Meghan Trainor has always seemed sweet to harmless to me. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, she comes across as a decent family-oriented person (she usually brings her dad or brother with her to event), and she doesn’t get in the petty online beefs with other artists like so many other contemporary pop stars. (You know who I’m talking about, it’s not just one person.) She’s ok in my book, and her music is also middling to good despite annoyingly earwormy most of her hits are. However Meghan has a new interview with Billboard magazine and she doesn’t come off well at all. Meghan writes not only most of her own songs, but songs for other artists, like Jennifer Lopez, Jason Derulo and Fifth Harmony. She says, of her career, “I sh-t hits.” She also has opinions about important issues like gun control, but she says she’s never voted and has “no desire to.” This is not good. Here’s part of her Billboard interview:
On her career as a songwriter
“I always say, ‘I shit hits,’ Because they come out so quick I can’t even keep up with myself.”On if the controversy over her digitally slimmed down video was a stunt
“Not at all” a stunt. It did get more press, but it wasn’t on purpose. The whole thing is embarrassing.”On her tour she will play trumpet, piano, guitar, ukulele and percussion
“[It’s] really about showing me off as a musician. I just said, ‘Put me on every instrument you can find and make it look cool.'”She has opinions on issues but isn’t going to vote
“I think it’s ridiculous that random crazy people can buy guns. I should be way more aware, and if it was [Clinton] or Trump, I’d definitely vote for her, but I’ve never voted and I don’t have any desire to.”On if she feels famous
“I still don’t feel famous. I’m nowhere near as famous as [Justin Bieber], but I’ve had creepy stuff sent to me. A guy sent, like, a picture of his eye socket and was like, ‘You’re my favorite.’ So I can’t imagine what [Bieber] gets. I mean, even when he vacations and wants to be naked, people are like, ‘I’m going to get that pic.’ I feel for the kid.”On meeting Taylor Swift and Beyonce
“I’ve met Taylor a couple times. he was so sweet to me. She likes kissing my forehead, because she’s so tall. [Beyonce] floats. I feel like she doesn’t walk. She told me her daughter likes my music videos. I was like, ‘I’m honored!’On her relationships with men
“I’ve barely had relationships. I had one real one when I was, like, 16 to 18, and the other ones were just meh. I tried to have a fling with a 29-year-old, and I thought that was old. And it wasn’t. It was very much like a little boy in the brain. So I’m looking [at] 35 and up.”On being a role model for body positivity
“I don’t really have a choice. It’s not like I’m trying to go out there and be a famous person who’s all about being a role model for curves. I mean, if it’s helping other people, then that’s amazing and I will be that role model.”
[From Billboard via US Magazine]
Meghan is only 22 and a lot of people her age feel apathetic about voting and assume their one one vote won’t make a difference. However look at Shailene Woodley, 24, who is involved and passionate about causes she cares about. She isn’t committing to voting for Hillary yet but she’s trying to educate herself and get involved. I’m not saying Meghan needs to go that far, just that’s she’s a huge star and role model. The least she can do is either vote or not bring it up like it’s cool not to vote.
Photos credit: Billboard/Miller Mobley, WENN and FameFlynet
She comes off okay, apart from the voting part. I get not voting sometimes, when there is truly no on to vote for ( and here were situations like that) but in this situation? Voting for Clinton is a no brainer.
If you don’t vote, you can’t complain. End of.
Exactly. I keep telling my younger family members this. If you want Trump as president, stay home. If not, get out and vote blue. This election is way more than Clinton vs. Trump. Think: Supreme Court, marriage equality and women’s choice rights.
Agreed. I live in Texas and it’s essentially inevitable that the people I vote for won’t win, even in local elections, but I still vote. It’s the principle of it. We should all exercise such an important right that so many people in the world don’t have.
KB – I live in a county where I have the opposite problem. We are so gerrymandered short of dying, the candidate from my party can’t lose, but I still vote because I believe I have a responsibility to do so, and doing my civic duty makes me feel good.
STFU MEGHAN! I didn’t care for the floor washing video but I’m MAD about this! What a terrible thing to say, especially when she is in a position to influence people! This election is a VERY BIG DEAL. How can she be so apathetic? Is she so self-centered that only her little bubble matters?
