Last night in Miami, former Vice President Joe Biden closed out his town hall addressing the concerns of Gen Z voters (generally 24 and under) growing up in a world where the American Dream seems to be fading.
The age gap between Biden, an older white male, and graduate student Mateo Gomez is significant. Biden is 77. But he sees himself as a “transitional president” and ticked off a short list of policies he advocates to help Gen Z overcome the damage done by their elders and prepare them to lead. It was a strong finish, even if Biden’s policies are not bold enough to meet the challenges.
“You’re the best educated. You’re the most open. You’re the least prejudiced generation in American history. The future is yours and I’m counting on you.”
In 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, then 28, refused to wait for her future to come to her. Solving the school debt problem, reversing climate change, and transitioning to a clean economy cannot wait and won’t be Biden’s legacy. They will be Gen Z’s and that of Millennials. Ocasio-Cortez inspired her voters to reach out and take the power waiting for them to grasp. Overnight, she went from former bartender to representing New York’s 14th District and shaking up the Democratic Party.
Two years ago, it became abundantly clear where the real, if underused, political power lies in this country. I started plotting North Carolina early voting by age and numbers and it was obvious. Above, you can see the final turnout plot for 2016. Your state will look similar.
Roughly half NC’s voting-age population is 45 and younger. Despite media excitement that voting among people 18-44 jumped between 13 and 16 points in 2018 compared to 2014, older Americans still outvoted them roughly 3 to 2.
Inequality isn’t just about money. Money alone isn’t power. Power is unequally distributed in America in part because too much goes unused.
Voters can change the world. Those over 45 made this one. People 45 and younger have the power to remake it.
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