Hey Mom and Dad I’m having this talk with you for your own good. Please really listen to me! I’m voting for Bernie Sanders!
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Have you truly seen systemic (the word you like to use) change in our political system or is it just painstakingly slow progress in some things and even worse, regression in others?
You told me I could achieve anything and taught me not to accept the status quo. Yet here I am a college graduate with debt that gives me nightmares, I can’t find decent work, global warming is destroying the world, we’ve got the worst terrorism our country has ever known, and a nation so divided I feel like we are near a civil war.
I’m not blaming you personally — you did your best. I’m telling you this for your own good and it hurts me more than it does you to say this — but your generation royally screwed up. Things seem much worse now than any stories you ever told me.
I’m scared about my future. I’m not sure who to blame. When I have kids how will they ever afford college?
The politicians only seem to represent their party. You and my grandparent’s generation often don’t vote. Then you complain about your representatives.
I don’t blame you for this. I know you have lots of pressure in your life. Maybe I even cause a little bit of it.
I’m tired of hearing young people won’t show up at the polls. I’m really disappointed that you don’t seem to have the strength of your convictions. You tell me you really like what Bernie Sanders says but you’re not voting for him in the primary. You feel he won’t win, so why waste your vote.
You taught me to follow my convictions. If everyone has the attitude that change is impossible then there will be no change.
You taught me to be a progressive thinker. I’ve been following the Presidential Primaries very carefully and listening to the candidates.
The Republicans seem to be holding a circus side show. And none of them represent the ideals you fostered in me.
Mom, are you happy with the state of the nation right now? Dad, do you see much difference between the politicians of your generation and mine?
You taught me to be open and to challenge and question the status quo. I’m doing that.
I’ve analyzed the political scene. I’ve listened to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. And here’s what I’ve noticed.
Whenever Hillary speaks I agree with most of her ideas. She’s done a lot for many diverse groups of people and I can’t argue with her experience. She would probably be a fine leader… in the traditional sense. And, if she is my only choice I’ll vote for her.
But to be honest, I’m not excited by her and she doesn’t seem sincere. Other than her progressive views (which are great) she seems to be part of the political establishment that you’ve complained about for years.
She wants change, but in little steps. She says that’s the only way to accomplish things. I just don’t agree! Do you really think in this divided nation it will be easier for Hillary? The Republicans have been after her for 25+ years. She claims she can negotiate with the other party.
Come on, do you really think they will give her a chance?
Did they give President Obama a chance or did Mitch McConnell say from day one it would be his mission to see that Obama was a one term president!
Bernie’s calling for a revolution!
I listen to him and he makes me feel good. What he says resonates. I kind of feel like I’m talking with my Uncle. I’m not sure why, I think it’s that he seems so sincere.
I’ve also researched his record. Unlike the other politicians he hasn’t changed his values. Of course he’s evolved through the years, but his core principles have never changed.
When I watch him at the town halls I know he’s speaking from his heart. Isn’t that important?
Hillary and Bernie agree on a lot. But it’s where they don’t agree that hits home with me.
Bernie knows it takes big dreams to create change. He knows it won’t happen overnight. You say he is unrealistic, making promises he can’t keep. He’ll never get anything passed through Congress. Wow what if Martin Luther King Jr. listened to his critics and didn’t dream big!
We need a leader that is both pragmatic and incredibly innovative One who exhibits seasoned judgment, a knowledge of what can happen in the short term and who can accomplish this all while reaching for the stars.
When we have children starving in this country, home grown terrorists, an evaporating middle class, no jobs and inequality in so many aspects of our life we need a revolution. How can we not find the will and money to make this happen?
Bernie speaks to me and my generation!
He admits he can’t make all these changes alone. Not if he tries to only work in the system like Hillary.
His revolution is a call to arms to get we the people protesting by the millions. For years now politicians have been promising change but the political system has only gotten worse. When politicians hear thousands chanting outside their office windows they will listen.
In fact, I think that there may even be some common ground between young Democrats and Republicans once we all know we are being heard. Perhaps there will be less vitriol in our generation if we are taken seriously. And I don’t mean politicians pandering to us just to get our vote.
But we can’t wait any longer. Sometimes it seems like the stars are aligned and big change is on the horizon.
Mom and Dad, let me ask you a question. Are you really comfortable with the world your grand children are going to grow up in? Do you really think electing a moderate politician will change anything in your or our lifetime?
Most of the polls show that the Democrats of your generation support Hillary, but not with great excitement. Millennials support Bernie and we are excited. We want to take the lessons you taught us and become involved.
We want to give back our nation to the people. We believe Bernie will do that.
I feel energized when I listen to Bernie. So do my friends. Democrats win when there are big voter turnouts. We’ll all be there for Bernie!!
I’ve taken your advice on most things for years. Now I’m asking you to take mine. If you like what Bernie has to say, and in you heart of hearts you’d like to see him President ignore your friends who say he can’t win the primary. Be true to your ideals.
I know you will do the right thing!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Boris, the USA is heading down a conservative, plutocracy, oligarchy slope. Take your choice of the Robber Barrons, slave plantation owners, and tech CEOs like Bill Gates, Carly Fiorina, and Meg Whitman who help control government to hopscotch the USA down the right wing road. If I was a kid, I would tell my parents that the greatest generation of World War II, the wealthy people, corporations, our top business leaders and politicians sold this country down the road. The greatest generation had the benefits of a free education, and good paying jobs and then decide that the rest of… Read more »
Is having convictions the same as having convictions which comport with reality?
When your parents point out that Bernefits can’t possible be paid for in any way whatsoever, are they being mean, or might they know something you don’t? Or would prefer not to?
Has it occurred to you to wonder if you’re wrong? Has it occurred to you do do what expert debaters–and scientists–do, which is to try to attack your own position and see how it stands up?
Hi Richard, questioning what politicians claim and promise always makes sense. Just as we question other things in life and ultimately make our own decisions… for which we bear the responsibility. Richard I do question that you don’t believe Bernie Sanders benefits can be paid for in any way. Sometimes it takes a reordering of priorities. You do have to wonder how so many countries have universal medical coverage and nowhere the level of poverty we have in this country. It might be worth exploring how they do it. I think that’s part of what Bernie is saying. Thanks for… Read more »
As someone that could be a parent (48) to a recent progressive college graduate, my reply would be: ‘Sit down, Shut up, and Listen Carefully. Everything that you learned in school and university was not an education – it was an indoctrination; a warm bath the the thick stench that is the way they want you to think. You think that voting gives you a ‘voice’, gives you a ‘choice’ and maybe even ‘hope’ – you could not be more wrong. First, America is not a Democracy. It was originally penned as a Constitutional Representative Republic, there was never intended… Read more »