Has anyone read up on VP Mike? He is a NIGHTMARE for women as well as LGBT, poor people, and anyone else who isn’t a “Christian” fanatic. I can’t even.
I’ve decided not to vote this year. I live in a state that has NEVER selected my candidate at ANY level EVER, and I’ve voted in every election I was able to. I give up. It’s pointless! If they don’t do away with the electoral college, then my vote truly will never matter unless I move out of state! I feel like I need to add that I’ve campaigned and tried to write letters to legislators too, but all I get are prewritten form responses. I follow politics closely, so it’s not lack of knowledge. And my local elections have been running for reelection uncontested. Something needs to change.
If someone doesnt’ vote, they believe in fascism end of story. Hence if a person believes in the pure cessation of rights…shut up. Don’t waste my ear space.
Not so very long ago, people died so that I could vote. I would never let them die in vain.
I didn’t like her before, I like her even less now. Shameful.
Crappy thing to be worried about body shaming/ photoshopping and not voting! Priorities people!!! Vote even if you are mad about the election. Especially if you are mad!
If you don’t vote, you have no right to say anything. What a dope!
You don’t vote you don’t get to complain. Period.
And even if you feel like your voice isn’t heard in a national election, your county,state elections, and local referendums are even MORE important as there’s a smaller number of people voting there. And local elections have even more of a impact on your day to day life. Voting for sheriff or the local judge has a huge impact on your community.
You don’t vote you don’t get to complain – but what if there’s truly no one to vote for. The first election I could vote for was for out mayor and I didn’t vote because both of the candidates were corrupt morons. And that happens more and more. Every election is choosing between the lesser of two evils because most politicians are corrupt morons, but sometimes the evils are equal. I still think I get to complain.
I’m very interested in politics, and I try to follow it as much as I can, so it’s not like I didn’t vote out of ignorance. But sometimes it does feel like no matter how I vote things end up the same and only a major evolution could make things different.
That’s a extreme circumstance. Different elections have different groups, but if there’s no one to vote for mayor-then there’s no one. But I don’t think that exists in every election whether it be the school board, county board or a referendum. Those things do make a impact, they really really do even if they aren’t exiting races.
Her statement is that she’s never voted and never plans to. And says it as a matter of pride. That’s a different beast in my opinion.
Yeah, you are right, never voting I don’t understand. Or not being interested in something that affects your life so directly.
If the choices are unpalatable, what are YOU doing about it? Believe or not, a person without connections CAN make a change and a difference.
The choices or lack of choices are down to the voting public’s apathy or abstinence.
Exception: if you live in a tinpot military dictatorship.
ETA: actually even if you live in a tinpot dictatorship, one person can still make a change. Look at the guy who sparked the Arab Spring, even if we don’t like the results.
Or Aung San Suu Kyi
Or Malala.
I grew up in countries without voting right for entire population, so i do not dismiss my voting rights now.
And the amazing thing is that the countries without voting rights have the most involved population or populations willing to engage directly or indirectly to make changes whereas countries that take voting for granted are the most apathetic populations OR complain about their unpalatable elites as if they have no voting rights or the will to make changes.
Malala and Aung Suu Kyi are amazing exceptions, but for the most part, I don’t think small people can make much of a difference.
Run for office yourself, or find someone you do support and help them with their campaign. At the local level that is totally possible- school board, city council, local DA, harbor commission, just start somewhere and jump in! Be the change you want to see in the world.
Trainor is from Massachusetts. During the four years she has been eligible to vote, our state has seen the knock-down drag out, fiery Senate battle between Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren, a special Senate election and primaries to fill John Kerry’s seat, several special congressional primaries and elections, a referendum on medical marijuana, another on decriminalizing marijuana, and a gubernatorial race between two well-qualified but boring candidates. Plus the last presidential election. There has been plenty of reasons for her to vote
“Small people” do make a difference. Its only because “small people” insist on holding their reps accountable not just during elections but during the electoral terms that a country doesnt devolve into a personal fiefdom. As LAK said, there are many ways to be that difference. Malala and Ang Sang may be especially remarkable but thats because their circumstances were so much worse than yours will ever be. Every day people with the courage of their convictions do what they can to change their world. Its only “small MINDS that cant make much of a difference”.
