Last Year
That's what he said. He's a millennial. Newly married. He's got his career ahead of him. He's a DINK (Dual Income, No Kids). He and his wife want to have good times for another 3-5 years before they have children. We were at a 4th of July party at the couple's house when they told me their plans. It's a good plan. I hope they can make it happen and said so with a light hearted, snarky, quip; said with a chuckle. I was not expecting him to blurt,
He ranted a little bit about how divisive they are and how it's all bullshit anyway. I don't remember all he said, but I decided to cool it. I don't think he entirely believed me when I replied, "Sorry, me too. There are better things to talk about." He accepted my peace offering and changed the subject.
Despite all the posting I do here and other places on line, I really don't like politics. Especially when they intrude into our bedrooms. I know, it's a paradox. I can see how people think I like politics, but it's really more pragmatism than liking. Politics is something I monitor, because what happens in Congress, the State House and local Council meetings can f^ck up my life and yours. Too often, we lose.
Later on that evening, I was helping him empty and clean out the coolers when he brought up the subject. "I don't understand what you get out of politics. What can we really do about it? The government does what ever it wants. My vote is meaningless."
That earned him a flat, "Bullshit." I've heard this before and don't buy it. We live in Florida. "In 2000, all we needed was another 500 (more or less) voters to vote for Al Gore and we'd have a very different political situation today. I doubt if we'd have spent what $4 trillion on the Middle East for one thing. Anyway, that's 500 or so out of what was then, 10 million registered voters. My mistake then was that I wasn't as involved in talking about politics then as I am now, but you're right I need to be less snarky at parties."
I wish I could remember what I actually said that set him off earlier, but I remember what he said while we were cleaning up, "Well, it was funny and you weren't mean. I took it the wrong way and over reacted."
"No worries. It's already forgotten" it really is.