You know, Dan, my lovely house is not far from the high school. A lot of kids walk by everyday. Recently, I was out doing yard work and a couple of these folks walked by and complimented me on my landscape. Well, we got to talking and I discovered they were seniors who had turned 18. I spoke to them about their power to vote and they both replied that they had already registered. Made my heart just swell up! So please allow me to talk about Tik Tok and its positive influence on the younger crowd. Tik Tok provides a place where these folks can find their known celebrities speaking out about their power to make change. I know the government wants to get rid of it because of finding Chinese spyware on it. I get that but on the hand, this app is home for many and if it is reduced to nothing, the younger generation will feel cheated and possibly not vote. I do not feel we can take that risk. I also want to encourage people to look at Victor Shi and David Hogg on “X” who are big influencers promoting Biden-Harris. Hogg has been harassed by Marjorie Taylor-Greene relentlessly but he is backing young candidates who vying for seats at many tables. Maxwell Frost is the youngest person in Congress!
Having dump in the White (gray?) House for four years 2016-2020 (vision year) will ever be an embarrassment and a humiliation in our history. Sort of like having Nero or Caligula in office. We need to get over that by never allowing such a filthy, stinking disease to rot our public image again. We have a lot to mend... people all around the world have been shocked and dismayed at how low the US can go, although I guess bottom is still some way below... but let's not test it again. Let's reelect Biden and later another Obama or the like. How about Tammy Duckworth, for one? We have many heroes to go around. Why settle for Putin & Xi's errand boy Donald Dump?Sheep Heil! JTC
Why should they be proud of our country? Old men have a stranglehold on legislation and the grownups appear to have sat by and let Donald Trump take over.
All I can hope is the more he talks the less votes he gets. Hopefully people will see that he is really an idiot with a very large mouth and no substance at all
Like quite a number of other people, I got tired of the noise after the results of the 2020 election were posted, but watched the disgraceful behavior of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the hearings that followed it. Those were informational. Since then, I've paid attention to the slow grind of Trump's legal progress to what I hope are the end of the delays and the imposition of a prison term, and thank you, I do spend more time enjoying the beautiful spring weather!
Cable programs and social media aren't reliable producers of news, unless it's called noise. At 76, I've heard enough noise and shun those sources like the plague. As usual Dan, you at Steady, Washington Post, BBC World Service, The Guardian, and PBS/NPR are my go-to for more accurate news and updates. Thank you, and please keep them coming. Happy Easter.
I’m horrified that Garland has chosen to slow walk our democracy. Biden hog tied in the back of a truck by Trump trying to win votes from people who must have been raised by wolves. Promise you if anyone other than Republicans they would be in jail. But Garland ignores it.
I am a baby boomer and I am completely ashamed of the US. The Vietnam War started me down that path — sending thousands of young men off to fight and die in a war those jackasses knew we had no business being in and also that we could not win. The Fake War that Bush started so he could get revenge for his daddy. Thousands more killed—Iraqis and Americans. The border “crisis.” What a bunch of hypocrites. Every person I know in Texas has undocumented maids, nannies, gardeners, ranch hands, builders, chefs—you name it, and they are ALL Republican. But if there was really a will to fix this so called crisis, it would have been done a long time ago. People during mg because they cannot afford to go to the doctor. Women who cannot feed their children. Murdering innocent people including children in mass slaughterings on a regular basis while those scum in congress line their pockets with gun money, taking away women’s rights and treating them like breeding cattle, and the final atrocity—actually accepting that a RAPIST is a viable candidate for the presidency of the United States. What a sick sick place. I’m so happy I moved to Europe.
If Biden wants the Young Voter, he has got to address their frustration with the horrors happening in Gaza and their anger about the US military support of Israel with zero.accointability from Netanyahu
I have grandsons in high school whose first experience with politics was the 2016 election when they were in elementary school. It was a terrible time and they remember it well. They remember Obama but the first presidency that they will always remember was Trump’s. One of them just tries to ignore what is happening and the other one is struggling to understand how to navigate the news and constant stream of crazy. He is a junior and already somewhat cynical, especially about claims of American greatness. I think they both love our country but cautiously. They’ve both talked about living over seas, as do the daughters of a close friend. Part of that comes from the fact that they have all traveled and know that here is a big world out there. But it also comes from growing up in these very disturbing times.