That’s my situation, Locke. The only things my vote matters for are school referendums and local offices- but our locals often run unchallenged! My state has never, ever voted as I do so after what, 3 or so elections- I quit. I have always voted before and even campaigned! I’ve written to legislators and also called their offices over specific issues- all I get is a standard letter stating their views. and I’m completely disenfranchised now. And it’s not out of ignorance, like you say. Politics is very much a hobby of mine. I follow closely.
With all due respect, I can’t support the argument that there’s “no one to vote for”. When it comes to this, as it has in my area, I vote on party lines. Why? Because at the end of the day – corruption or not – I have my values represented. Not only that, but party numbers DO count, especially when you’re looking at congress – I want my party to be majority. There’s always at least some value you can get behind, and that’s where it’s on the voter. Too many people fought and died for our right to vote, I’ll be damned if I cheapen that by being too lazy to find maybe just one thing I can get behind. In short, I don’t care if you feel like it’s evil vs. evil. We have a responsibility to do our homework and make difficult decisions, because no you DO NOT have the right to an opinion if you have the opportunity to vote and choose to waste it.
If you dont like the candidates, you can put in an empty ballot. It shows that you care enough to exercise your right to vote but you’re just not being reached…
It’s actually pretty horrific when you think about it. Less than 60% of those eligible voted in the 2012 election and in the 2014 midterm election only 42%. Voting is not too much to ask; it is quite literally part of your civic duty. Sad 😞
And it’s usually pretty easy. Although the turnout for 2012 was INSANE and I waited over an hour to vote (not that there weren’t machines,but because they didn’t have enough people to check voters in! Were I not knee-deep in staying at home with small children and due with my third within a week of Election Day, I’d look into becoming an election volunteer).
If she doesn’t vote she doesn’t get an opinion, or complaint she has to STFU. By not voting she throws away her right to a voice. Sorry I find not voting so offensive especially if you aren’t a white male PEOPLE DIED SO YOU COULD!
Exactly.
Thank you, K. Women have only had the right to vote since 1920 and Trainor wants to throw that away? She’s a silly, entitled girl.
Rather than bashing her for not voting, why not examine the reasons why so many Americans do not exercise their right to vote? ID laws, polling hours and locations, overwhelming negative advertising, big money influence, hateful rhetoric, and gerrymandering are all factors that create a “why bother?” attitude for so many.
Those are important considerations but IDs are not required to vote in Trainor’s home state and it is fairly easy to get an absentee ballot
Lilacflowers – in MA first time voters in federal elections must show ID. Also poll workers have the authority to demand prospective voters provide ID if the worker questions their eligibility.
Polls are open for 14 hours & your polling station is in your neighborhood. That’s simply no excuse. And states like Oregon make it super easy–you can vote by mail. Actually, in all states you can vote by mail, because you can get an absentee ballot; so again, no excuse. And women not voting is for me, as frustrating as women not staying in school or going to college–there are places in the world where this is not allowed, so vote! Get yourself educated!
Most states actually require employers to allow employees time to vote if their schedule interferes with normal polling hours. Location and transportation is a more pressing issue, as are the rest of the variables you mentioned.
K, H, etc — Agreed.
Wow. I never knew she was such an idiot and with absolutely no self-awareness at all.
Most people who are well off, never knew of a struggle and live in a bubble, are.
The poster child for why people think millennials are self absorbed morons.
Bahahah but YES!!
Add this in with her stupid contradictory songs, and I totally agree with you!
Argh. She annoys me so damn much.
Something nice: she looks better as a redhead.
I’m hoping that Secretary Galvin personally delivers a registration form to her house on the Cape.
I HATE that she’s from around here.
I’m consoling myself by believing she would have voted for the ethically challenged, racist, misogynistic centerfold
I really like her. Out of all the airhead popstars, she’s my favourite.
Of course you do– because we are opposites, Locke 😉
I distinctively remember we once agreed on something 😀
At the ripe old age of 22, her musical accomplishments rival those of many career musicians. She may be many things, but it takes brains and talent to engineer the kind of success she is enjoying.
Oh that’s right, Locke! What was it though…? But that was an amazing moment, wasn’t it?
@Megan-You forgot the “h” in your name.
I knew nothing about her except that she retweeted my friend’s daughter’s photo of herself wearing a cool t-shirt she had made for her concert. She then was featured in a video Trainor’s brother made of the concert, which was the thrill of a lifetime for her.
