A refreshing and brilliant article that makes me rethink. Thank you. I notice that we Democrats are incapable of absorbing the reality that Republicans literally view us as the greatest threat to our country—a complete 180 projection, for sure. Yet their piece-meal attack and isolation on every one of our coalitions is remarkably effective. Disenfranchising Democratic voters, stealing our tax contributions while cutting our programs, cutting support for science, medicine ,and the arts, creating concentration camps for immigrants and ultimately political enemies, working towards essentially repealing the Emancipation Proclamation...these are all of one piece. We react separately to each one. That's our problem. Divide and conquer is working.
Michael, I agree with most everything you say, but what you don't say speaks volumes. How about all those non-voters, regardless of age or color? What does it take to effectively get people to realize that their non-voting is a major problem in that it enables organizations like the current so-called congress, so-called "supreme" court, red state governors and super majorities in their senates and houses, the billionaire press, etc. to erode all rights for me (us), but not for thee (them)?
"In the aftermath of Callais, people said we need to vote harder, organize harder, and prove our political power again. That isn’t compelling for many younger people..."
If the "younger generation" is not motivated to conduct another "Freedom Summer," to vote themselves, to register voters in the areas gerrymandered out of political significance, to organize rallies and marches and strikes, to go public with what needs to be done and what can be achieved...then it's not going to happen because us older folks don't have the energy and have other responsibilities they can't get away from for any length of time. OTOH if the younger generation will get the effort started, many of us may be inspired to get off our butts.
Elder millennials are the last generation to experience a country that felt like it was working properly. Everyone else who became aware of politics and economics after the year 2000 has an only dysfunction and hypocrisy.
My fear is the loudest voices calling for reform are #BlueMAGA, confusing narcissism for moral authority and ignoring red flags and flaws on their own side.
This essay is brilliant! High School students should be required to read. A national student debate topic should be around universal voting. Michael Franklin's voice should be heard by everyone!
This old white woman shares your feeling of betrayal regarding the systems of “democracy” that were supposed to protect ALL of our rights. The rot at the core of all this has been dramatically exposed for all to see. It seems that we need to tear it down to the studs and start again - and we’re counting on the younger generation to give us new energy and vision to reimagine a fairer and more just country. I only hope our resulting rage will motivate us to action rather than cause us to despair.
Been watchin the hypocrisy, ineffectiveness, & downright bullshit from our institutions for the past fifty(50) years. I paid no attention to politics until the trump/maga catastrophe has made it damn-near impossible to ignore. AND now folx are wondering why young people have no time for it. Seems a desperate ploy by political types to curry favor from our younginz. Try serving our people with some empowering, fo reelz policy & vision.
Totally agree with your excellent analysis and examples! The only thing we have is each other and unless we can get together and accept some differences in opinion and shared experiences it’s hard to turn this around. We’ve been governed and controlled by old, rich white men and corporations for way too long….
Sometimes it’s all about being the squeakiest wheel in terms of serving the customer. It’s also about taking leadership roles and narrowing the gap in terms of inconsistencies and being role models and mentors. It’s about being able to relate two entirely different things and still finding their similarities and being able to do so better than the next person. Transforming your ideas into ingenuity. Find people you trust who are good at what they do and let them be your mentor. Quiet confidence is powerful.
A refreshing and brilliant article that makes me rethink. Thank you. I notice that we Democrats are incapable of absorbing the reality that Republicans literally view us as the greatest threat to our country—a complete 180 projection, for sure. Yet their piece-meal attack and isolation on every one of our coalitions is remarkably effective. Disenfranchising Democratic voters, stealing our tax contributions while cutting our programs, cutting support for science, medicine ,and the arts, creating concentration camps for immigrants and ultimately political enemies, working towards essentially repealing the Emancipation Proclamation...these are all of one piece. We react separately to each one. That's our problem. Divide and conquer is working.
Michael, I agree with most everything you say, but what you don't say speaks volumes. How about all those non-voters, regardless of age or color? What does it take to effectively get people to realize that their non-voting is a major problem in that it enables organizations like the current so-called congress, so-called "supreme" court, red state governors and super majorities in their senates and houses, the billionaire press, etc. to erode all rights for me (us), but not for thee (them)?
"In the aftermath of Callais, people said we need to vote harder, organize harder, and prove our political power again. That isn’t compelling for many younger people..."
If the "younger generation" is not motivated to conduct another "Freedom Summer," to vote themselves, to register voters in the areas gerrymandered out of political significance, to organize rallies and marches and strikes, to go public with what needs to be done and what can be achieved...then it's not going to happen because us older folks don't have the energy and have other responsibilities they can't get away from for any length of time. OTOH if the younger generation will get the effort started, many of us may be inspired to get off our butts.
Elder millennials are the last generation to experience a country that felt like it was working properly. Everyone else who became aware of politics and economics after the year 2000 has an only dysfunction and hypocrisy.
My fear is the loudest voices calling for reform are #BlueMAGA, confusing narcissism for moral authority and ignoring red flags and flaws on their own side.
This essay is brilliant! High School students should be required to read. A national student debate topic should be around universal voting. Michael Franklin's voice should be heard by everyone!
This old white woman shares your feeling of betrayal regarding the systems of “democracy” that were supposed to protect ALL of our rights. The rot at the core of all this has been dramatically exposed for all to see. It seems that we need to tear it down to the studs and start again - and we’re counting on the younger generation to give us new energy and vision to reimagine a fairer and more just country. I only hope our resulting rage will motivate us to action rather than cause us to despair.
Been watchin the hypocrisy, ineffectiveness, & downright bullshit from our institutions for the past fifty(50) years. I paid no attention to politics until the trump/maga catastrophe has made it damn-near impossible to ignore. AND now folx are wondering why young people have no time for it. Seems a desperate ploy by political types to curry favor from our younginz. Try serving our people with some empowering, fo reelz policy & vision.
Totally agree with your excellent analysis and examples! The only thing we have is each other and unless we can get together and accept some differences in opinion and shared experiences it’s hard to turn this around. We’ve been governed and controlled by old, rich white men and corporations for way too long….
Sometimes it’s all about being the squeakiest wheel in terms of serving the customer. It’s also about taking leadership roles and narrowing the gap in terms of inconsistencies and being role models and mentors. It’s about being able to relate two entirely different things and still finding their similarities and being able to do so better than the next person. Transforming your ideas into ingenuity. Find people you trust who are good at what they do and let them be your mentor. Quiet confidence is powerful.