Why Gen Z Won’t ‘Just Vote’: The Disconnect Between Our Anger and the Ballot

🍑 This Week in Georgia:

Democratic Primary Runoff for Georgia Public Service Commissioner

Early voting for the Georgia PSC runoff election ends tomorrow, Friday, July 11, with Election Day on Monday, July 15. Polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Voters will choose between Democrats Keisha Waites and Peter Hubbard to determine who will run against Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson in November.

📍 Check your registration status and find your polling location at mvp.sos.ga.gov/s.

The University System of Georgia Joins Southern Accreditation Agency

Earlier this week, Georgia joined five Southern states to combat the growing “wokeness” in accreditation agencies. In this new model, public universities will not be given federal funding if they fail to meet standards set by private accreditors. Spearheaded by Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis (R), the new accreditor service seeks to switch the focus of higher education from “ideological fads” to “student achievement.”

“The Price for Being Me” by Akshara

Every two years, my family and I begin again. A different city, but the same emptiness, same isolation. From the ages of 1 to 10, we moved 5 times, to cities I’ve long since forgotten. And even though I would get a fresh start every time, some things never change. At school, I would stand out with my Indian accent and broken English. At home, my parents struggled to connect with neighbors who considered it cruel to uproot a child so often that she has nowhere to truly belong.

What people fail to understand is that this is the reality for many immigrants who moved to America for the sake of a better, safer future. Families that left behind everything they knew and loved, hoping this country would make space for them. 19 years later, I’m still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled. If America is truly the land of opportunity, why are we still waiting for ours?

Our immigrant status is all people see. They don’t see my father’s determination, the long hours put in for a company that refuses to promote someone they’ve labeled "temporary”. They don’t see my mother’s patience as she navigates a country that rejects her and our culture. Our food, land, and clothes are all desired and imitated, yet the people they come from are "inferior". They're so fixated on our “otherness” that they refuse to see us as equals, even after all the money, time, and energy we have poured into this country. The only “opportunity” we have been given is the chance to live in the U.S., and that too is conditional on how much we contribute to America’s success.

Immigrants make up nearly 15% of the U.S. population, yet we can’t vote, are barred from government jobs, and are rarely promoted or offered leadership roles. Many of us are left with the low-paying jobs no one else wants, with little chance of upward mobility. Those fortunate enough to pursue higher education are forced to pay full out-of-pocket costs in a country that provides next to nothing in aid for international students. We even avoid international travel out of fear that we won’t be allowed back in. At every turn, we're met with limitations we can't surpass simply because of our status.

And still, people ask why we haven't become citizens. Because we can’t. The process is unnecessarily costly, draining, and unjust, demanding time, money, and energy we no longer have. And when we speak out against the prejudice and injustices of the system, we are silenced.

Every day, I wake up to people I have known for the better part of my life swept up by ICE and sent back to a country where there is nothing left for them. So while I want to speak up and demand equality and compassion for my people and others like me, I am scared of the consequences I might suffer simply for using my voice. But I am tired, so tired, of being denied endless possibilities I know I deserve. I no longer want to be turned away for who I am.

We have given this country everything: our love, our language, and our lives. All we ask in return is the dignity of being seen.

“The Machine Behind Project 2025” by Kyla & an Anonymous Contributor

The United States of America was founded on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Once a nation that stood against tyranny and fascism, it is now slipping into the very authoritarianism it once opposed.

Many see Donald Trump and think he’s the sole proprietor of our current state, but it’s the complete opposite. It’s the machine behind him, The Heritage Foundation; a think tank founded in 1973 that worked closely with President Reagan to promote “new conservatism.” In fact, what we now know as Project 2025 was outlined in their policy book, Mandate for Leadership, which calls for a government that is “more favorable to the right.”  But it doesn’t stop there. 

Peter Thiel and Stephen Miller are also a part of this camp. Thiel, a billionaire entrepreneur, co-founder of PayPal with Elon Musk, and founder of Palantir Technologies, has mentored JD Vance since 2011 and introduced him to Trump's circle in 2021. Miller, the current White House Deputy Chief of Staff, has a history of egregious remarks about ethnic minorities, particularly Hispanics.

These two have made remarks in the past that are a clear threat to humanity, such as whether the human race should continue to exist and who is considered “elite". It’s scary to know these people have a seat at the table of our government. 

