What do I have to do to get through to the younger generation?

[Sematary]

I work with alot of people younger than myself and I have children that fall into that early/mid 20's age group and here is the problem I'm having - I can't get them to do anything for themselves or are so fed up with the system (already) that they don't even try. Here's a couple of examples...

I have three younger folks that I work with in Massachusetts. They are all favorable towards Ron Paul and love his ideas. But, and this is what REALLY got me. I told them that the deadline for Ma. was approaching. I told them how to register. I texted them for DAYS reminding them. In fact, I did everything but go and fill out the damn forms for them - every one of them missed the deadline because they "forgot" or some other poor excuse.

Another example...
My own daughter - the one who wasn't old enough to vote in 2008 (but is now) who did the Ozzfest Paulination with me and who spread slimjims all over northeastern connecticut with me and stood outside the town hall on voting day in a cold rain in 2008 holding a Ron Paul signs and talking with other voters as they entered the voting area - THAT daughter, has no intention of voting. I'm trying to get her back on the straight and narrow. Not sure what happened, what made her so cynical of the process that she won't even try, but man - this one hurt.

I see this crap all the time though. Ron Paul is bringing people out to his rallies but son of a bitch - they can't spend 2 minutes filling out a registration card. It's frustrating as hell. I can lead them in the right direction but I can't drive to town hall and fill out the forms for them and I really feel that if I even went to the trouble of bringing them the cards, they wouldn't bother to vote anyway because they couldn't be bothered to fill out the registration card in the first place....

 

[MichaelD]

It would be great if more people would take personal responsibility and get engaged in the process. I keep about 20 voter forms with me, and when I find some one that wants to switch parties or register to vote, I help them fill out the form and mail it in myself.

 

[phill4paul]

Tell them they are of prime draft age. Carry pictures of the dead and wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan and if they can't spend 2 min. of their time then there is nothing you can do for them when we invade Iran.

 

[lib3rtarian]

Honestly, if all the supporters who claim to support RP would just show up to vote, he would have won several states already. (And their excuse to themself would have been - Oh, just my vote would not have made a difference.) If they can't be bothered to fight for their future, when things go south for them, they would have no one to blame but themselves.

The younger generation is as much pathetic as the senior folks who got us into this mess in the first place, in different ways.

 

[Yieu]

In some states, you can register with the local government to be authorized to hand people voter registration cards and also be authorized to deliver them back to the voting office.

If your state allows this, I would highly recommend it, because then you could have handed them the form and pen, took it back, and delivered it.

I did it in 2008 and registered a few people, though only at a booth so I don't think any Paul supporters registered through me.

 

[thoughtomator]

I tell 'em to have fun getting drafted to fight in Iran

 

[Danan]

Tell them they are of prime draft age. Carry pictures of the dead and wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan and if they can't spend 2 min. of their time then there is nothing you can do for them when we invade Iran.

Yeah. And like Ron Paul pointed out in the debate: Women could be drafted too because of the gender equality stuff in the military.

Also, you could remind them what Ron Paul did for them all his life. He fought for their liberties during his entire carrier - to spend a few ours of their time is not asked too much.

 

[odamn]

Stop wasting your time.
You can lead a horse to water,
but you can't make him drink.

 

[outspoken]

I feel the same way about getting those in the senior age bracket to see the benefits of Ron Paul and all true liberty-loving individuals' philosophy as set forth by the constitution. People are just inherently predisposed to complacency until SHTF. That's why revolutions are usually not peaceful because by the time people decide to personally alter course they are already up to their chins in crap.

 

[phill4paul]

I feel the same way about getting those in the senior age bracket to see the benefits of Ron Paul and all true liberty-loving individuals' philosophy as set forth by the constitution. People are just inherently predisposed to complacency until SHTF. That's why revolutions are usually not peaceful because by the time people decide to personally alter course they are already up to their chins in crap.

I've found seniors to be an easy sell. Go for what is most important to them. I start by pointing out the shape of social security and medicare and how they keep pushing the age limits back and not giving cost of living increases because they have raided the trust fund. Then I tell them that RP wants to end foreign aid and use that money to shore up these services.

 

[Sematary]

Well, it's too late for Ma. but I'll grab a few registration forms from the town hall and make sure that my children who are old enough to vote (and boyfriends, husbands, etc...) get their asses out there to vote for RP on election day.

 

[ShaneEnochs]

Apathy is a hard thing to kill.

 

[JK/SEA]

A bit of experienced advice here. You all need to wait and see what happens first, because these straw poll votes don't mean a thing.

 

[TIMB0B]

This thread's a downer.

To answer your question, though, OP: Ron Paul needs exposure by MTV and whatever tube the young generation watches.

 

[Cabal]

Apathy is a hard thing to kill.

I think this is a common misconception.

I think apathy is often misused to characterize what is truly a sense of helplessness and/or hopelessness, or in other words, a feeling of insignificance. I don't think it's a matter of people not caring, but more often it's a matter of people having lost faith in the system as a whole. Some may view this as a negative thing, and I suppose in some ways it is, in a certain light--such as when it gets between support for Ron Paul, for instance. Loss of faith eventually leads to outright rejection, however--and I consider that a net positive. The only question is how long will the system without faith continue to sustain itself absent that faith; or what contrived crisis will come next to herd rally the fearful masses into participation.

 

[ForLiberty2012]

Yeah this is a downer.... Quick someone give me a shot of liberty! *clear*

I would stress the importance of it... The problem with our country is our government and our negligence as voters for abstaining or not holding them accountable to their oath. Tell them they are only contributing to the problem and allowing the establishment to pick their candidate for them. There's only one way out of apathy... And thats through truth and action.

 

[Jingles]

I'm young and I vote. I suppose its more about if one actually cares about politics in some form. A lot of people support Ron Paul not all of them hold the strong economic views we do, thus, they don't realize how badly things will go in a couple of years here if he is not president. Most people need to be punched in the face essentially before they start watching themselves and etc... We aren't there yet exactly.

Like registering to vote was the first thing I did when I turned 18. It was the first thing on my mind and a priority (besides finally being able to buy my own ciggs lol). Same when I turned 21. "Now it's time to apply for my Concealed Carry Permit" (and get drunk lol).

 

[ronpaulfollower999]

It makes no sense to me. Voting for Ron Paul is the most fulfilling part of the whole campaign.

 

[jcannon98188]

I am 19 and I have a 30 something year old co worker who really likes Ron Paul, but does not plan to vote because "Her vote doesn't matter". I am starting to get through to her, by explaining that "On a national level, no your vote probably won't make that much of a difference, but at the upcoming (WA STATE) caucus, one or two votes here or there for Ron Paul will be the difference between victory and defeat". Perhaps you can try to employ a similar tactic for those who refuse to believe they make a difference?

 

[wgadget]

My son is just like your daughter. I told him the deadline for signing up to vote in the primary, and he didn't get a round tuit.

I wonder if a part of it is wanting to remain off the grid in some weird way...Although by owning a social security number, it's really too late for that. He has already been signed up for Selective Service.