Democratic National Convention Speech 2.0

[TheReligiousLeft]

Once I had actually read what they wanted for the speech, "Why is politics important to youth and how can we get more youth involved in politics?" I changed 1.0 a bit:
Politicians treat “youth” as if we are a separate piece of society, a group with ideals and issues totally at odds with the rest of society, and try to pander to those ideas. That is the politician’s mistake. The youth of America want what all Americans want, basic human decency.
If we Democrats want the youth on our side we need to tell it like it is; there is a fundamental difference between the two major political parties. We are the party of John Stienbeck; we see each person as a part of a greater whole, known as humanity. They are the party of Ayn Rand, seeing each man as an island unto himself.
Coming from Wyoming, where empty miles and antelopes and open space dwarf the population, I understand the seduction of rugged individualism. I understand the joy of relying solely upon your own skills, your own strength, and your very self, but as any prairie dog will tell you, being alone often makes you into dinner.
The Republican dream is of a man climbing a mountain, reaching the top to bask in his own solitary victory and conquest. The problem with this is that if that man takes one misstep, one missed hand hold, the Republican party wants another man to step up, latch onto that man, and throw him down to the dust, to his doom. The Republican Party annuls hope, annuls the poor, annuls the weak and lowly ones.
That is why we must reject that dream, for another. There is that same man on the same hill. His hand reaches for a rocky ledge, he misses. His other hand trembles with his weight, he is about to fall, but then a woman climbing slightly above him notices his peril, and sends her hand down to steady him.
The Republican Party touts responsibility, specifically responsibility for one’s own actions. We Democrats find this too shallow of a calling, two short of a moral measurement. We believe in responsibility for our selves, for our community, for our nation, and for our world.
The problem with these changes is that it is now longer, 345 words, 45 words too long. I'm thinking I could just start with
"If we Democrats want the youth on our side we need to tell it like it is; there..." but I'm not sure if that sticks close enough with the topic they want. I still need to whittle this thing down... I'm just not sure how.