Voter turnout in 2014 was the lowest since WWII

Tom Joad · #1 11-10-2014, 10:29 AM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...st-since-wwii/

The Republicans claim they now have a "Mandate".

What do you think?

Quote:

General election voter turnout for the 2014 midterms was the lowest it's been in any election cycle since World War II, according to early projections by the United States Election Project.

Just 36.4 percent of the voting-eligible population cast ballots as of last Tuesday, continuing a steady decline in midterm voter participation that has spanned several decades. The results are dismal, but not surprising -- participation has been dropping since the 1964 election, when voter turnout was at nearly 49 percent.

The last time voter turnout was so low during a midterm cycle was in 1942, when only 33.9 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.

piece-itpete · #2 11-10-2014, 11:07 AM

A mandate. I wouldn't think the GOP would like that kind of thing.

:/

Pete

Rajoo · #3 11-10-2014, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...st-since-wwii/

The Republicans claim they now have a "Mandate".

What do you think?

What you and I think probably do not matter. It's what the right wing echo chamber and media think that matters. Rush thinks so.

The Mandate: Republicans Were Elected to Stop Barack Obama, Not to Work with Him

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/20..._work_with_him

In a democracy one would expect it's leaders to try and increase voter participation but that's probably expecting too much. And we preach democracy to other nations?

Tom Joad · #4 11-10-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeamOn

What you and I think probably do not matter. It's what the right wing echo chamber and media think that matters. Rush thinks so.

I know.

They are claiming that there is some great groundswell movement to the Republican side. The reality is they got 52.5% of the vote.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epo...vote-2170.html

And only that 52.5% is of a 36.4% turnout.

So, about 19% of all eligible voters voted for the Republicans.

Bottom line, they won be because of lack of interest.

Ike Bana · #5 11-10-2014, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

A mandate. I wouldn't think the GOP would like that kind of thing.

:/

Pete

HEHEH! Stupid fucking Americans get exactly the government they deserve.

Dondilion · #6 11-10-2014, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

Bottom line, they won be because of lack of interest.

A repeat of modern midterms...contract with America/Tea Party.

The Repubs are the political animals of today American and therefore will do
much better in mid terms when the general public show little interest.

I have noted this several times on this forum. Politics per se is their life blood,
it is big business for them... 24/7 radio, tv and books.

Ike Bana · #7 11-10-2014, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dondilion

A repeat of modern midterms...contract with America/Tea Party.

The Repubs are the political animals of today American and therefore will do
much better in mid terms when the general public show little interest.

I have noted this several times on this forum. Politics per se is their life blood,
it is big business for them... 24/7 radio, tv and books.

How interesting. Let's analyze these behaviors over and over again. The only real point is that the American electorate is full of self-absorbed ignoramuses. It's not about the politicians. It's in the hands of the people, and the people are too intellectually lazy to give a shit. If the people rose up and insisted that this is not the governance they want, the governance would change. Fat chance it's...Monday night football in 7 hours.

finnbow · #8 11-10-2014, 12:27 PM

Voting is a choice, as is not voting. I think a lot of folks thought that our government would remain fucked up with or without their vote. Give them a reason to vote and they will. Republicans felt they had a reason to vote and Democrats didn't. Simple as that.

Rajoo · #9 11-10-2014, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ike Bana

How interesting. Let's analyze these behaviors over and over again. The only real point is that the American electorate is full of self-absorbed ignoramuses. It's not about the politicians. It's in the hands of the people, and the people are too intellectually lazy to give a shit. If the people rose up and insisted that this is not the governance they want, the governance would change. Fat chance it's...Monday night football in 7 hours.

How do you change that? What percent of Americans do you think know what party their representative belongs to? I am really curious.

I agree with Dondilion. "Politics per se is their life blood,
it is big business for them... 24/7 radio, tv and books."

I drive long distances a lot and it seems all one can hear on the AM dial is right wing talking heads. And the stuff they say is so outrageous yet people believe them. Obama is a communist resonates well within that group.

Dondilion · #10 11-10-2014, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ike Bana

How interesting. Let's analyze these behaviors over and over again. The only real point is that the American electorate is full of self-absorbed ignoramuses. It's not about the politicians. It's in the hands of the people, and the people are too intellectually lazy to give a shit. If the people rose up and insisted that this is not the governance they want, the governance would change. Fat chance it's...Monday night football in 7 hours.

A curious element of this election is that the Hispanics who have an Immigration Reform agenda stayed home. Instead of voting to influence
the legislative make up of the government they keep calling for executive action.