It’s obvious that millennials generally vote for the liberal candidate, and according to the Washington Post, Republicans don’t stand a chance with us. But I’ve been thinking, and I don’t think it has to be that way.
I’ll preface this by stating that I’m a die-hard Democrat (please berate me in the comment section, I’m looking forward to it) because:
1.) My stepdad was a labor union president and he raised me, so duh.
2.) I have a vagina and I very much like it. I like it so much in fact that I enjoy having sex with it, without worrying about whether or not I’m going to end up pregnant. I quite enjoy the ability to buy my birth control pills each month and on those months I forget to take three or four, I like knowing that I have the option to safely and legally have an abortion. I’m not saying I’d do it, but at least the option is there.
That being said, I don’t always agree with President Obama. In fact, I definitely don’t agree with intervention in Syria, I can’t imagine what Obamacare will actually do to our health system, and I’m nervous as hell about the trillion-dollar debt we owe to China. In fact, in all matters of political and economic importance, I’d say that I side with the GOP most of the time – it’s the social issues that make me vote Democrat.
And if the Republican Party really wants our vote, they can have it. I would be willing to switch if they would be willing to compromise even a little bit. In fact, this is all I’m asking for:
1. Drop The Macho Attitude
Women make up 50% of this country and we would like to be included in your party. We actually have brilliant ideas and important comments too, if you would just give us a chance to partake in politics. This isn’t 1950 anymore, we don’t want to be housewives, and we would make damn good politicians if you would give us a chance. I realize the whole Sarah Palin experiment may have scared you away from ever trying that again, but please, some of know that we can’t see Russia from our backyard. Michele Bachmann didn’t help much, either. Also, the whole contraceptive/abortion thing really gets us – we have the right to control our bodies and do with it as we see fit. If your politicians are allowed to be sticking their penises in whatever walks on the Appalachian Trail, we should at least be able to buy Plan B.
2. Honor The Separation Of Church And State
I’m not sure if you realize this, but the United States of America was actually founded on the principle of separation of church and state. We don’t have a national religion because of that fact and therefore, you shouldn’t bring it into politics. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in God and all, but I also believe that we should love each other unconditionally. If you permit divorce, you should permit gay marriage. I can think of at least three gay couples off the top of my head that have a better chance of a lasting marriage than I do, so why shouldn’t they be able to get married? Because God said so? Well, God also said that we can’t eat shellfish, but you still do that. Truth of the matter is that we’re not all that religious and we don’t enjoy having it forced in our faces on a constant basis - if you would back down on all these issues that you’re so adamantly against because of your religion, you would be surprised at how many Millennials would begin to support your party.
3. Use Your Isolationist Attitude To Help Us
As much as we wish it were true, we’re not all trust fund babies waiting to turn 25 so that we can gather our millions and live by the beach. And now that we’re in the real world and realize how much it sucks, we could use a little government help. You know that we’re a competent generation – we have technological skills you only dream of and we’ve been raised to be overachievers. We could be the best thing that ever happened to you if you would give us the chance to show it. Take the money that we wouldn’t be spending on foreign relations if the GOP was in charge and pump it into the economy, not to the welfare state, but to the Millennials who have worked hard and deserve the money. Help us to find employment in our field and pay off our student loans and we’ll be more devoted to the Republican Party than you can imagine.
4.) More Paul Ryan, Less John McCain
The election of 2008 was a complete disaster for you guys. John McCain AND Sarah Palin? What were you thinking? On a better note, 2012 was much better thanks to the looks of Paul Ryan. I’m not joking, that man is gorgeous and I would not be above pulling a Monica Lewinsky if Mr. President has a tailored suit, tanned skin, rock-hard abs and a sound foreign policy platform.
Point is, we’re open to being swayed and we believe in a lot of the values that the GOP emphasizes. Quit bringing social issues that the government can’t control to the forefront, focus on what is actually important in the country, and help us out a little bit and we’re all yours. Seriously.
Re: your vagina……pics or it doesnt count
The only way to save America is complete tax reform, trim all the budget lard, convert all states to right to work, leave social issues to the states where they Constitutionally belong, replace obummercare with something simple and logical, honor the Constitution to the letter, end career politics (being a politician is FAR too profitable), only allow net taxpayers to vote (see tax reform), and end corporate welfare to give growing companies a level playing field (competition is key). Of course we’re too far gone for any of these to become a reality so start setting up your backup plan.
I like the article and respect your difference in opinion, but I have to take issue with number one. Nobody in the GOP is stopping women from joining, and the female vote is usually split 55-45 anyway. The 55 percent choose to vote Democrat because of abortion and contraception issues. I don’t care if people want to be single issue voters, but please don’t spin it like the GOP is actually turning women away. That’s just asinine.
Also, I wouldn’t bring up cheaters if I were you. Your side doesn’t have a great history with that issue either.
“I’m going to ignore the state of the economy, because….gay marriage.”
I’m pretty disgusted by both major parties, but the big issue in the last election was the economy. The “logic” behind voting based purely on social issues (when one admittedly decides that the other candidate has the better handle on the big picture) is asinine.
-Not included in the “we”, “us”.
“I’ll preface this by stating that I’m a die-hard Democrat”
Meh, you shouldn’t be a die hard of either party. You should have positions and opinions on specific issues. It’s not a sports team.
