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November 08, 2008
Youts
I have already heard enough about the supposed youth vote to last a lifetime and we are going to be exposed to more teeth-grinding analysis than I can bear these coming four years, much of it flat wrong. No, libertarianism is not the answer. What the Republicans need to gain the ingrate vote is a non-threatening, apparently cool top of the ticket. Obama had that (forgive me for I know not what I do) in spades while (for reasons which escape me) Sarah Palin alarms - outrages - many young people.
Sadly, I think the best counter to Obama would have been Mike Huckabee. A friend of mine who fits the target demographic has told me several times over the last year - again as recently as last week - that Huckabee was the only candidate in either party that "did not creep me right out". This with no apparent cognisance or concern for any issue of the day; not abortion, not the status of marriage, not even the war let alone the arcana of taxation and investment policy, not nada.
The best barometer for Republican success has nothing to do with the RNC, the Republican Congressional caucus, talk radio or the majesty of the dextrosphere; it is a winning appearance on The Daily Show. Don't ask me who to back as "the next Reagan", ask Jon Stewart.
But then I think the West can do without the ingrate vote. The more apathetic the soft headed masses are the better. The people should be actively discouraged from voting and the process left to whatever percentage of the population is actually paying attention and - not to put too fine a point on it - actually paying the bills. Convicted felons, the incarcerated, anyone receiving public assistance (including students) and a range of other people should be denied the franchise either permanently or until they can demonstrate some rudimentary degree of social responsibility.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at November 8, 2008 12:17 AM
Comments
I think they should run Bruce Willis. I'm serious.
Posted by: The_Campblog ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ghostofaflea.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 8, 2008 09:47 AM
Don't be ridiculous... Bruce Willis can't stomach that kind of salary cut.
Flea, you really don't see why Sarah Palin sets off the red flags?
Posted by: agent bedhead at November 8, 2008 10:00 AM
I can tell you as a former young person that the one big reason the "youths" don't like Sarah is group identity and the need to conform -- excuse me, be a "cool" "individual." Individuals, man, don't wear suits and put their hair up and get married and have kids, they're out there being radical! You know, like Joe Biden.
Basically, kids are stupid. They follow the latest trend like sheep, or if the latest trend is too "popular" they show their "individuality" against the "sheep" by forming their own group of like-minded idiots that have even more stringent rules of dress and behavior (like, say, Goths). The fact that most of them are just like Sarah Palin was before she got into politics (decent students, went to normal high schools, will go to a non-Ivy-League college, etc.) goes right over their heads.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 8, 2008 10:37 AM
I'm confused.
Governor Huckabee set off alarms for me. But what is it about a social conservative with no conservative economic credentials that you find preferable to any of the other primary candidates?
And, if Agent Bedhead would elucidate further, I would be greatly appreciative.
.
Posted by: OregonGuy at November 8, 2008 01:03 PM
It was my Generation Z (or whatever it is now) friend who felt comfortable with Huckabee, not me.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at November 8, 2008 01:06 PM
Concerning your last paragraph, NP, it has struck me more and more over the last few years that the main reason the Roman Republic lasted as long as it did (in contrast to our 200+ year system now in its death-throes) is that they carefully skewed the franchise in favor of property owners. Sure, people from the 3rd through 5th Classes could vote, it was just meaningless compared to the two upper Classes (and for those of you not familiar, Class in Rome was an economic, not social, distinction). It was only in the last 100 years when demagogues used the Popular Tribunes to promise unlimited "hope and change," *cough* as it were, to the lower classes that things quickly fell apart.*
Again: once people figure out they can vote themselves rich, it's all over.
*And yes, I know: G. Marius' creation of a property-less army loyal to its commander rather than the State was a factor too; but it also ties to my arguement of the inherent political stability of property owners.**
**An example of this was last Tuesday in my county: apartment dwellers voted 3:1 in favor of a tax levy on property for the local socialist, er, public schools. Those of us that owned property voted in the same proportion against it; this time, it failed, but they put it on the ballot every six months. There is something morally repellant about non-property owners exercising violence (that is, voting) towards others to support them.
Posted by: Clayton Barnett at November 9, 2008 08:28 AM
Your young friend wasn't creeped out by... an ordained minister? Wow, the younger generation clearly hasn't watched Footloose often enough. Phew.
However, Huck doesn't creep him out because -- he isn't really a conservative. I kinda like the dude but his actual policies? Ugh.
I understand why people hated Palin, all right. I live in Toronto and am surrounded by these idiots. But we can't let the opinions of idiots matter. Principles before personalities.
Anyway thanks for coining a phrase I've been groping around for since Tuesday: the ingrate vote.
Posted by: Kathy Shaidle at November 9, 2008 12:20 PM
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