He was referring to children, not 18 - 24 y/o. I agree that young adults are more idealistic and seniors more realistic. The seniors are also from a different time. The ones to come in the next couple decades might be voting quite differently, having grown up around larger government. How you vote also doesn’t necessarily indicate critical thinking skills. Some just vote R or D because they have their whole lives.
Does some magical transformation happen when you turn 18?
I agree that young adults are more idealistic and seniors more realistic. The seniors are also from a different time. The ones to come in the next couple decades might be voting quite differently, having grown up around larger government.
The reality is that we are changing demographically, which has electoral consequences. By 2042 half of the population of this country will be minorities as defined by the USG. By 2019 half of the children 18 and under will be minorities. Each year that a cohort turns 18 means another infusion of Dem voters and each cohort will be more Dem than the previous one. It is interesting to note that whites 18-29 voted for Romney 51% to 44%. Blacks of the same age group voted 93% to 6% for Obama as did Latinos 74% to 23%.
This is happening while whites become a smaller percentage of the population and die off removing Rep voters. Add to that the 1.2 million LEGAL immigrants we bring in each year, 87% of them minorities as defined by the USG. They vote Dem by more than two to one. Is it any wonder the Reps are panicked?
How you vote also doesn’t necessarily indicate critical thinking skills. Some just vote R or D because they have their whole lives.
Voting and party identification are largely similar to religion. You inherit it. The fact is that we are entering a era of political tribalism with groups voting on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, and religion. In 1970 whites comprised 89% of the population. Today it is 66% and will continue to decline. I doubt we will ever see another Rep in the WH for a very, very long time. The Dems are fast becoming the permanent majority party. By 2050 the demographics of the US will resemble the California of today. It is inevitable.