One morning before Christmas, I was working out with a friend who I adore, and workout with regularly. She's young, smart, and a recent college graduate. In the middle of our session, my phone started going off incessantly and I finally picked it up. It was, of course, breaking news. That day, it was about the Giuliani bankruptcy.
I live in a relatively small city and work in a relatively public field (health care). Up until very recently I've made an effort to keep my political life separate from my work, social and social media life. But a few weeks ago I came to the conclusion that continuing to "silo" my convictions was not helping anyone - not me or anyone who might read them. If my employer takes umbrage I'll deal with it. If I'm terminated it's their loss. I'm almost 72 and very, very good at what I do, and have been holding on through hard times out of loyalty as much as anything else. If freed from work obligations I'll have more time (though less money) to put into supporting the things that are important to me: the survival of our democracy and a fairer society for all of us. And knitting to stay sane.
I had a similar experience. With my daughter. I've been unable to interest or irritate her into reading more than basic headlines. Don't get me wrong. She knows who Trump and Giuliani etc are, and what they've done and why they're on trial. What she hadn't done is VOTE. This year will be different. She's seen and read about the people that are suffering untold miseries because of Maga bullshit in Congress, too and countrywide. Her understanding of the past is less than mine. But finally, FINALLY she sees the threat to her friends and family. And now she's mad. Now she will vote. And now she's beginning to be involved in democracy because now she knows people who are being denied aspects of it which she hasn't been denied.......YET. I hope she continues to learn. I feel the way to talk to those ignorant of so much of this is, as I've said before, to talk to people about what they need or feel is withheld from them or people they care about. Anywhere we can chat with people, we need to ask questions and listen to the answers. And....we need to know how Biden and Dems have been striving to and have improved so much. Point to where the positive changes are happening. Then listen some more.
I have been very concerned about this. I talk with people of all ages and am shocked by what they don’t know. The other thing that is maddening is that democrats are not loudly singing the praises of the Biden administration. I don’t recall any president being able to accomplish so much in their first term. He is amazing. Yes, he is old, but he seems to have energy, enlisted great staff support and is working so hard. Speak up and brag about Biden!
I was born in 1952 and I have to admit that I didn't pay a lot of attention to politics. We had newspapers and TV news (3 channels), but that was about it. It was the Vietnam war that got me more engaged, and I have always voted regularly. Today there's almost too much information and you have to be able to filter out the disinformation which is a challenge. I agree that we have to get younger voters more engaged but I do see signs that many are getting there because of living through active shooter drills, the reality of abortion laws, climate change and the hatred of anyone who doesn't fit into the white, Christian nationalist viewpoint. Voter turnout at colleges has been encouraging which is why Republicans are trying to eliminate college IDs for voting purposes. It's going to be a very long year.
I have been discussing this topic with my 32, 29 and 28 year old grandchildren and their responses were scary so I have starting teaching them that, if we want to remain a Democracy, they have to be engaged in politics to a certain degree and they HAVE to vote. Thank you for the reminder! We all have our work to do!
Amazing. We need to get out of our silos to share our knowledge with others. Insightful, Joyce, as always. Glad you were there for her. One voter at a time
I worry that we’re walking as a nation into the 2024 election like the Brits who voted for Brexit and when it passed, didn’t realize what they’d voted for. Start locally and spread the word.
Here in The Great Southern Land (aka Australia) we have had compulsory voting at the federal and state levels for at least a century. Works well, and there is 98% or so compliance ... it's part of life. And it's a ritual to register on the roll on your 18th birthday - like having your first legal beer in a pub.
The other aspect of elections I'm rather fond of is Preferential Voting (or in American parlance, Ranked Choice Voting) ... it works very well too, and (in rough terms) we have a four-party system (conventional centre-right, moderate centre-left, rural-right, and green-leftie) ... so to win a seat you have to appeal to at least two of those, in most districts.
That's a very useful insight into how young people can easily just not know what's going on outside of their social media. Glad your friend was inspired to do some reading about Giuliani and hope she keeps on reading! It's very worrisome to me that so many of the new generations are just NOT reading substantial news/discussions/analysis and are not caring, because they will almost certainly lose their democracy if they, and we, don't participate. Thanks for writing this, Joyce.
The age of the distraction has caused the majority of the population to have no interest in critical thinking unless it’s entertaining. Obviously not referring to everyone who contributes to your essays and comments. Your essay here Joyce points to our larger issue of maintaining our democracy and thank you!
Scary enough about young adults but what about all the Republicans who think January 6 th didn’t happen. I know for myself I have to control my outrage before I even approach them. We can do this one person at a time.
That is why I miss newspapers, yes, I am dirt old (80) but at least as a youngster I heard Roosevelt on the radio and other news the same way and of course newspapers. If these young people would just get their noses out of their phone, they might learn something. I think young folks like David Hogg should do even more to reach out to the younger generations.