Otherwise, fair points.
I agree with you 100% on the “republican on economic side” but “democrat on social issues” thing… Republicans need to drop all the women and gay rights shit and focus on what really matters - the economy. They’ll win if they do that.
The GOP gave the option of a solid platform with Romney / Ryan.
Minus your affection for organized labor, you’d almost pass for a libertarian. It’s easy to see that a large portion of our generation is torn between social views held by democrats and the economic views of the GOP without being aware of the existence of Libertarianism.
Hate to tell you this but you’re not a “die hard Democrat” if you side with the GOP on economic and fiscal matters. You’re a libertarian.
If you think in terms of Dems vs GOP, you shouldn’t discuss politics
The country is lost. Progressives in both parties have destroyed the very idea of what it is to be an American. There is very little difference between John McCain and Barack Obama. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul get it, but they are about 30 years too late. Too many takers and people devoid of all personal responsibility to alter course now.
And having the government pay off your loans and find you a job? If that’s not the welfare state then I don’t know what is. Not to mention the Democrats are the ones pumping money into the welfare state.
Yeah, I had a real problem with this. Unless some clarification is provided, it just looks like you contradicted yourself. I have no problems with necessary infrastructure improvements to our roads, power grid, etc., nor with the support of scientific progress and research through agencies like NASA. Realistically, it’s more fitting that the government do at least some of those things. But make no mistake: the government doesn’t need to be giving away any free money right now. They need every cent they can get at this point. Nor can the government “create new jobs”. That’s a pretty common liberal fallacy. The only jobs the government “creates” are more government jobs. Real private sector job growth is only spurred by business-friendly regulation and a climate of economic certainty and, shocking nobody, that tends to happen these days in states that contain those two conditions. Finally, the current liberal tax and spend mentality has got to go. You can’t fund everything on the taxpayer’s dime. Cut off the diversity in gender studies grants, nuke the entitlements, and trim the fat off the defense budget. We can’t keep spending money we don’t have and raising taxes is not the answer.
Postgradpres,
All very solid points. I will not put you down for being a Democrat. Here’s my two cents:
1. I have no problem with adults buying Plan B. But I am a parent of a girl and I don’t want her to be able to buy it until she’s 18.
2. Both parties are guilty of pulling things out of Holy books and using it to their political advantage. I have no problem with a prayer before a session of Congress, but I don’t want a sermon from either side.
3. Money is good. Stimulus packages are great. I used mine in 2008 to purchase an entire collection of war dvd’s from The History Channel. I put it back in the economy. How about we stop sending billions of dollars overseas, and win the hearts and minds of Americans.
4. John McCain is trying to regulate broadcasted NFL games by using Congress. That’s all you need to know about John McCain.
Well ma’am, I hate to break this to you, but you have a solid case of Libertarianism. My personal belief, and one that many of my friends tend to agree with, is that the government should have zero input on social matters such as who can marry who. From my side of the line, these issues tend to almost be a smoke screen. Fix the economy, let the States regulate themselves, quit being greedy asshats and start being public servants. I’m from West Texas and a utterly disagree with the whole unionized labor thing, but outside of that, I feel much of the same way you do. Great article.
Also, I should add that McCain is much more progressive than Paul Ryan, so that argument doesn’t really help you.
The irony of an unemployed graduate writing about labor unions is overwhelming. In the last 20 years billions of HS graduates have entered the workforce worldwide with the US ones not even the top of the heap. The fact that these US graduates expect “union wages” is ridiculous. Until world wide employment tightens the labor unions model is dead.
Both parties are the wet dream of Alexander Hamilton. No bueno.
Read this re: “separation of church and state”, http://www.tgm.org/mythofseparation.html
For all those who want a little clarification here:
1.) I really like what you all are saying about Libertarians and I really would like to call myself one. However, being an idealist I highly value the work of labor unions and I support the liberal stance on them. I actually worked in the factory one summer and I genuinely learned to appreciate the hard-working people who run the unions. Being a realist, the US has a two-party system and will likely always have a two-party system. I would like my vote to matter as much as possible and since there will (most likely) never be a Libertarian candidate who can pull in a majority of votes, I choose to vote Democrat.
2.) I agree that the economy is the large issue here - and I’m willing to vote for the GOP, but not until they decide that women should have a voice. I’m fully in support of gay marriage, but I’m far more invested in my own body and my ability to do with it as I see fit. Until the Republicans are willing to agree with me on that, I can’t vote for them. I refuse to willingly handing over my rights.
3.) I don’t disagree with the solid option of Romney/Ryan. Quit isolating the Hispanics and the women, and they would’ve won.
4.) And to the asshat that said it was “too simple” and without humor - I don’t claim to be a political analyst and you made the choice to read it all the way to the end. Not my problem.
Unskilled labor unions destroy business. Look at what happened to Hostess.
If you simply default to a two-party system because you think that’s the way it will always be, that’s how it’s always going to be. And look how far that’s gotten us.
Women actually make up more than 50% of the country, so that’s one you.
Simplification tends to err on the side of becoming too simple rather than not simple enough. Case in point, this article. There’s just too much going on to boil it down like this. And, I’m not seeing the humor that is generally characteristic of this site… I hope the intent here wasn’t just for it to be a lightning rod web traffic creator.