Saving democracy is job #1 certainly Dan, thank you. The noise/disinformation machine from Trump world will be a lot to deal with between now and the election...but will be beaten. Thanks for all you do to help keep us dedicated, reassured and 'steady.'
Not so much the young, these children don’t know what they aren’t learning, but the teachers are frustrated. All this constant slamming of critical race theory, and now the Utah, and other states’ bans on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, have led to upsets in classrooms. With this hard line on what we can and cannot teach, and what we can and cannot say is disheartening and leads to students being uniformed, loss of critical thinking skills, and the fruition of “The Dumbing Down of America,” predicted in the 1970’s.
Thanks, Mr. Rather, for your column today. I'm a boomer. I learned American history and civics in my rural high school in the early 60s. It is tragic that students today don't learn about our history, our country and our responsibility as citizens to maintain our democracy. It is also tragic that there is a culture war against public education, against teaching the truth about slavery, against learning about the diversity of our society. We will reap what we sow and at present we aren't sowing the seeds needed to preserve our country
Once again, I'm happy to thank you for this, Dan. I'm certain your readers are, knowledgeable about the working of the American government. You're absolutely correct about the poor job our educational system does of preparing students to be thoughtful and knowledgeable voters. I won't go on too long a rant about what I believe has been behind this downward trend -- a policy of intentionally watering down the educational system nationally that began with the Reagan administration. If I were to do that kind of research that other journalists and historians do, I bet I'd find evidence of my theory. A population that isn't capable of critical thinking and evaluating what they hear is so much more likely to believe whatever is delivered in a way they can understand. What's delivered doesn't have to be true (and we see this daily with the MAGA Republicans, headed by the former president), it just has to appeal to the fears of the listeners. I applaud you for reminding us how important it is to get younger Americans registered to vote, and to present them with the truth in ways they'll understand.
Amen Dan! Now I have two words for everyone:Taylor Swift. She can lock up Trump in two more words: Vote Biden.
You know, Dan, my lovely house is not far from the high school. A lot of kids walk by everyday. Recently, I was out doing yard work and a couple of these folks walked by and complimented me on my landscape. Well, we got to talking and I discovered they were seniors who had turned 18. I spoke to them about their power to vote and they both replied that they had already registered. Made my heart just swell up! So please allow me to talk about Tik Tok and its positive influence on the younger crowd. Tik Tok provides a place where these folks can find their known celebrities speaking out about their power to make change. I know the government wants to get rid of it because of finding Chinese spyware on it. I get that but on the hand, this app is home for many and if it is reduced to nothing, the younger generation will feel cheated and possibly not vote. I do not feel we can take that risk. I also want to encourage people to look at Victor Shi and David Hogg on “X” who are big influencers promoting Biden-Harris. Hogg has been harassed by Marjorie Taylor-Greene relentlessly but he is backing young candidates who vying for seats at many tables. Maxwell Frost is the youngest person in Congress!
Outdoors - with pets - with music - with friends. Do things that bring you joy - we need more joy in our lives. (and a lot less Trump)
Having dump in the White (gray?) House for four years 2016-2020 (vision year) will ever be an embarrassment and a humiliation in our history. Sort of like having Nero or Caligula in office. We need to get over that by never allowing such a filthy, stinking disease to rot our public image again. We have a lot to mend... people all around the world have been shocked and dismayed at how low the US can go, although I guess bottom is still some way below... but let's not test it again. Let's reelect Biden and later another Obama or the like. How about Tammy Duckworth, for one? We have many heroes to go around. Why settle for Putin & Xi's errand boy Donald Dump?Sheep Heil! JTC
Why should they be proud of our country? Old men have a stranglehold on legislation and the grownups appear to have sat by and let Donald Trump take over.
All I can hope is the more he talks the less votes he gets. Hopefully people will see that he is really an idiot with a very large mouth and no substance at all
Like quite a number of other people, I got tired of the noise after the results of the 2020 election were posted, but watched the disgraceful behavior of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the hearings that followed it. Those were informational. Since then, I've paid attention to the slow grind of Trump's legal progress to what I hope are the end of the delays and the imposition of a prison term, and thank you, I do spend more time enjoying the beautiful spring weather!
