Boisterous in 2008, youth approach Tuesday's vote halfheartedly

[pstokely]

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2010/10/31/2010-mid-term-election-fails-spark-excitement-young-voters/

Boisterous in 2008, youth approach Tuesday's vote halfheartedly
Sunday, October 31, 2010 | 6:00 a.m. CDT
BY ALANNA NUNEZ/Missourian

COLUMBIA — Despite weeks of planning, only 13 people showed up to watch a debate between MU’s College Democrats and College Republicans at Memorial Union on Tuesday night.

With the 2010 midterm election approaching, the rows of empty chairs in Stotler Lounge just a week before the big day raises a question: Will young voters cast ballots this time around?

[TheIdiot]

1. scary. eom

[Ikonoklast]

2. That's pretty good...they can extrapolate voting trends from one data point.

Effin' geniuses, they are.

[pstokely]

3. But they have PhDs

:sarcasm:

GOTV can beat math

[glowing]

4. Naw, they were in D.C. for the Sanity/ Fear rally LOL... or studying or partying.

AND it was a college event between students. If there were some headline features or a debate with actual candidates, the turn out would have been greater. Most college students don't need a debate to know what party they align with, in general, and they will or will not vote. OR perhaps the were GOTV... last weekend people..

A spin article trying to still ratchet up the "young won't show up", "enthusiasm gap", and depress the turn out for the "steal".

[pstokely]

5. The don't attend debates, they text them

:sarcasm:

[glowing]

8. LOL.. The only thing I thought the Debates were good for were the political science

majors who wish one day to run for office or work in politics. Its practice.. and for some wonkish people, its interesting. I love debating and politics, however, during my years in college, I never went to a debate or joined a group of "Democrats" on campus. I had a major and a minor in a science degree... which means 3hrs of classes/ week along with a 3 hr lab/ week (only equaling 1 credit, but taking tons of time), plus I worked 32 - 40hrs/ week, had "internships" with professors, tried maintaining a relationship with my boyfriend, tried maintaining a relationship with my friends, studied, partied, and maintained an apartment with all the bills to boot....

To say that college students are lazy or just a bunch or partying idiots isn't the biggest reality. I was always busy. Time-management was humongous. Yes, I did drink the most back then, but I also had 10 times the energy I have now. AND I didn't have a husband or child to worry over either. Priorities change as one ages, wisdom is hopefully gained, and life experiences are important. I remember the day like it was yesterday when we found out who "won" the 2000 elections... I was sitting in the science building, signing up for the last semester of college at 5 am (back then you had to sit in line and enroll; not sure if its "online" now or not; I had to have my adviser sign off on my classes before enrolling.. often having to get a waiver for taking more than 20 credit hours per semester).... The groan was huge. For a school that turned out Marine Scientists, biologists, chemists, and environmental degrees; we knew we were screwed.. Shortly after, the jobs disappeared.. funding disappeared.. regulations were relaxed... Golf courses became "environmental spaces" (which is a joke considering how much they ruin the environment and natural habitats).

That's not to say there aren't still the typical jock or frat/ sorority types or wake and bake them types that create a college stereotype.

[Radical Activist]

6. True.

Those debates are just stroke-fests for the College Dems and Repubs to fight each other.

[Radical Activist]

7. No climate change bill

doesn't help.