But this interview was kind of appalling. “S$%t hits.” Gross, not to mention the ignorance about voting. I’m so thankful that a bunch of the older teens I know not only care about voting, they have signed up to be election judges through a school district program!
Well at least she’s nice to fans?
“I’m so thankful that a bunch of the older teens I know not only care about voting, they have signed up to be election judges through a school district program! ”
That’s awesome, esmom. Stories like yours give me hope.
Women who choose not to vote is a huge pet peeve of mine. That was a basic human right that was denied to us for centuries by men. And women had to come together to fight a hard battle just to give us that right. So yes, I taking voting very seriously.
Me too.
Looking at how long it took and hard it was for women, and then even more so people of color, to have the right to vote, it’s disgraceful to dismiss it as she has. She needs a lesson in history, US and global, pronto.
Amen, lucy2. I wish someone would take the time to educate her a little bit, especially because lots of young girls look up to her. She has a powerful platform that she could use for good instead of ignorance.
Exactly. Anyone up for going down the list of countries in which women still don’t have the vote (!!) and places that gave women the vote really later (Looking at you, Switzerland!)?
Maybe a good list to bring to her next interview…
Exactly this. I don’t tell people who they should vote for but get in there and cast your vote.
I really don’t understand why younger people are so blasé about it. This affects your generation, your life and how your children will live their lives.
Maybe she’s so rich she doesn’t have to worry about anything but jeez.
I would go into the voting booth and write-in my cat’s name if I had to.
I think it’s for many reasons. I don’t know how educated Trainor is, but from what I remember of my government class in high school we really didn’t learn all that much. Well, we learned how things were supposed to work, a simplistic version of the government, then we got to voting age and saw how things don’t seem to follow that model at all, and it’s very discouraging. Many, many young people see a broken system that they don’t really understand. They look at their choices and see corrupt idiots everywhere, they are talked down to by everyone, and it’s been like this their entire lives. You can lecture about the importance of voting, but when someone don’t feel like ANYONE has their interests in mind at all, it can be very difficult to care.
I don’t think it’s “entitlement”, I think it’s a product of being raised in a system that doesn’t give a crap about them, or at least they don’t feel like anyone gives a crap about them. Before you cry special snowflake, just think about it. If you’re treated like stupid garbage (you millenials are so lazy/entitled/stupid!) by politicians who try to get your vote by viciously attacking their opponents, and told you’re wrong and dumb for any opinion you dare to have, wtf do you think is going to happen? Voting is going to seem pointless.
We need to re-engage our young people, make them feel a part of the process, not marginalized. We need to instill a bit more patriotism, make them proud of their country and not like it’s all just going to go to hell anyway so why bother. Because that’s what it feels like. It’s all going to hell, they’re never going to get out of debt, and nobody is interested in helping them. It’s like you’re defeated before you start. Want them to vote? Get them involved and address their problems. That’s why Sanders got so popular with young voters, he’s pretty much the only politician to speak to them like they’re not big crybabies and that their problems are legitimate.
Wren, interesting take. I personally credit my high school government class for sparking a lifelong interest in government and politics. I was lucky enough to have a very passionate teacher, though.
My take on the apathy has been sort of the opposite as yours…that some young (all ages, really) people feel so far removed from the process and are sort of assuming that someone else capable is at the wheel so they don’t need to get involved. That someone else will take care of everything, a blind trust of sorts. I do think it’s changing, though for sure. Clearly more people are disillusioned than ever before. But some others just don’t have a clue how lucky they are.
@WREN I was waiting for your take on this, and I agree 100%. Your responses are always very thoughtful, and I find I agree with you on most of your postings.
@Esmom, I think there’s a lot of that going on too. The “delayed adulthood” thing happening now with young people probably isn’t helping anything. You feel powerless and there seem to be plenty of people taking care of everything so………. eh. I wish we had more teachers like yours. Well, I wish a lot of things about the education system, mostly circling back to making the material relevant to real life and not seemingly arbitrary and so you can pass tests.
@Felix, thanks! I appreciate that a lot. I’m so tired of people basically planting themselves in their own position and doling out judgement without even bothering to try to understand the other person. You don’t have to condone or appove to understand, and if you really think something is wrong it’s the only way to start changing it. Nobody has ever changed their mind because someone called them ignorant, stupid, entitled or lazy.