I live in a relatively small city and work in a relatively public field (health care). Up until very recently I've made an effort to keep my political life separate from my work, social and social media life. But a few weeks ago I came to the conclusion that continuing to "silo" my convictions was not helping anyone - not me or anyone who might read them. If my employer takes umbrage I'll deal with it. If I'm terminated it's their loss. I'm almost 72 and very, very good at what I do, and have been holding on through hard times out of loyalty as much as anything else. If freed from work obligations I'll have more time (though less money) to put into supporting the things that are important to me: the survival of our democracy and a fairer society for all of us. And knitting to stay sane.
I had a similar experience. With my daughter. I've been unable to interest or irritate her into reading more than basic headlines. Don't get me wrong. She knows who Trump and Giuliani etc are, and what they've done and why they're on trial. What she hadn't done is VOTE. This year will be different. She's seen and read about the people that are suffering untold miseries because of Maga bullshit in Congress, too and countrywide. Her understanding of the past is less than mine. But finally, FINALLY she sees the threat to her friends and family. And now she's mad. Now she will vote. And now she's beginning to be involved in democracy because now she knows people who are being denied aspects of it which she hasn't been denied.......YET. I hope she continues to learn. I feel the way to talk to those ignorant of so much of this is, as I've said before, to talk to people about what they need or feel is withheld from them or people they care about. Anywhere we can chat with people, we need to ask questions and listen to the answers. And....we need to know how Biden and Dems have been striving to and have improved so much. Point to where the positive changes are happening. Then listen some more.
I have been very concerned about this. I talk with people of all ages and am shocked by what they don’t know. The other thing that is maddening is that democrats are not loudly singing the praises of the Biden administration. I don’t recall any president being able to accomplish so much in their first term. He is amazing. Yes, he is old, but he seems to have energy, enlisted great staff support and is working so hard. Speak up and brag about Biden!
I was born in 1952 and I have to admit that I didn't pay a lot of attention to politics. We had newspapers and TV news (3 channels), but that was about it. It was the Vietnam war that got me more engaged, and I have always voted regularly. Today there's almost too much information and you have to be able to filter out the disinformation which is a challenge. I agree that we have to get younger voters more engaged but I do see signs that many are getting there because of living through active shooter drills, the reality of abortion laws, climate change and the hatred of anyone who doesn't fit into the white, Christian nationalist viewpoint. Voter turnout at colleges has been encouraging which is why Republicans are trying to eliminate college IDs for voting purposes. It's going to be a very long year.
I have been discussing this topic with my 32, 29 and 28 year old grandchildren and their responses were scary so I have starting teaching them that, if we want to remain a Democracy, they have to be engaged in politics to a certain degree and they HAVE to vote. Thank you for the reminder! We all have our work to do!
The USA needs civics education in schools. And history.
Amazing. We need to get out of our silos to share our knowledge with others. Insightful, Joyce, as always. Glad you were there for her. One voter at a time
I worry that we’re walking as a nation into the 2024 election like the Brits who voted for Brexit and when it passed, didn’t realize what they’d voted for. Start locally and spread the word.
A sobering anecdote indeed.
Here in The Great Southern Land (aka Australia) we have had compulsory voting at the federal and state levels for at least a century. Works well, and there is 98% or so compliance ... it's part of life. And it's a ritual to register on the roll on your 18th birthday - like having your first legal beer in a pub.
The other aspect of elections I'm rather fond of is Preferential Voting (or in American parlance, Ranked Choice Voting) ... it works very well too, and (in rough terms) we have a four-party system (conventional centre-right, moderate centre-left, rural-right, and green-leftie) ... so to win a seat you have to appeal to at least two of those, in most districts.
That's a very useful insight into how young people can easily just not know what's going on outside of their social media. Glad your friend was inspired to do some reading about Giuliani and hope she keeps on reading! It's very worrisome to me that so many of the new generations are just NOT reading substantial news/discussions/analysis and are not caring, because they will almost certainly lose their democracy if they, and we, don't participate. Thanks for writing this, Joyce.
The age of the distraction has caused the majority of the population to have no interest in critical thinking unless it’s entertaining. Obviously not referring to everyone who contributes to your essays and comments. Your essay here Joyce points to our larger issue of maintaining our democracy and thank you!
Scary enough about young adults but what about all the Republicans who think January 6 th didn’t happen. I know for myself I have to control my outrage before I even approach them. We can do this one person at a time.
Dear Joyce:
Your best post since I have been a subscriber. "Think global, act local!" Apparently local applies -- very locally!
That is why I miss newspapers, yes, I am dirt old (80) but at least as a youngster I heard Roosevelt on the radio and other news the same way and of course newspapers. If these young people would just get their noses out of their phone, they might learn something. I think young folks like David Hogg should do even more to reach out to the younger generations.
They’ve already taken away women’s rights
But if Trump wins they’ll be even worse plights
The people he will choose will have no qualifications
And life as we know it will be in cessation
He has no morals no decency no shame
And he wants to be a dictator where everyone will shout his name
He looks up to men like Putin and Xi
Cruel ruthless leaders who kill mercilessly
He knows nothing about the Constitution
And wants to be President to get his retribution
So we can’t let this happen we know what’s at stake
If he were elected it would be America’s biggest mistake!
Heart stopping but a good reminder... one person at a time!