In communities of all kinds, voters in their 20s and 30s are confronting a financial reality of rising costs, mounting debt and minimal wage growth. But how is this changing their political views?
It’s a question that NPR put to readers. We received more than 1,100 submissions from across the political spectrum from almost every state in the U.S.
Many described a similar reality — one where economic worries loom large over their everyday lives and erode their faith in the ability of those in power. Taken together, their responses paint a portrait of a generation of voters discouraged by what they see in Washington and who increasingly feel as if they have no political home.
It is important to note that the responses are not from a representative sample of all young voters. But what readers shared helps highlight a steep challenge facing Democrats and Republicans alike as they work to win over these voters, who are collectively expected to make up more than half the electorate in 2028. Here is a snapshot of what readers shared.
So let’s just sit it out in protest again. Worked so well in 2024. I mean, what better way to take charge of my destiny than to do absolutely nothing.
/s dumbasses. Only not really.
I didn’t really notice a lot of people saying to sit it out.
The article doesn’t advocate for any particular solutions, it’s just identifying a problem. I’m not sure how a criticism of protest really adds anything to the discussion?
How about instead of a completely useless non sequitur… Maybe an opinion of something that you think is more effective than protest would be more helpful?
Go read up on Malaysia’s GE14. We had an entrenched authoritarian govt of over 60 years gerrymandered to the neck with consolidation of executive and financial power in one person, ignoring the judiciary, using state funds for election purposes, openly handing out ‘donations’ to the public in cafes, blatant corruption at all levels, institutionalized racism, a placated majority held by race and religion, secret police, religious police, state sponsored disappearing of political dissidents, an ISA, fucked up education system, royalty killing people on golf courses, religious partisanship, the evil witch wife of the premiere, literally everything.
I too, didn’t vote until the largest national scandal in history. Same excuses - ‘it wouldn’t make a difference, so why turn up?’ ‘Maybe by protesting people will see we are unhappy and the entrenched govt would hear our plea.’ ‘ill not fly the national flag during independence day, that’ll show em!’
LfuckingOL. They don’t care. Why would they? The formula worked for 60 years. Hoping for the politicians to wake up is a pipe dream.
The grassroots decided ‘this is too much’ and went out to the polls. People I personally know were digging into their life savings to convince their parents to vote against the govt that paid the parents a hralthy bribe each time the elections came around, while threatening the loss of the race and religious aid they’ve enjoyed over the years. National loyalty apparently cost round about $50 a head every 5 years. And you know what? We got that change, for better or worse.
Malaysia isn’t perfect either. I’d say we’re trying our best, given the circumstances. I’d draw parallels with the marcos era in the Philippines, but if the Philippines is anything to go by, we’d just as easily vote in the same, sometime in the future.
Current America doesn’t know pain. It’s almost comical. Her pain is in the past, it got her here. While it took pain to get us out of our situation, America had so much they took the pain of the past for granted, squandered their gifts, got complacent and LET that asshole back into office. It’s is a fucking joke. Maybe it’s not perfect, but believe it or not, many people aspire to the dream. Now? Not so much. Hopefully it doesn’t get as bad as my country, it’s gonna take us decades to right the ship. But no, you guys slept on your watch. Pretending it’s the fault of the system or the politicians is just passing the buck.
Yeah yeah. Fucking boomers and all that.
Do you think people are protesting…but not voting?
No one seriously believes that protesting is going to change the administration’s mind, protesting is a way to bring attention to a problem. Which will hopefully get people who normally wouldn’t participate in the Democratic process to get involved.
You dudes will complain until Trump is seeing the world from Mussolini’s perspective. All the way until that point you’ll be like “well protesting does nothing!” while the regime is moving into military bases theres so much violence and unrest lol it does have an effect. Ya’ll are just mad its not over instantly and can’t be.
The only decent protest the US has had since the Civil Rights Movement was the Occupy protest and nothing came of it.
ok boomer
Boomers actually go out and vote… So…
Ssh… the kids are having a moment. It’ll dawn on them soon.