@Wren I agree with your points. We are entering the age of knowledge and information. People are no longer ruled by idealistic utterings. The system is completely broken, it appears that because the system created itself to protect itself from the younger generation that means nothing is changing and can change. Both candidates in this election are slimy people. Both are saying PR talking points to gain popularity but the youth see through the smoke screens. Instead of understanding this perspective and moving towards fixing the system, they are told they are dumb for having their opinions and have no right to complain.
Me too.
I feel like she has put more thought into her weight and looking cool, than some more important issues in the world. Typical for a 22 year old? Debatable. As for her music, she related it to shit not me.
*snort* haha
Brava and touché!
Read a book and educate yourself for PETE’S SAKE.
God she sounds extremely vapid and dim.
Or take a couple of hours and watch Suffragette; realize that women fought and suffered for the right to vote that she casually dismisses. She should also watch some current news reports showing people who walk miles to exercise their precious rights and who are threatened as they do so. And as Scal said above, you don’t get to complain if you don’t vote.
No, sorry. I don’t care if she’s young-I’ve heard so many people in their early 20s say “I don’t care about politics” and it drives me crazy. It’s willfully ignorant, selfish and spoiled.
My son and his friends are in their early 20’s. They all say, “voting does not change anything” or “it’s all rigged anyway”….I can talk until I’m blue in the face and they look at me like I’m the idiot! The idiots!!!!
That’s frustrating, as they’re the ones who will ultimately pay the price for the politicians and policies put into place now.
Me too! you have to care about politics when you’re young. You can not allow others to make decisions not that will definitely affect YOU later.
So vapid.
I wish I had the privilege to not care about the outcome of the election, because I have “hit songs” money to shield me from it. 😑
I’m a good person @fame and fortune. I can sing okay, but I have a brain and I’m willing to use it! And I’m not above pettiness, so I’ll be great on that front too. Promise it’ll be worth it
What a moronic thing to say. She is a role model to so many young woman (not me, I’m not a fan) but the fact that she’s like “not into it” or whatever is obsurd. Everyone has a right to vote and should. Maybe she comes from a family of non voters. She seems like a very easily influenced girl.
The voting comment just makes her sound like an idiot. There are plenty of politically-aware 22 year olds. You don’t have to be an activist to read the NYT or Washington Post.
I am not surprised that she doesn’t vote. I am surprised that she says she doesn’t.
I would love to know how many celebs actually bother to vote
other than that I am neutral. She’s 22. No one is expecting her to be in a relationship, calm down
I think there was a piece a while back that called out some celebrities for failing to vote after taking part in voting campaigns and stuff. Like, they found out that Lena Dunham was among the people who didn’t vote in 2010 (you know, that major midterm that gave the Senate to the Republicans), among others. The article also found that Rock the Vote doesn’t actually require its spokepeople to vote (it does require them to register but doesn’t follow up to make sure they actually vote). It’s…enlightening, to say the least.
I’m not sure how anyone could require someone to vote? But I hear you. You’d think if someone wanted to be a spokesperson they’d have at least a marginal interest in following through on what they’re preaching.
You can’t force a person to vote, but you can certainly condition being a part of the campaign on it. Lena Dunham was asked to be a part of the 2014 midterm ad campaign, despite the fact that she hadn’t voted in the 2010 one (she did vote in the 2012 election, when Obama was up for reelection). Rock the Vote confirms that it doesn’t require a full voting history to become a spokesperson. But it seems like they should, to avoid situations like that one.
Full voting history? I’m not trying to pick on you, Sam, but again I don’t get how someone could require that. Not to mention it would be so easy just to lie about it, wouldn’t it?
No, it wouldn’t. Localities must keep voting records. It doesn’t show who you voted for, but it shows that you voted. They are easily obtained if one wishes.
Yeah, she sounds dumb. The only people I can forgive for not voting are those whose political leanings are not reflected in the system (like anarchists generally don’t vote, but that’s because they object to the idea of an elected government in the first place, so I get why they decline. Disagree, but I can see why).
I was ambivalent on her until I saw that video for that Dear Future Husband abomination. Jesus, what an offensive thing. Between the skinny shaming of the first song and that piece of crap, she used up all my good will. And typical 22 year old? Nope – I’ve met so many engaged, smart young people. It peeves me that this twit gets more press than any of them ever will.
