Why doesn’t John Fugelsang have his own show already? The man is a genius.

Today, at his Twitter feed, the comedian came up with a clever bit of reverse psychology about voting in next week’s election, when Democrats may lose control of the US Senate because of poor turnout.

As we pointed out last week, one big problem Democrats have is that young voters just don’t give a crap about midterm elections.

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Without the White House on the line, turnout among young voters — who tend to favor Democratic candidates — slumps badly, while older, whiter and more conservative voters turn out at high rates. For example, during the last midterm election in Kentucky, where this year one of the tightest Senate races is happening, the youngest voters turned out at only about 23 percent, while older male Republican voters turned out at 72.2 percent.

And the thing is, some of these races are so close, if young voters would just get themselves to the polls, they could easily decide several of the most crucial contests.

But how to motivate them? Fugelsang took the sarcastic approach to brilliant effect in a series of tweets on Tuesday evening…

I'm not voting next week because I think those Tea Party guys should control everything. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

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I'm not voting next week because democracy might inconvenience the aristocracy that owns my country and its government. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

I'm not voting next week cos we've got the greatest income inequality since before the Great Depression and I just wanna let that play out. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

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I'm not voting next week because last time the GOP controlled both the House and Senate it turned out just awesome. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

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I'm not voting next week because I think men should get to decide what a woman can do with her own body. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

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I'm not voting nxt week cos I want 50 more Obamacare repeal votes and then maybe we can again be denied coverage for preexisting conditions. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

I'm not voting next week because the Koch Bros didn't earn their billions but were born into it so clearly they deserve to own my country. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

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I'm not voting next week because my apathy moves us 1 step closer to privatizing Social Security. Have some cat food, nana. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

I'm not voting next week b/c a single parent working 40 hrs on current minimum wage is still below the poverty line and I'm cool with that. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

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I'm not voting next week b/c money that could go to fix roads and bridges isn't as important as a rich guy's tax cut. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

I'm not voting next week cos corporate profits are at an all-time high but minimum wage buying power is at a 40-year low so why interfere? — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

I'm not voting next week because I didn't vote in the 2010 midterms either and that worked out just fine for all of us. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 28, 2014

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I'm not voting next week b/c 27k Americans may die due to states not accepting Medicaid expansion and I think that's freedom. — John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 29, 2014



Well, it didn’t take long for Fugelsang’s readers to get the hint. After he got the ball rolling, the responses started rolling in…

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@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting next week because rising sea levels means more beaches for everyone! — Scott Nolan (@BvilleSNolan) October 28, 2014

@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting because I trust the NRA and various corporate interests to handle things for me. — D.R. Evans (@DaveRE1st) October 28, 2014

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@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting next week because Wall Street needs someone on their side. — Atchka! (@atchka) October 28, 2014

@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting next week because Mitch McConnell looks sexy swinging a gavel. — Atchka! (@atchka) October 28, 2014

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,@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting because what are the odds that the GOP will win the senate and another Bush will run for president — a real piece of work (@ngelfond) October 28, 2014

@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting next week because I think politicians belong in my bedroom. — Shannon Gibson (@sgibson2523) October 28, 2014

@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting next week because nothing ever changes – oh wait except for abortion laws in 22 states in 2013 — GinMcC (@ginmccormick) October 28, 2014

@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting next week because the Koch Brothers really need to get their way for once. — Eric (@WaldoWilbur) October 28, 2014

@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting because I think it's great that Mitch McConnell filibustered 241 times in the 1st 2 years of Obamas Presidency — Donna (@DonSub) October 28, 2014

@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting 'cuz I'd probably be dead anyway without the healthcare coverage I got this year. #andohyeahFuckCancer — Madame LaCrooz (@MmeLaCrooz) October 28, 2014

@JohnFugelsang I am not voting because I believe corporations are people and money and unlimited donations equal free speech. — Hey Buddy… (@oldy75) October 29, 2014

@JohnFugelsang I'm not voting next week because who better to run the govt than the people who are bad at it & want to drown it in a tub? — JWM (@Wrench44) October 29, 2014



And our favorite…

i'm not voting next week because I voted today @JohnFugelsang — M Callaway (@CrashmcMark) October 28, 2014



We can only hope this was just a dry run, and as Election Day nears, Fugelsang will get a hashtag campaign going. There’s got to be some way to get people to care about control of this country’s Congress.