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The American dream feels impossible for many young voters, who see no political fix (www.npr.org)

submitted 5 months ago by gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

29 comments fedilink hide all child comments

In communities of all kinds, voters in their 20s and 30s are confronting a financial reality of rising costs, mounting debt and minimal wage growth. But how is this changing their political views?

It's a question that NPR put to readers. We received more than 1,100 submissions from across the political spectrum from almost every state in the U.S.

Many described a similar reality — one where economic worries loom large over their everyday lives and erode their faith in the ability of those in power. Taken together, their responses paint a portrait of a generation of voters discouraged by what they see in Washington and who increasingly feel as if they have no political home.

It is important to note that the responses are not from a representative sample of all young voters. But what readers shared helps highlight a steep challenge facing Democrats and Republicans alike as they work to win over these voters, who are collectively expected to make up more than half the electorate in 2028. Here is a snapshot of what readers shared.

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20251031121338/https://www.npr.org/2025/10/31/nx-s1-5590153/young-voters-american-dream-economy

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[-] Lenny@lemmy.zip 22 points 5 months ago

Can we have some [American Dream]?

We have some at home.

At home: [American Nightmare]

[-] bluesocks@lemmings.world 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

We're really living in a neo-liberal's wet dream.

This is all according to plan for the people making 6 figures and have homes that cost at least $400,000.

Trump isn't raising their taxes.

spoiler

Anyone who thinks millionaires are not part of the problem is a fucking idiot.

[-] heyWhatsay@slrpnk.net 14 points 5 months ago

Maybe figure out a new American dream, like punching Nazis, or eating the rich

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 12 points 5 months ago

Gen X:

[-] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 16 points 5 months ago

Actual Gen X:

[-] FahrenheitGhost@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago

GenX here... No. Just fucking no. Not in the fucking slightest.

[-] tootoughtoremember@lemmy.world 13 points 5 months ago

I mean...

Kinda looks like your gen is going full boomer

[-] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 5 points 5 months ago

Jeez look at this statistical minority give em a medal (their whole generation is ultimately just desperate for attention)

[-] FahrenheitGhost@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Actually, our generation is known for quite the opposite.

[-] PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

True

[-] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 7 points 5 months ago

there is no fix within the current system, it is working as intended

it needs to be reset

[-] altphoto@lemmy.today 7 points 5 months ago

For many? For most.

[-] bluesocks@lemmings.world 7 points 5 months ago

There is no political fix.

The only solution is violence.

[-] radieschen@slrpnk.net 6 points 5 months ago

Wouldn't revolution be considered a "political fix"?

[-] EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 5 months ago

Millennials have been saying this since 2008, and they're only seriously considering it now??

I'd say I'm surprised, but after almost two decades of being told that my concerns over housing prices, student debt, poor wages, unaffordable healthcare, etc aren't important right now because Dems need moderate Republicans to vote for them, I'm really not.

[-] bcgm3@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

Feels that way for some of us older voters, too.

[-] ristoril_zip@lemmy.zip 2 points 5 months ago

The political answer is to vote for DSA and WFP candidates every time they run in a Democratic Party primary.

Looking at the Republican Party it took about 8 years (2008 - 2016) for the Tea Party to completely reshape.

I bet we could do it faster.

[+] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world -14 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

So let's just sit it out in protest again. Worked so well in 2024. I mean, what better way to take charge of my destiny than to do absolutely nothing.

/s dumbasses. Only not really.

[-] TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today 18 points 5 months ago

The article doesn't advocate for any particular solutions, it's just identifying a problem. I'm not sure how a criticism of protest really adds anything to the discussion?

How about instead of a completely useless non sequitur..... Maybe an opinion of something that you think is more effective than protest would be more helpful?

[-] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Go read up on Malaysia's GE14. We had an entrenched authoritarian govt of over 60 years gerrymandered to the neck with consolidation of executive and financial power in one person, ignoring the judiciary, using state funds for election purposes, openly handing out 'donations' to the public in cafes, blatant corruption at all levels, institutionalized racism, a placated majority held by race and religion, secret police, religious police, state sponsored disappearing of political dissidents, an ISA, fucked up education system, royalty killing people on golf courses, religious partisanship, the evil witch wife of the premiere, literally everything.

I too, didn't vote until the largest national scandal in history. Same excuses - 'it wouldn't make a difference, so why turn up?' 'Maybe by protesting people will see we are unhappy and the entrenched govt would hear our plea.' 'ill not fly the national flag during independence day, that'll show em!'

LfuckingOL. They don't care. Why would they? The formula worked for 60 years. Hoping for the politicians to wake up is a pipe dream.

The grassroots decided 'this is too much' and went out to the polls. People I personally know were digging into their life savings to convince their parents to vote against the govt that paid the parents a hralthy bribe each time the elections came around, while threatening the loss of the race and religious aid they've enjoyed over the years. National loyalty apparently cost round about $50 a head every 5 years. And you know what? We got that change, for better or worse.

Malaysia isn't perfect either. I'd say we're trying our best, given the circumstances. I'd draw parallels with the marcos era in the Philippines, but if the Philippines is anything to go by, we'd just as easily vote in the same, sometime in the future.

Current America doesn't know pain. It's almost comical. Her pain is in the past, it got her here. While it took pain to get us out of our situation, America had so much they took the pain of the past for granted, squandered their gifts, got complacent and LET that asshole back into office. It's is a fucking joke. Maybe it's not perfect, but believe it or not, many people aspire to the dream. Now? Not so much. Hopefully it doesn't get as bad as my country, it's gonna take us decades to right the ship. But no, you guys slept on your watch. Pretending it's the fault of the system or the politicians is just passing the buck.

Yeah yeah. Fucking boomers and all that.

[-] TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today 1 points 5 months ago

Do you think people are protesting.....but not voting?

No one seriously believes that protesting is going to change the administration's mind, protesting is a way to bring attention to a problem. Which will hopefully get people who normally wouldn't participate in the Democratic process to get involved.

[-] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Do you think people are protesting.....but not voting?

Its a sentiment echoed by tankies on Lemmy, if they even protest.

Still I do know a few people that won't vote, but do show up to protests.

[-] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

I don't worry about the protestors out in the wild. I'm upset at those who protest by not voting.

[-] Sanctus@anarchist.nexus 11 points 5 months ago

You dudes will complain until Trump is seeing the world from Mussolini's perspective. All the way until that point you'll be like "well protesting does nothing!" while the regime is moving into military bases theres so much violence and unrest lol it does have an effect. Ya'll are just mad its not over instantly and can't be.

[-] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 months ago

I didn't really notice a lot of people saying to sit it out.

[-] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 3 points 5 months ago

The only decent protest the US has had since the Civil Rights Movement was the Occupy protest and nothing came of it.

[-] frunch@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

ok boomer

[-] tidderuuf@lemmy.world -3 points 5 months ago

Boomers actually go out and vote... So.......

[-] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Ssh... the kids are having a moment. It'll dawn on them soon.

this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2025

243 points (99.2% liked)

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