Reply #152: My thoughts at 17 [View All]

[DFLer4edu]

I worked for the first time on a political campaign during the 2004 presidential election. I volunteered a number of times in the Kerry phone banks and to my surprise the crowd was by far much older than I would have thought. The organizers were just out of college, but of the volunteers I was the only one under 30, maybe even 35. Most were well over 40.
There exists a generation (my generation) which has become politically alert during the Bush administration. The vast majority of us who pay attention to politics are democratic and even the republicans I know aren't thrilled with Bush.
As for why you're not seeing any young people in the crowd it is because you're giving a speech. I have read a lot of your posts, they are generally some of the more interesting ones, but I would never go to see you give a speech. I would maybe go to see a famous or less famous but interesting political figure give a speech, but in general I've got better things to do than listen to you give a speech. It's nothing personal, but that's the way it is.

On a related note I don't really think the democratic party does anything to get the attention of the younger generations. In 2004 I didn't see a damn thing directly targeted at students to get them out to vote or to get them to work for the Kerry campaign. Small wonder we showed up in such small numbers. It's a pity too, because we voted overwhelming democratic and there are many more who would vote democratic.

In 2006 I'll be eligible to vote for the first time. I'll vote, and I'll vote democratic, but the democratic party will have done absolutely nothing to inspire me to vote. It's the republicans who will do that. And although that gets out the most politically active, animosity for the other side isn't going to get out the majority of young people.