| HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL and A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR A HOLIDAY MESSAGE…YOUR MONTHLY QUOTE & IDEA…AMERICA’S DUTY TO JUSTICE… FACTS YOU CAN USE ADONAL’S HOLIDAY MESSAGE ‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it’s also the season to make New Year’s resolutions. I’m making two. First: I’ll join with Democracy Matters members to do everything possible to protect vulnerable people, our civic institutions, and democracy itself from the chaos and damage that Trump threatens. Second: I’ll prepare for the next election – it’s not too erarly to start! Flipping the Congress in 2026 is the most powerful tool we have to curb Trumpism. And students, as always, have a critical role to play. We’ll continue to register new high school and college students – especially those who’ll be18 in 2026. We’ll challenge the disappointment in this November’s election that, for some, has resulted in political apathy. Most importantly, we’ll make it clear that a vote in 2026 is a vote for the environment, social justice, women’s and LGBTQ+ issues, the economy, and decency. Democracy Matters will continue to lead with determination in the knowledge that together – in coalition with others – we can fulfill the promise of a fair, inclusive, just America.  QUOTE OF THE MONTH “People in power don’t know what they’re doing! I’ve got to run [for office] someday. We need to bring a new generation into office so we’re not just protesting and marching.” David Hogg, student activist, organizer of national student marches in the wake of the 2018 Parkland High School massacre. (NY Times, Nov. 20, 2024) https://www.nytimes.com/24/11/20/us/trump-womens-march-protests-activism.html?searchResultPosition=1 IDEA OF THE MONTH As Democracy Matters college activists return home for the long winter break, they will be reaching out to speak with students at their old high schools. In history, government, and social science classes, DMers will explain how to register to vote and how voting enables you to speak up for your beliefs and values. They’ll describe the “DM High School Leaders Program”and discuss the importance of what they’ve accomplished as members of their college chapter of Democracy Matters. https://www.democracymatters.org/high-school-leaders MONEY ON MY MIND: THE “DUTY of ASSISTANCE” Philosophers argue that economically developed countries have a just “duty of assistance” to help extremely poor nations. By providing markets for Chinese products, United States trade in fact has assisted that country in its successful escape from crushing poverty. But at the same time, Chinese imports have triggered American job losses, to which the government has been almost totally unresponsive. The protectionist coalition that has resulted now demands raised tariffs on poor countries’ exports. If, as seems likely with Trump as president, the coalition succeeds in its demands, the United States will soon abrogate its ”Duty of Assistance” to the poorest nations of the world. Read the full article at https://www.democracymatters.org/money_on_my_mind/4838 FACTS YOU CAN USE: Where Have All the (Democratic) Voters Gone? In 2024, there was a stunning decline in Democratic support for Ms. Harris, compared to the votes for Biden in 2020. That decline was across the board. Harris won fewer votes in 2024 than Biden had in 2020 in counties that were majority Black and majority Hispanic, as well as in urban, high income, high education and retirement areas. Even in some of the country’s most liberal areas – major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and New York – Harris did less well than Biden. And in only 5 states did Harris gain more votes in 2024 than had Biden in 2020. A full 7.1 million fewer voters supported Harris than Biden. While some of those 2020 Biden voters backed Trump in 2024, a much bigger factor in Harris’ loss was that many 2020 Democratic voters simply stayed home on election day four years later. This was also the case for young voters. Overall turnout among youth was lower in 2024 (42%) than it was in 2020 (50%). A majority of all young voters (52%) did support Harris. But young voters for Trump increased from 36% in 2020 to 46% in 2024. As was true in the general population, young women favored Harris more than did men. But among youth, the gender gap was especially large: 58% of young women voted for Harris compared to 42% of young men. Overall, the top issue for young voters was the economy and jobs (40%), with abortion ranked as only second with 13% reporting that abortion was their top issue. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/19/us/politics/voter-turnout-election-trump-harris.html?searchResultPosition=1 https://circle.tufts.edu/index.php/2024-election#youth-vote-+4-for-harris,-major-differences-by-race-and-gender |