The Nation.



Dems--Why Not Woo the Young?

By Thomas Geoghegan

This article appeared in the July 21, 2003 edition of The Nation.

July 2, 2003

Since 1968 the Democrats have been shut out, more or less, as majority party. But with a small bump in left-of-center turnout, they'd be running the country. The dropoff in voting has been greatest among the young. This is the biggest what-if in American politics: What if the Democrats pitched an issue to the young?

For example, student loans. Declare an amnesty. Or let college grads off the hook if their incomes fall below a certain level. Or at least let them discharge the loan in bankruptcy.

But is there a single bill in Congress from any Democrat to this effect? No. Instead, the Democrats over and over pitch their issues to the elderly--only, in the last election, to see the old people, hardhearted, reject them again. Isn't it better to woo the young?

Subscriber Login

4 ISSUES FREE

Subscribe Now!

The only way to read this article and the full contents of each week's issue of The Nation online is by subscribing to the magazine. Subscribe now and read this article -- and every article published since for the past five years -- right now.

There's no obligation -- try The Nation for four weeks free.

.

About Thomas Geoghegan

Thomas Geoghegan is the author of In America's Court: How a Civil Lawyer Who Likes to Settle Stumbled Into a Criminal Trial and Which Side Are You On? Trying to Be for Labor When It's Flat on Its Back (both New Press). more...

Popular Topics
Most Searched

Issues »

Most Emailed

Issues »

Blogs

» The Notion

NBC Makes Mockery of McKay Legacy | Jim McKay's coverage of the crisis at the '72 Olympics set the gold standard for serious reporting. NBC's coverage in Beijing doesn't even qualify to compete.
Dave Zirin

» The Dreyfuss Report

Scheunemann, Iraq and Georgia | Where's the congressional investigation?
Robert Dreyfuss

» The Beat

Stephanie Tubbs Jones: Champion of Electoral Justice | Honor the late congresswoman by enacting the election reforms she sought.
John Nichols

» Campaign 08

One Last Clinton Scenario | It's probably Biden, but...
John Nichols

» Editor's Cut

A Fateful Crossroads for America | Faced with neocon policies that have led to a new cold war, will Obama show the courage to chart a new course?
Katrina vanden Heuvel

» ActNow!

From Fannie Lou Hamer to Barack Obama | Denver Public Library highlights how the civil rights movement changed American politics.
Peter Rothberg

» And Another Thing

Good-Bye, John Edwards | On policies and persons
Katha Pollitt

» Capitolism

Six Little Words | How Civil Rights Act could save America's labor movement
Christopher Hayes