a adjunct instructor at a local nursing school in a solidly red Christian town in Michigan. My students are in their 20s and are all solidly democratic. Environment is their biggest issue, pandemic issues (pro-vaccine, pro mask) even more so than single payer healthcare. They are pissed. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say about this election. I think we need to do more to mobilize this age group.
Did they vote yesterday? Do they vote in every election, no matter how "small" and local?
Do they vote? This demographic historically has not been big voters. How involved are they politically?
From what I can tell they are mostly even year voters. Michigan did not have any controversial measures that effected our part of the state, so as busy nursing students I suspect they didn’t make it to the polls yesterday. But voting/holding office to take control of the country after boomers messed everything up is a constant theme.
This is exactly why it is so important to have both early voting and mail voting. Many people have been effectively disenfranchised because they work jobs and schedules which do not allow for Tuesday voting and have no paid voting time.
Yes Yes Yes, Candace. Those fed voting bills, IMO, are WAY more crucial to our survival than the infrastructure bills. (Which are indeed vital)
Agree! An online/mail in voting system would be ideal for this group I think. They do everything online. They all take notes on their iPads. We communicate via Blackboard and texts. I see those long lines of people quad up to vote and find them heartening, and at the same time I think “voter suppression”. The voter rights and the infrastructure bills absolutely must get done!
Seems so easy to hack though?
I was just wondering about this as Kornacki was talking about the Republicans largely vote in person on Election Day and Dems tend to vote absentee or early. I have always fallen in the latter group because of my work schedule. What does this tell us about Republicans and work?
I am a boomer. I respectfully request you do some serious homework on what things you take for granted today that are the result of political action by boomers.
Too busy to vote? Interesting concept.
Barbara, I too am a boomer and take great umbrage at that whole blame game the young people play. And then to be "too busy" to not vote--pathetic. To have a better country, be a better citizen ALL THE TIME, not just when it suits your schedule. All politics is local, pay attention. Boomers did NOT mess everything up but it's so easy for them to blame us, n'est pas?
Fact is many people of all ages have different levels of interest in politics, and voter turnout does depend on how many barriers are placed
Easy now, I’m just sharing my observations after listening to my students’ thoughts and opinions during leadership discussions. My role as an instructor is to facilitate a discussion on leadership, not influence political opinion/activism. Please reread my original post. And yes, I think they were probably too busy to vote this last election or perhaps the motivation was not there as there were no controversial issues on the ballot in our part of the state.
They need to vote and stop blaming other generations for what is wrong. It really is that simple.
We raised families and worked. And voted.
People find the time to do what they really want to do. The motivation is that we live in a Democracy and the right to a free and fair election is precious. No important issues?!
Good for you, Sheila.
“Looking at the results in Virginia makes me want to drill down in that white non college educated voter demographic and find out what they do or did for a living.”
“They” will not replace me. “They” will not!!!