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. :rolleyes:

[AhuwaleKaNaneHuna]

I think at the end of the day, it's easy for people to want to help support his message by engaging in activities that raise awareness to what he is saying, yet not so easy to get them to register and vote when they have no trust for that system.

Look at the mockery the GOP has made of the primaries thus far with whole counties of votes diassapearing.

Let,s be happy in the least they are helping to get his message out to others.

[odamn]

No one responds to nagging or preaching.
Ppl only want to emulate ppl they envy.
Don't Worry/ Be Happy, and you will have many followers ...

[KCIndy]

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.)



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".


THIS is the problem.

There is almost no way of convincing someone to vote if he or she really believes one vote doesn't count. :( It is a simple multiplication problem: One apathetic non-voter multiplied by a few hundred thousand like minded individuals equals a lost election.

I've argued this point with friends and co-workers until I'm ready to tear out the last few strands of hair on my poor ol' bald head!

[Emperius]

There's a lot of things that young people like myself probably get discouraged from.

-One vote doesn't count
-Add to that, all the election fraud
-Voter registration comes off as tedious


It's something that definitely needs to be worked on. Bringing voter registration forms and mailing them in as well as dragging them with you to your caucus/primary locations is probably the best option.

[Proph]

Those are the true Paultards, IMO. They know (or should know) what needs to be done, but they don't do it anyway. It doesn't matter how much you care about your candidate if you won't even sign up to vote for him.

[Cabal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuHNVYW4tW0&feature=plcp&context=C3b85390UDOEgsToPDskLTahXuNM7stoV3fhiA-EU0

[alucard13mmfmj]

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.

Romney said he will raise the age elibility for Social Security and Medicare =P................................................ .......

[ShaneEnochs]

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.

This may be true in some cases, but most people I speak to say things like, "regardless of who gets into office, nothing ever changes." I think this fits the definition of both apathy and hopelessness.

[PolicyReader]

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.
I think this bit is key, most of the individuals in that age bracket that I've spoken with don't view it as a couple of minutes one day and an hour tops (maybe longer if part of a caucus) another. "Voting" is this big abstract thing (sometimes even for those who have done it) because of the rhetoric that surrounds it.

As to the level of cynicism, they do not have and for the most part have never had a political party that represents them or that they can respect.
Think of all the shady things that have gone on already in the GOP this cycle, think of Ohio and how they changed the rules (totally legal) in a way that cut all but the establishment candidate out of the local race after early voting had already begun.
Their whole political experience has been of profound corruption from both parties (you don't have to break the rules to play dirty when the system is set up this way, think of Newts special voting), on top of that there is the more and more intent push towards "party loyalty" (loyalty oaths in VA anyone?) and it really cultivates a sense of burn out. They see Paul stand up and say that "you have to go along to get along" is what's wrong with politics and that truth speaks to them but then they see/hear how they have to be involved in the party (often for a decade or more) and be friendly/respectful to those who are already in power there and that if they don't do these things they can't expect change... and honestly that's when many of them give up on using political parties to change things because for many it feels like being asked to go along to get along, it's like being told "the only way to solve the problem is to become part of it."
Any wonder they've no desire to do it?


What I have had success with is putting things into perspective, and keeping the involvement threshold I suggest in pace with the individual I'm talking too.
For example if someone isn't registered to vote then getting them reg'ed and to the polls is where I focus (anything more involved I leave alone until they're comfortable with that step). Part of this is to make sure they know two key things how little time it actually takes & second that being involved in the political process isn't an either/or choice with other action. (Put another way "you can vote on Monday and protest the entire political system on Tuesday, that's totally legitimate")
Most of the youth I've met who have any interest in the political system at all find compromise exceedingly distasteful. So it's important to show them how acting strategically isn't making a deal or supporting 'the lessor of two evils'. It's no coincidence that "Hope" and "Change" got Obama a great turn out from the youth vote.
I'm sure the folks reading this thread know many ways Paul will provide more real change than any of the establishment candidates ever could/would, what we need to do to get more youth participation (based on my own anecdotal experiences) is provide avenues of involvement which promote, as opposed to require, enthusiasm.

