2024

Just the attitude and dismissiveness. It sets the combative tone and removes the chance for discussion not to be petty emotional bullshit. I don't expect different but I know it can be done better.

If the Democrats lose this election a huge reason will be the fact so many people will not call them out on their own shit.

I guess I really am best off killing myself. My future doesn't matter and I see no future for myself with the current state of things.

I'm glad you all found your happiness and will get to see your children live long lives and have futures.

Is that where this discussion has landed? Is your personal happiness and life value dependent on the political climate?

if the shitgibbon somehow wins, his economic plan to eliminate taxes and tariff the fuck out of everything will crater the world economy like 1929. if I wasn't also concerned for myself and my people I'd almost wish it upon us so all these retired/close to retired asshats that vote for him are financially ruined

hey remote controls are awesome.

I’m voting for many things that I don’t personally benefit from but that I think make the world a better place. I’m for expanded or universal healthcare, I want to feed hungry kids, I want Corporations regulated and paying a higher tax rate than most American citizens, I’m voting for women’s right to choose, I’m voting for a chance to correct the Supreme Court or at least balance it more, and a lot of other things. I’d be fine if student loans were forgiven or if everyone could smoke weed if they wanted. Only one voting option gives me a chance of any of those things happening.

This. All this talk of politicians favoring Boomers over Millennials or Gen. Z is partially right, but fatally flawed. It's not politicians favoring Boomers vs. Millennials/Gen. Z. It's politicians favoring older people (where historical patterns show they vote) vs. younger people (where historical patterns show they don't). Don't matter if it's 2024 or 1964 or whatever label the generations are called. Boomers didn't vote when they were young and the politicians at the time catered to the older generation who did. When Millennials/Gen. Z/Gen. Alpha become the older generation history shows they'll vote more than they did when they were young and the politicians will be catering to them.

You can't logically expect a professional politician (and their consultants who study voting patterns) whose entire career success is based on winning votes to not cater to the people that actually go out and vote in order to appeal to those who don't vote with only the hope that being Santa Claus and saying you'll give them everything they want will actually make them go out and vote. If old people watch network tv and young people are getting their content online you can expect the networks to cater to their audience by running Matlock/Murder She Wrote/Wheel/Jeopardy instead of programming for an age group who's not even watching network television.

You want attention paid to you, first you got to go out and vote, and if it's in sufficient numbers the politicians will pay attention to you (as with old people and the issue of social security). It don't work in reverse where you if your age group has historically shown over several generations that they don't vote that you're going get the attention and what you want first and only then will you bother to vote.

I feel bad for people buried under stifling student loan debt, but only up to a point. It's a contract that was voluntarily entered into with all the terms and conditions spelled out. Take out 100 grand in student loans, expect that you'll be obligated to pay it back as stated in the contract. Don't want that debt hanging over your head, don't take out the loans. Get work at a company who'll pay or contribute for your continuing education. Join the military for the shortest stint possible and take advantage of their education possibilities once you get out. Going for a Masters in Marine Biology thinking that the massive student loans are just an investment that will pay off when they get their own Jacques Cousteau inspired NatGeo show isn't really a great strategy when for decades now it's been common for overeducated graduates to not be able to get jobs in their field and wind up having to settle for some lower paying career job outside of their chosen field. It's a gamble where the loan taker is betting that their education will allow them not only to pay back the loans they signed up for, but they'll make bank once they're paid off. It's not much different than someone who goes to Vegas planning to use the Win at Blackjack/Poker "system" they paid some guy big bucks for thinking they'll beat the casinos and then winds up in debt. Actions have consequences, whether you're at a casino table or you're signing a loan contract with thoughts that your education is a guarantee of present/future financial success.

Something I noticed is that in most countries people don't look at College as a rite of passage or a half-way house between high school and the real world where they feel they can major in anything they want and graduate with a well paying job. I've never met anyone outside of the US majoring in 17'th Century literature, art history, etc.. They all get practical degrees like Engineering, Medicine, Business, etc. Practical degrees where they know there's an existing demand. Nobody's taking out loans so they can have 'the college experience.' They don't have massive loan debts; which probably says more about the reasonable vs. outrageous price to get a degree. The days of majoring in whatever you want because you're degree guarantees you a good job in a bank/insurance company/Madison Ave. are long over. If I had to do it now (and didn't qualify for some kind of generous scholarship) I'd study a trade that doesn't require large loans, educate myself through books and online resources and not even bother with the whole crippling student loan debt that hangs over one for years, if not decades. Maybe go sit in on some college classes without registering like I did when I lived down the street from the U of O and wanted the education but didn't care about getting another degree.

You all keep saying I'm selfish. I don't have a viable future because of one choice I made when I was poorly informed and 18. My parents weren't much help and nothing I do changes my future. Why should I care at this point? Nothing is going to get better for me and none of you want it to. You're only interested in telling me how big of a mistake I made and I deserve this punishment. The democratic party has completely failed me and you're saying "they might change". They fucking won't because YOU don't want them to. You want them to appeal to older voters instead of giving the youth voters what they want. Your parents conditioned you all so well.