Cable programs and social media aren't reliable producers of news, unless it's called noise. At 76, I've heard enough noise and shun those sources like the plague. As usual Dan, you at Steady, Washington Post, BBC World Service, The Guardian, and PBS/NPR are my go-to for more accurate news and updates. Thank you, and please keep them coming. Happy Easter.
I’m horrified that Garland has chosen to slow walk our democracy. Biden hog tied in the back of a truck by Trump trying to win votes from people who must have been raised by wolves. Promise you if anyone other than Republicans they would be in jail. But Garland ignores it.
I am a baby boomer and I am completely ashamed of the US. The Vietnam War started me down that path — sending thousands of young men off to fight and die in a war those jackasses knew we had no business being in and also that we could not win. The Fake War that Bush started so he could get revenge for his daddy. Thousands more killed—Iraqis and Americans. The border “crisis.” What a bunch of hypocrites. Every person I know in Texas has undocumented maids, nannies, gardeners, ranch hands, builders, chefs—you name it, and they are ALL Republican. But if there was really a will to fix this so called crisis, it would have been done a long time ago. People during mg because they cannot afford to go to the doctor. Women who cannot feed their children. Murdering innocent people including children in mass slaughterings on a regular basis while those scum in congress line their pockets with gun money, taking away women’s rights and treating them like breeding cattle, and the final atrocity—actually accepting that a RAPIST is a viable candidate for the presidency of the United States. What a sick sick place. I’m so happy I moved to Europe.
If Biden wants the Young Voter, he has got to address their frustration with the horrors happening in Gaza and their anger about the US military support of Israel with zero.accointability from Netanyahu
I have grandsons in high school whose first experience with politics was the 2016 election when they were in elementary school. It was a terrible time and they remember it well. They remember Obama but the first presidency that they will always remember was Trump’s. One of them just tries to ignore what is happening and the other one is struggling to understand how to navigate the news and constant stream of crazy. He is a junior and already somewhat cynical, especially about claims of American greatness. I think they both love our country but cautiously. They’ve both talked about living over seas, as do the daughters of a close friend. Part of that comes from the fact that they have all traveled and know that here is a big world out there. But it also comes from growing up in these very disturbing times.
Saving democracy is job #1 certainly Dan, thank you. The noise/disinformation machine from Trump world will be a lot to deal with between now and the election...but will be beaten. Thanks for all you do to help keep us dedicated, reassured and 'steady.'
Not so much the young, these children don’t know what they aren’t learning, but the teachers are frustrated. All this constant slamming of critical race theory, and now the Utah, and other states’ bans on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, have led to upsets in classrooms. With this hard line on what we can and cannot teach, and what we can and cannot say is disheartening and leads to students being uniformed, loss of critical thinking skills, and the fruition of “The Dumbing Down of America,” predicted in the 1970’s.
Thanks, Mr. Rather, for your column today. I'm a boomer. I learned American history and civics in my rural high school in the early 60s. It is tragic that students today don't learn about our history, our country and our responsibility as citizens to maintain our democracy. It is also tragic that there is a culture war against public education, against teaching the truth about slavery, against learning about the diversity of our society. We will reap what we sow and at present we aren't sowing the seeds needed to preserve our country
I am registered, and I will vote! So will my children—who both understand how our country works. 💙💙💙💙
Once again, I'm happy to thank you for this, Dan. I'm certain your readers are, knowledgeable about the working of the American government. You're absolutely correct about the poor job our educational system does of preparing students to be thoughtful and knowledgeable voters. I won't go on too long a rant about what I believe has been behind this downward trend -- a policy of intentionally watering down the educational system nationally that began with the Reagan administration. If I were to do that kind of research that other journalists and historians do, I bet I'd find evidence of my theory. A population that isn't capable of critical thinking and evaluating what they hear is so much more likely to believe whatever is delivered in a way they can understand. What's delivered doesn't have to be true (and we see this daily with the MAGA Republicans, headed by the former president), it just has to appeal to the fears of the listeners. I applaud you for reminding us how important it is to get younger Americans registered to vote, and to present them with the truth in ways they'll understand.