The Democrats took a beating on November 3, losing the majority in the House of Representatives and just narrowly keeping the Senate. Many ask how something like this could have happened. Especially after such a sweeping landslide of “young voters” in 2008 who took to the streets to vote for a man of hope, change, and a democrat.
There are so many theories as to why the Republicans won and why the Dems lost – all especially interesting. However, what’s for sure is that young voters, for the better part, simply stayed home. Young voters who largely vote, you got it, democratic.
Young voters are just as upset about what is going on today in terms of the economy and politics. They are even a bit disappointed in their newly elected leader. All reasons why they should have been at the polls. But they weren’t. Why?
On major element that was missing in the craziness and hype of the elections was the music industry. To keep things honest, yes, here and there we had some participation from those in the “industry”. Obama’s interview on MTV, a rally with Common, even Jay-Z did a PSA.
But, where was the large, momentous, organized, structured, committed message from the music industry? Something reminiscent of 2008? “Rock the Vote”, performers in tandem taking a stand and encouraging people to get involved and vote.
Nope, there was nothing like that. Instead of a volcanic eruption of information and support, the music industry committed to bleeps of patronization.
I remember talking to a few friends still in college who had no idea there was an election going on. Some of them even said, “Really? An election? I haven’t heard anything from Puffy about it”. I kid you not.
Entertainers, this is how im
