GEN Z VOTING: BECAUSE ADULTING IS SOOO HARD!

Breaking news, California politicos: the youth aren't voting! Shocking, we know. Because nothing says 'engaged citizen' quite like someone who can't tear themselves away from TikTok long enough to fill out a ballot. According to a recent deep dive by CalMatters, helpfully republished by Edhat, candidates are 'trying' to figure out what magical incantation will get Gen Z to the polls for California’s primary. This isn't rocket science, folks; it's a symptom of a generation that's been told every single one of their fleeting thoughts is a profound insight worthy of its own social media platform.

Now, we're not saying young people shouldn't vote. We just wonder if perhaps the candidates should, you know, *earn* their vote by presenting ideas that aren't just warmed-over pap about 'equity' and 'sustainability' while the state crumbles around them. But no, instead of offering substantive policies that might actually improve the prospects for young people – like, say, making housing affordable again or not crippling them with endless debt – the strategy appears to be endless pandering. Because, naturally, the solution to disinterest is more interest in them, not less.

Maybe the issue isn't 'how do we get them to vote?' but 'are they mature enough to make informed decisions?' When voter guides look more like Buzzfeed quizzes, perhaps the problem isn't a lack of access, but a lack of desire to engage with anything less stimulating than a viral dance challenge. Our liberal media darlings wring their hands, lamenting the supposed 'underrepresentation' of this demographic, as if a low turnout from a group primarily focused on Instagram filters and avocado toast is some grand blight on democracy.

Frankly, if the only way to get a segment of the population to participate in their own governance is to bribe them with social media soundbites and celebrity endorsements, maybe it's time to re-evaluate the system, or at least accept that some demographics are perfectly content to let the grown-ups handle things. The primary isn't a Coachella concert; it’s where real decisions are made. And if Gen Z can’t be bothered, then perhaps the rest of us should just get on with it, without another agonizing think-piece on why the youth aren't 'feeling' the political process.

So, to candidates 'trying' to connect: perhaps try governing instead of grandstanding. And to Edhat, perhaps try reporting on what matters, not just what's trending among the 'cool kids.'