MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle and Harvard Institute of Politics Polling Director John Della Volpe were optimistic on Monday that Gen Z will save America from the horribleness that is Republicans and their "voter suppression" efforts and that they actually care about other people, unlike other generations.
Ruhle began with the premise that "voter suppression" is a real problem and asked Della Volpe, who was on to promote his new book Fight: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America, "Is Gen Z focused on or aware of voter suppression efforts going on and voting rights, you know? Are they motivated by this?"
Della Volpe was pleased to report that, "Absolutely, especially if you're a young voter, a college voter in New Hampshire, who has to fight, you know, to, to, to overcome those obstacles that are new in place or in Texas, et cetera. Yes, they absolutely are."
According to Della Volpe, Gen Z, supposedly unlike other generations, care about the well-being of others:
And that's the thing, though. They're just not concerned, Stephanie, about, kind of, their own situation and college voters. A lot of young people, of course, aren't college voters. But what is special is they're fighting for justice for everybody, whether that's the person who, who's has barriers put up so it's more difficult to vote or the younger person or their parents or grandparents who have to work a second, you know, take a side hustle or two just to make ends meat these days. That's the thing. They are empathetic, but they’re not anywhere close to being selfish like I would argue some other generations.
Apparently Ruhle thinks other generations wanted to make the world weaker, dumber, and worse off, because she claimed: "Then, John, this actually sounds like good news. It sounds like this is a generation that wants to make the world stronger, smarter, better."
Ignoring that previous generations had to go through wars, nuclear bombing drills, 9/11, and other horribles, Della Volpe concluded by arguing Gen Z has it worse than the one that went through the Great Depression and World War II:
I paint a very optimistic picture by the end of this book... it's hopefulness and that's what seems to be resonating despite the insecurity and the trauma that they've grown up under. I don't think there's any generation that's grown up under more trauma more quickly in at least seven, eight decades than this generation. But when Boomers, when Gen X, and when Millennials had a chance vote, this group doubled that level of participation in 2018 midterms, and in 2020 they, they broke all voting records including when, 2008 Obama was on the ballot. So this generation is actually walking the walk.
It is nice that Gen Z cares about other people, but MSNBC didn't have to stereotype entire, other generations or falsely accuse Republicans of suppressing the vote to make that point.
This segment was sponsored by Subway.
Here is a transcript for the January 24 show:
Stephanie Ruhle Reports
1/24/2022
9:47 AM ET
STEPHANIE RUHLE: Is Gen Z focused on or aware of voter suppression efforts going on and voting rights, you know? Are they motivated by this?
JOHN DELLA VOLPE: Absolutely, especially if you're a young voter, a college voter in New Hampshire, who has to fight, you know, to, to, to overcome those obstacles that are new in place or in Texas, et cetera. Yes, they absolutely are. And that's the thing, though. They're just not concerned, Stephanie, about, kind of, their own situation and college voters. A lot of young people, of course, aren't college voters. But what is special is they're fighting for justice for everybody, whether that's the person who, who's has barriers put up so it's more difficult to vote or the younger person or their parents or grandparents who have to work a second, you know, take a side hustle or two just to make ends meat these days. That's the thing. They are empathetic, but they’re not anywhere close to being selfish like I would argue some other generations.
RUHLE: Then, John, this actually sounds like good news. It sounds like this is a generation that wants to make the world stronger, smarter, better.
DELLA VOLPE: Yeah, I absolutely think so, Stephanie. I paint a very optimistic picture by the end of this book.
RUHLE: Right on.
DELLA VOLPE: I, I, I have ten predictions, right? So, it's hopefulness and that's what seems to be resonating despite the insecurity and the trauma that they've grown up under. I don't think there's any generation that's grown up under more trauma more quickly in at least seven, eight decades than this generation. But when Boomers, when Gen X, and when Millennials had a chance vote, this group doubled that level of participation in 2018 midterms, and in 2020 they, they broke all voting records including when, 2008 Obama was on the ballot. So this generation is actually walking the walk.
RUHLE: That is really good to hear. An encouraging and optimistic picture. John, always good to see you. Congratulations. A very important book.
