There’s infinite chatter concerning the large political divide within the nation between crimson states and blue states, however in deep blue Democratic Seattle, the division seems to be about age, greater than anything.
That is true, at the least, within the race for mayor between incumbent Bruce Harrell and challenger Katie Wilson. In a ballot performed for the Northwest Progressive Institute by Change Analysis, Wilson was the overwhelming choice of young voters, while Harrell was the strong favorite of those in the upper age brackets.
In accordance with the ballot, voters aged 18 to 34 picked Wilson by a whopping 75%, with Harrell taking simply 17%. Within the 35 to 49 group, Wilson was far forward, 54% to 31%. There’s a sudden shift to Harrell within the 50 to 64 cohort, the place he leads with 56% to Wilson’s 24%. And amongst voters 65 and older, Harrell is the selection of 59%, whereas Wilson lags at 24%.
There’s an adage that anybody who’s younger and conservative doesn’t have a coronary heart, whereas an individual who’s previous and liberal doesn’t have a mind. That aphorism might not truly apply right here as a result of, being denizens of Seattle, these older individuals are largely strong Democrats – plus, supporting a veteran liberal like Harrell is hardly an indication of right-wing tendencies.
What’s true is that youthful residents of the Emerald Metropolis are typically single renters with decrease incomes, whereas the older ones usually tend to be owners with children and a better internet value. And it is not the renters, but the homeowners – and, even more, the businesses – who pay the taxes that fund the progressive policies and programs that get broad support from almost everyone in this town. It isn’t shocking, then, that those that get hit with the price of civic good works lean towards a extra prudent, stolid candidate, reasonably than a firebrand pledging to boldly repair each societal ailing – the kind of candidate who evokes the impatient youthful voter.
Younger folks engaged in politics are typically impassioned and indignant, crammed with idealism untempered by expertise. That’s the reason, all through historical past, the younger have crammed the ranks of troopers, revolutionaries, utopians and suicide bombers. With age comes knowledge, pragmatism and cynicism. Older folks perceive utopias are unobtainable and, within the effort to make every thing excellent, nice crimes could be justified. They are typically incrementalists prepared to accept any chief who can simply make issues slightly higher and maintain the road towards calamity.
Demographically, Seattle is a really younger metropolis and that reinforces activist candidates like Katie Wilson. It additionally works towards an incumbent like Bruce Harrell who isn’t shifting quick sufficient to please the stressed idealists.
Plus, he’s an previous man. All his seasoning and expertise counts for little to a younger era of Seattleites insistent on a lot extra.
See extra of David Horsey’s cartoons at: st.news/davidhorsey
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