As an immigrant, I had to wait almost 15 years to be eligible to vote. I couldn’t vote in my home country nor I could vote in my adopted country. This year is the first time I will exercise the right to vote, ever. I feel honored, privileged and with a huge responsibility. Granted, it may not make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but to me, it’s bigger than that. I wish my fellow millennials would show at the polls, we could make a difference.
Congrats!
Yes, congrats! And yes, we really need more people to appreciate the privilege they’ve been given and to show up at the polls. In our last local election, turnout was less than 25%. People have no qualms about complaining to officials all the time, yet clearly most of them never bother to vote. It’s embarrassing.
OSTONE – Congrats! If you live in the US, vote411.org is a great resource fo candidate information, ID requirements, polling places and hours, etc.
Congratulations!
I used to get to attend naturalization ceremonies and I would just about inwardly lose it.
Enjoy voting!
The “I’ve never voted part”–okay, she’s only 22. That’s not a lot of “never.”
The “I have no desire to” part, though, isn’t something she should be saying.
I’ve voted in EVERY U.S. election since I was a senior in high school. My guidance helped all of us 18 year olds register in the school cafeteria. I’m 50 now. I’ve never missed an election, not even when I lived overseas. People died to vote in this country, women, minorities…and she’s practically boastful about not doing it?
So, this has nothing to do with Trainor’s age, but her apathy.
As I explain above, our state has had at least three or four special elections during just those four years, one involving a US Senate seat, in addition to the regular elections, one of which involved our other US Senate seat. She has missed a lot in a short time
All I’ve ever heard from this woman made it very clear she is conservative/right wing to the bone.
It’s fine if you don’t want to vote — if you provide a valid and passionate reason for it and an alternative to it. Democracy within capitalism isn’t exactly a working system. So, say, you think voting within the system will not change anything which is why you devote yourself to doing something that will achieve said change. But not voting because you “have no desire to” is a slap in the face to all the people who have died fighting for the vote, especially women, and to the people rotting in jail cells right now because they are still fighting.
But then again, she is a “pop star” – I don’t know why anybody started to listen to what they have to say.
“…what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
This is the same woman who said she wasn’ta feminist because she “loves men.” She’s an idiot.
Wasn’t that Shaleine Woodley?
They both said that! Boo to both of them! :/
She says she cares about gun control, but she doesn’t vote? That tells me she doesn’t really care. Voting is our main way to change the status quo.
What a maroon!
Ignorant Idiot. The right to vote was hard-won for women and blacks. A majority of world does not have this right. I can’t abide by celebrities who announce that they don’t vote as though it is a badge of honor. Hope her career crashes and burns.
I can’t stand her voice. I turn the station when she comes on. With her having no desire to vote just gave me another reason not to like her.
But let me guess she also thinks the two parties are the same, that it doesn’t matter much anyway, that it’s all rigged or whatever other excuse people supply for when they mean: my life’s pretty good and I don’t much care to fight for others or take any kind of control of my future.
Sorry the comment grosses me out too much for me to dismiss it as harmless.
It’s just so damn comfortably detached. I get a lot of young people are like that but at least I don’t have to hear those idiots come up with BS reasons they couldn’t defend if you pressed them on it.
Maybe it sounds dramatic but she kinda makes me shudder now. A lot of commenters were discussing the ‘me’ kind of voter yesterday who votes strictly for their own comforts. I guess Meghan is just a ‘me’ individual. She’ll probably never be effected by gun violence so she’s content to just shrug and go off collecting money and singing bizarre songs. (But I’m sure if there’s some national tragedy she’ll hop on that trending Twitter topic right quick huh?)
Well-said, ESE.
Maybe she’s a nice person but she doesn’t strike me as particularly bright. And I’m basing my opinion on past interviews as well, not just this one.
In the days after the Brexit vote, I read so many articles about young British people lamenting the fact that they hadn’t voted. They felt as if their future had been taken from them by all the older voters who turned out in high numbers and voted for Brexit. As much disappointment as I felt about the outcome, I found it hard to sympathize with people who hadn’t bothered to vote because they didn’t consider it important until they realized the detrimental effects of the election. As a Floridian, it reminded me of all the dumbasses here in 2000 who were saying the day after the election, “If I’d only gone to vote . . .”
