Yesterday I read this article in the Washington Post:
For millennial voters, the Clinton vs. Trump choice ‘feels like a joke’
In interviews this past week with more than 70 young voters in nine states from diverse backgrounds, lifestyles and careers, it is clear their mood is decidedly different from previous elections. Despite their varied lives, most of those interviewed shared a disgust with both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump so intense that it is pushing many beyond disillusionment and toward apathy.
….Though a few people voiced admiration for Clinton, most talked about both her and Trump in searing, caustic words: Super villain. Evil. Chameleon. Racist. Criminal. Egomaniac. Narcissist. Sociopath. Liar. Lying cutthroat. Panderer. Word salad. Willy-nilly. Douche. Joker. Troll. Oompa Loompa. Sad. Absurd. Horrifying. Dishonest. Disgusting. Dangerous. Disaster.
Etc.
My immediate first thought when I read this was: Sure, but is this attitude really any different than in years past? I mean, if you go out and ask people to bitch about politics—which is what these reporters are doing even if they don’t think they are—then they’re going to bitch about politics. I probably would too.
So then: is this just the usual griping? Or is it worse than usual? I was too lazy to look for the polling data, but Eric Boehlert came to my rescue today:
oops: new CBS poll, just 12% of voters 18-29 are “less motivated” to vote this election; https://t.co/7PCvOqizGV https://t.co/u33sOko0KC
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) August 14, 2016
This is just for Florida, and who knows? Maybe Floridians are unusually cheery folks. I doubt it, though. And although Boehlert doesn’t mention this, that 12 percent of millennials who feel less motivated to vote this year is a smaller number than it is for older groups. Everything is close enough, in fact, that you can basically say there’s no difference between millennials and other age groups when it comes to enthusiasm for voting.
We get this every four years. Reporters fan out into “real America” and ask people about politics. And pretty much without exception, every four years people are frustrated, angry, apathetic, and convinced that politicians never do anything for them. Every. Four. Years.
So knock it off, folks. Seriously. I know that reporters like to report, but this kind of stuff is flatly useless unless you can back up your anecdotes with something a little more concrete. At the very least, compare it to 2012. Or 2008. Or 2004. Or better yet, all of those years. If there’s no real difference, then this is your story: “Voters, as usual, claim to be disgusted with politics.” You can put it right up there next to “Worthwhile Canadian initiative.”