A few more technical notes, you can change party online in many (most?) states, you can even register to vote in some AFAIK. Get those web addresses and pass them out to the young voters you know, send them in a text or e-mail "take two minutes now to register via this link. Let me know when you're done/if you need any help :) Thanks!"
Make it a mini social event, if you arrange to go with a group of them they're more likely to show up. Filling out forms is a lot like homework, you can know it is important and even mean to do it but it's easy to say "I'll take care of it right after ____" until it's too late.

Go for what's most important to them, the issues that connect to how they live their day to day lives, "Ron Paul is the only candidate who voted against SOPA and who supports laws that would keep the government from reading your texts without a warrant as they can now" speaks a lot more to the average youth voter than "sound monetary policy is key to the economic well being of our country".

Also, and this is the source of my greatest success, go after the "super delegates" among the youth you know. For example my sister is highly social and quite well esteemed among her social circles. So rather than talking to 40+ people about Paul I've talked to her about Paul, focusing on the issues that speak most to her and emphasizing why this election is an opportunity. Then asking her to talk with her friends about it. Because honestly her friends will listen to her more than they'd listen to me even if I said the same exact things.

I know everyone is different so your mileage may very but I hope some of this proves useful to other supporters here :)

[PolicyReader]

THIS is the problem.

There is almost no way of convincing someone to vote if he or she really believes one vote doesn't count. :( It is a simple multiplication problem: One apathetic non-voter multiplied by a few hundred thousand like minded individuals equals a lost election.

I've argued this point with friends and co-workers until I'm ready to tear out the last few strands of hair on my poor ol' bald head!


Isn't it worth the few minutes it takes to cast your vote just in case it could make a difference? Come with me let's do it together.
It won't convince everyone but considering how close many of the states have been this cycle even a 25-33% increase could be enough and an average of 1 in 4 isn't unattainable. :)

[Travlyr]

When America was young everybody knew that participation in government was more than just civic duty. Representative governance is a blessing. The general thought was that if you did not participate, then you had to live with the consequences.


"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." - Pericles, 430 B.C.
Participating in local politics is still critical if you would like to have a say in your governance. Elections are won in the primary/caucus process. Become a delegate for Ron Paul (http://www.ronpaul2012.com/Delegate/). Reminding people that they must participate in government if they want a voice will likely be a chapter in Ron Paul's book of legacies.

[gerryb]

Participating in local politics is still critical if you would like to have a say in your governance. Elections are won in the primary/caucus process. Become a delegate for Ron Paul (http://www.ronpaul2012.com/Delegate/). Reminding people that they must participate in government if they want a voice will likely be a chapter in Ron Paul's book of legacies.

Just signing up isn't enough.

BECOME a delegate, by putting the work forward and looking up the GOP rules for your county, district, and state, and get a cadre of your family/friends to come out and support you.

http://ronpauldelegates.wordpress.com/

[qh4dotcom]

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....

I would have encouraged them fill out the form in front of me....or I would have filled out the form knowing their info and asked them to sign it...and I would have mailed it myself.

[gerryb]

I would have encouraged them fill out the form in front of me....or I would have filled out the form knowing their info and asked them to sign it...and I would have mailed it myself.

This is what we have to do.

BUT WHYYYYY.

If everyone who has given money to Ron Paul just SHOWED UP to their caucus or if in a primary state, to their unit/county conventions we would be the "Party" by WIDE margins.

[enoch150]

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....

I got my parents and all of my brothers on board with Paul except one - my youngest brother just doesn't care. He's never had a job where he worked more than 15 hours/week and my parents pay for his college and all of his other expenses. He doesn't believe there will ever be a draft and a SS bankruptcy is decades beyond his range of planning. The only thing he cares about is the next chance he'll have to play video games. It could be the same for a lot of kids - they just haven't experienced the affect of government in their lives, yet.

My memory must be going bad. I thought I met your daughter in 2007 and she was like 9 or 10.

[Orwell]

To be fair, the entire voting system we have constructed is fundamentally flawed and they are right to some degree to be cynical. Votes in some states count more than others, and the system, by design, inevitably becomes a two party system in which we have minority rule, as the majority of votes are not cast for a specific candidate or party, but against another. There are much better systems of voting out there, but good luck changing that.

That said, the youngins have historically had very low voter turnout for a very long time, so I don't think it's anything new.