But what do these people all have in common? They all subscribe to the ideology of Curtis Yarvin. In short, Yarvin has expressed the ideology that America needs to fall under a consolidated power branch - the very thing our Constitution was made against. He’s mentioned overriding the branches of power and completely changing the political landscape our founders intended for us to live in. It is the very thing our country fought for independence from. 

Fascism is a political philosophy, movement, or regime that places race above individuals and emphasizes centralized government with dictatorial leaders. It is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and forcible suppression of opposition. These people express sentiments and behaviors that 1) promote a centralized government led by a dictator or “king,” 2) divide the social and economic classes, and 3) oppose those who oppose them. Of course, there are many more facets of fascism at play in our country, as you can see in the graphic. 

No American wants to live in a fascist country, nor utter that word in regard to our country. However, we cannot put a Band-Aid over a stab wound. Our democracy and Constitution have been stabbed 34 times and have fallen to the sword of fascism. We should call it for what it is and continue to fight the oppression placed upon us.

“When Hatred Replaces Empathy” by Jessica

On January 29th, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Military Blackhawk aircraft collided on top of the Potomac River, killing all 67 passengers. Among the casualties was a team of 28 young U.S. Figure Skating athletes, a civil rights attorney at Howard University School of Law, and students from a local school county. This horrific event shook not just the United States, but the entire world, as it is one of the deadliest aircraft disasters of the decade.

People immediately began speculating about the origins of the accident–what exactly caused this? Who caused this? Notably, Donald Trump was inaugurated 9 days before the accident, attacking the unfairness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to push his campaign. So, an angry, disheartened, and grieving nation came to the conclusion that the cause of this crash was, you guessed it, DEI. To the public, DEI allows people who are not cishet white men to infiltrate highly specialized fields with their lack of talent and cause their complete destruction. This notion only worsened when it was revealed that the Blackhawk aircraft piloted by Rebecca Lobach, a woman who also lost her life in the tragic collision. Though preliminary reports suggest that the cause was possibly miscommunication between air traffic control and the pilots, or altitude misreadings, the public was set on believing that this was caused by DEI and the unqualified distinction of Black, Brown, female, and queer employees.

Over the past years, I have noticed the downfall of empathy, tolerance, and compassion in our nation. People are becoming increasingly comfortable with being downright apathetic, crass, and bigoted to quell their anger towards their circumstances. They look at their destitution in a country that has spat on the working man for decades, and direct that anger towards people who are in the same position as them, but may not share their race, religion, gender, or sexuality. This tragedy is just one example of this continued lack of empathy and misdirected anger. 

We saw this same trend replicated in June 2022, when 53 migrants from Mexico and Central America were burned alive in a boiling hot trailer. Rather than recognizing the loss of life, people celebrated, jeered, and applauded their horrific deaths, stating that they deserve what they got for being immigrants who take away from American resources and steal jobs from hardworking Americans. Instead of blaming corporations for paying migrants slave wages to keep their cost low as opposed to paying employees a living wage, they would rather champion the death of 53 people seeking a better life.

We have to do better. We must do better. Our lack of empathy is killing us as a nation. Our misdirected anger is preventing us from holding the proper accountable for creating the situation we are in now. As a member of Gen Z, I ask that we grow a little more compassion in our hearts in all our decisions, whether it be how we address each other, speak to one another, or vote.

“The Earth is Tired, and So Are We” by Ansley

I’ve always cared about politics. I grew up in a family that taught me to stand up for people, protect the planet, and believe that everyone deserves love, healthcare, and opportunity. My biggest passion is the environment. I believe climate change is one of the most important issues of our time.

So why do I feel so hopeless?

Recently, lawmakers passed what many are calling the “Big Ugly Bill.” It stripped away major environmental protections, things that would’ve helped fight pollution, invest in clean energy, and protect public lands. It feels like a slap in the face.

We were told it was up to us to save the planet. So we tried. We’ve picked up trash, paid more for sustainable products, learned the science, and voted for leaders who promised change.

But those in power still choose short-term profit over our future.

The people in charge want us to feel powerless. That’s how they win. 

We can’t stop now. Hopelessness is easy. But fighting for our future matters more.

We may be tired, but we’re not done.

Until next time,

Fund year-round organizing. Flip the GA State Legislature.