This is not a game. At all levels of government, elections have very real, very concrete effects on people’s lives. To see people be so cavalier, uninformed, and uninterested in voting makes me sick to my stomach. I hope Meghan will educate herself and be smarter in the future. In the meantime, I’ll be side eyeing the hell out of her.
NOT voting is a legitimate political statement – although I don’t think that why she is t voting. The whole “you can’t complain if you don’t vote” implies that our system is LEGITIMATE AND FAIR. It’s not. It’s irretrievably corrupt and I will not participate in voting until my vote can go for someone who has at least a bit of integrity.
If we vote, not just for president, but for state and local officials, we can vote out the men owned by the NRA, owned by the insurance companies. We can vote out the people in state legislatures who are passing laws to promote and legitimize bigotry.
Please don’t give up.
Please register to vote, and Vote in EVERY ELECTION.
I try REALLY REALLY hard to not be a judgy asshole, but I can’t with her.
She seems proud and flippant about her choice not to vote. Girl, women have had the right to vote for less than a century in the United States. And the GOP just released the most stringently anti-LGBT, anti-woman platform in its history. If you label yourself a feminist, or an advocate, or an ally, it’s your civic responsibility – and a hard-fought right – to vote.
Vote Clinton. Vote Johnson. Vote Stein. (Hopefully, not Trump, though, eh?)
And look, I get it. I’m not psyched about these candidates, either. So I understand making a political statement by not voting – but ostensibly that’s NOT what Trainor is doing. She’s just apathetic.
Just…vote. It’s so important. Because we all saw what the rising tide of scapegoating, isolationism, and anti-intellectualism (o hai, early 20th century) did in the UK.
In addition to all the many important reasons to vote mentioned above, when you call your local city/town officials about an issue, many of them immediately check whether you are registered to vote and whether you actually show up at the polls and for which elections. It does impact the service you receive on a local level.
Megan Trainor is, and has always been, the worst.
+1
NOT voting is a legitimate political statement – although I don’t think that why she isn’t voting. The whole “you can’t complain if you don’t vote” implies that our system is LEGITIMATE AND FAIR. It’s not. It’s irretrievably corrupt and I will not participate in voting until my vote can go for someone who has at least a bit of integrity.
I have been voting since 1972 and have held my nose many times.
If you wait for the prefect candidate you’ll never vote, just saying. And the Supreme Court is reason enough to vote.
Thank you, Minx. Exactly. I’m holding my nose this election cycle, but I’m still voting.
This completely.
That’s valid IF one simply objects to the system overall. Like I said upthread, I understand an anarchist declining to vote, because they don’t believe there should be an elected government at ALL. That is their beliefs. However, most non-voters don’t have deep-seated ideological beliefs that dissuade them from voting. They simply don’t like any of the candidates. And that’s problem. You basically have an ideological “purity” test that you hold candidates to. And on some level, we all do that. However, here’s my problem with it:
That only makes sense if voting is seen as a purely individual act, with no greater ramifications. But that’s not true. Who becomes President has an impact on the collect well-being of the country – some segments more than others. Like I said yesterday, a Trump presidency would spell disaster for some parts of America – particularly Muslim, immigrant, and other communities. I believe Trump would probably not be that awful for me, because I can pass for a white woman, but I believe he would be extremely bad for the well-being of the nation overall. So I’m voting for Clinton. I have serious concerns about her, and take issue with much she has done. But I also can look past my own issues to understand that Clinton would be a more adept leader than Trump, and she would be better for the national collectively. My own ideological purity test must get pushed aside when it comes to matters like these.
I support voting 3rd party in most elections because I believe in most elections, most of the choices would be able to lead the nation. I did not vote for him, but I believed in 2012 that Romney, had he won, would have been able to lead the nation and not run us into disaster. I thought the same of John McCain (although his VP choice gave me doubts…). I may disagree with them on many things, but I never doubted they were competent for the office. Trump is not, he’s proven it many times. And that, to me, is why not voting in November, or 3rd party voting, should be discouraged this year. It is irresponsible to claim anything otherwise.
Tbh it’s not.
If you take a political science class and study the many variety of reasons people choose not to vote (many because they’re content with the current system and don’t see any need to change it) then you’d see the lack of voting caries no more significance as a statement than refusing to fill out surveys.
