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The Future Is Democratic

So say Democracy Corps poll:

A major, multi-mode survey of America’s young people recently conducted by Democracy Corps shows young people profoundly alienated from the Republican Party and poised to deliver a significant majority to the Democratic nominee for President in 2008.1

The political stakes with this generation could not be higher. In 2008, young people (ages 18-31) will number 50 million, bigger than the baby boom generation. By 2015 they will likely comprise one-third of the U.S. electorate. While participation among young people still lags well behind other generations, turnout increased two election cycles in a row and, in 2004, jumped nine points (to 49 percent).2 In 2004, younger voters were the only generational cohort outside of the World War II generation to support John Kerry (56 percent). In 2006, younger voters supported Democrats by a 60 – 38 percent margin, the highest of any generation.3

The looming disaster Republicans face among younger voters represents a setback that could haunt them for many generations to come. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama lead Rudy Giuliani—the most acceptable of the Republican offerings among youth—by significant margins, assembling a diverse coalition of support and leading the vote among independents.4 Exploring attitudes toward the parties themselves, young voters’ reaction to fundamental issues and their perceptions of the GOP suggest a fundamental alienation from the Republican Party, a crisis that will not leave with the Bush administration.

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  • Display: Sort:
    But, will they vote? (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Geekesque on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:41:40 PM EST
    That's always the question.

    This also has a bearing on the Democratic, primary of course.

    "We" is me (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by andgarden on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:44:44 PM EST
    But I'm not a representative sample of anything.

    Parent
    Profoundly alienated from the Republican Party? (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Edger on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:45:49 PM EST
    bigger than the baby boom generation. By 2015 they will likely comprise one-third of the U.S. electorate
    This might go a long way toward explaining the motivation of the neocon/empire building/big money interest/fascistic power control freak siege mentality of republican party backers.

    The most basic motivation there is.

    Fear.

    Occam's Razor. They've done the calculations. They are outnumbered. Surrounded on all sides.

    "Democracy" (none / 0) (#9)
    by Edger on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:49:35 PM EST
    is anathema to their bottom line. "Unitary Executive" is their only slim hope....

    Parent
    Off Topic: (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:31:58 PM EST
    Saw a bit of Wes Clark on Charlie Rose last night, by chance. I can see why you liked him for 2004.

    He would have won (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:35:00 PM EST
    I know of one Democratic Senator (none / 0) (#3)
    by Geekesque on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:40:35 PM EST
    from a deep Red State that thought Wes Clark would have played very well there.

    Parent
    It strikes me (none / 0) (#4)
    by andgarden on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:41:27 PM EST
    that John Kerry ended playing the role of Wes Clark, to a degree. Of course, upon reflection, it's pretty amazing that Kerry did as well as he did.

    Parent
    Clark didn't have Kerry's baggage (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Geekesque on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 12:42:31 PM EST
    from his Vietnam protest days.

    Parent
    If the future is Democratic, (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 01:47:54 PM EST
    the future is bleak.  Maybe another generation or two down the line the people will have the ability to see past this 2 party con game.

    Our daughter is newly eighteen (none / 0) (#11)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 01:54:54 PM EST
    She says that an Inconvenient Truth has many of her peers interested in politics because if you aren't your parents generation may end up making the globe unfit for you to live on because they/we are selfish and self centered.

    At the polls registration (none / 0) (#12)
    by Ben Masel on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 03:16:27 PM EST
    The States that let you register at the polls on election day have far the largest turnout of the youngest eligibles. Not so popular with pols in 1 party Dem States, as this can help insurgents in Primaries.

    The future with Republicans is war... (none / 0) (#13)
    by lespool on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 11:45:24 PM EST
    ... It's really not so surprising since they are after all the ones who the GOP has targeted to fight and die in their f#@##g 100 years war. What a wonderful future the Republicans have in mind for America's youth.