By Johannes SortoCONTRIBUTOR
The millennial generation seems to be unique. We millennials view politics very differently than previous generations. This is the core reason why the Republican Party has failed to gain traction with young voters. The Republican Party has to take a very different approach to millennials. Regardless of where you go, there seems to be one common denominator when you ask a millennial why they vote Republican.
It’s not because they hate black people or gays. It’s not that their parents are rich and they hate poor people. And it’s not that they have some obsession with bombing every country in the Middle East. The one thing that all Republican millennials have in common is that they recognize that government has its limits. Republican millennials understand that there is a need for government in some areas and what they want is to make sure that government runs as effectively as possible in those areas. However, outside of those areas government should not interfere, because when it does, government is likely to do more harm than good.
This is the message that can attract millennials to the Republican Party. A message that is more focused on pragmatism and getting the job done. That when you elect a Republican, they will turn government bureaucracy, which is slow and inefficient, to a fast, efficient system that stops when it reaches its boundaries. Millennials are more inclined to support pragmatic solutions than to blindly follow an ideologue. The Republican Party should tap into this pragmatism by offering policies that will turn Washington into a more effective government while using less taxpayer money.
That type of message will flood the GOP with millennials because we want solutions. We’re tired of hearing endless arguments between party lines, we want the system to improve. If the GOP focuses on making that system run smoother, they can lock up the millennial vote.
Johannes Sorto is the president of the Hofstra University College Republicans.
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