Not voting in this country doesn’t carry any special meaning because we have no form of penalizing or recording the reasons behind the lack of voting. In countries where voting is mandatory THERE not voting is a legitimate political statement. You are willingly risking some aspect of your freedom because of the strength and passion you have for your ideals. Without any consequences not voting, even if you believe your reason is important, changes nothing at all in the way the country is run and the policies that are implemented. No one cares because you have chosen to make your voice something to not care about.
Disenfranchising voters is also a viable strategy that political parties utilize to maintain power. What better way to maintain the status quo than create an apathetic populace who are content to complain and do nothing?
Yes – I do agree with those who wrote that voting at a local level is important – far more important than national elections. Our local elected officials affect our daily lives much more than national politicians and are often more responsive… . It’s all such a mess.
She’s an idiot;
-Claims not to be a feminist (gross)
-Makes a whole song about body shaming women without curves (guess I’m not a ‘real woman’)
-Says she’s not interested in voting
Why do people like her?
I’m so fed up with this thing about looking up to performers as being role models. Parents, teachers, mentors are role models. Performers and movie stars are people who live in a world so far removed from the real world, and yet we idolize and look up to them like they’re God incarnate. Pfft
I am consciously choosing to BLOCK OUT her idiocy about not voting because it’s Friday and I’m trying to be cheerful….but OMG ‘I shit hits?’ Yeah I can name a LOT of other songwriters (far better ones, I’d say) that were at one point “shitting hits,” but the trends in music shifted, they lost their mojo, etc.
She needs to SIT DOWN and be grateful meaningless teeny bopper pop rules right now. Because if my Gen X fantasies come true and guitar driven, hard rock music comes back into vogue….lets just say I don’t see Kurt Cobain 2.0 singing about his future wife and the ‘bass.’
I literally read this article, got on Twitter and Tweeted at her to please vote and not throw her right to do so away. It really, really matters. I gave up my citizenship to my native country so I could vote in this country, it meant that much to me.
My daughter is 21 and cannot wait to vote in her first election. Like me, she turned 18 weeks after the Presidential election–so she’s been waiting! She went and voted in her primary even and was very excited and is pretty fired up overall. So’s my son who turned 18 a few months ago. I brought them up to realize the importance of the vote, how people fought and died for the right in the US (hell, No taxation without Representation was the rallying cry for the Revolution) and are still fighting for it in other countries. And, like a poster above, I think it’s crucial for women to get out there and vote–my grandmother, now deceased, was born in a time before women got the right to do so. It’s not really that far in our rearview mirror. And voting for the ‘less sexy’ categories and election years is also crucial. Whether a President can get significant legislation passed depends on which party controls Congress. We’ve seen that firsthand the last few years. So for everyone fed up with the stagnation, remember that when 2018 rolls around.
That’s so great. When I went to vote in the primary, I passed a mom and young daughter standing outside the polling place, having a heated (but not hostile) discussion about who they should vote for. It made me happy to see them so engaged and I can’t wait for my kids to be old enough to vote. They finally went in just as I was leaving and I was curious to see whether they were with the same party or if they differed but I have no idea…I didn’t want to stalk them, lol.
If you dont vote then you have no right to complain about what policies are put in place.
I have a feeling that most comments against her are not in that “millenial” age group. But what can we do to make people feeling less disenfranchised is more important than shouting that they SHOULD / MUST do this or that. It will end up a shouting match, which many recent elections have become anyway.
I appreciate her swagger – I wish more women could feel unapologetic about owning their accomplishments – but GODDAMN does she come off as vapid and uninformed on so many issues. It drives me up the wall.
People who don’t vote just don’t get how lucky they are to live in a Democratic society. There are still many, many places in the world where people are intimidated to vote a certain way. Or they are scared off from voting altogether.
If you don’t vote don’t complain about anything because that is your biggest voice. Don’t complain about how crazy people shouldn’t be allowed to buy guns and then not support the candidate that feels that people who have mental problems should be banned from accessing weapons.
It’s sad when people waste the privilege of voting
I believe this is one of the most important elections in my lifetime and it’s imperative that people get out and vote. I’m not a huge supporter of Hillary, but Trump will destroy this country, so my vote will be a no brainer.