One phenomenon I've found interesting is that the 18-25 age group has the lowest voter turnout of all age groups. That's a shame because that's also the most progressive age group. What do you all think is the cause of low turnout among people in this age range?
Interesting idea. However, it would seem to me the college crowd would be more inclined to vote. I'd also be interested to see what percentage of people in that age category show up for jury duty when summoned.
As for me, I've never missed voting in an election. I was also summoned for jury duty back in April 2011 when I was 20. I was selected for a jury in an armed burglary case and I was the youngest person on the jury.
It's a real shame that this age group doesn't have the interest that they should in determining their future.
I still remember the the clamor for passage of the 28th Amendment which lowered the voting age -- If they were old enough to die in Vietnam, they should be old enough to vote.
Well, they're no longer dying in Vietnam, and apparently they're not voting either.
One of my old high school teachers (and this was back when you had to be 21 to vote) telling our class that if you have the chance to vote and do not do so, then you are, in effect, voting for the worst possible candidate for that office. Lot of truth in that statement.
You know, here's how I see it.
If no one personally teaches young people about how important voting is and what a privilege it is to vote, then why should they get excited about it?
They need to know that at one time only wealthy, land-owning white men could vote.
Poorer white men could not.
And at one time minorities could not vote and women could not vote.
They need to understand the value of having a voice and having it heard without fear of retribution.
Someone - and I believe that someone is a parent or guardian first and school teacher second - should teach them from an early age that there is power in the voice of the personal vote.
One's opinion is heard.
My father taught me the importance of viewing my vote as a privilege on my 18th birthday when he took me to register to vote.
I'll never forget that conversation nor that day.
My first thought is that college should teach you how to think.
A thinking person will find out about voting in his new district.
This reminds me of what happen at SUNY, Oswego (NY)
Several students were upset that they were not able to vote for the mayor of Oswego when they went to the polls.
Seems, that the dorm they lived in was outside the CITY of
Oswego limits, thus they were voting in TOWN of Oswego.
You would think college students would be smart enough to do some research on voting.
That being said, I believe a college student should not vote in his college town until he makes that his permanent home.
I also like to
recall the interview I had with a high school senior on my talk show.
He had written a letter to the editor saying that if he was old enough to be drafted he should be allowed to drink.
Well First of all this was about 1990 - NO Draft!
This particular show
ran about the 15th of November.
I asked this young man if he had voted in the election the prior week.
He said he was not aware of any election. I then asked him if he was not responsible enough to vote, than was he responsible enough to drink. He went on to say that none of his teachers in school had said anything about an election...
When 18 year olds got the vote I thought their first goal would be to lower the drinking age and then maybe to eliminate the draft. Young people have never accomplished or changed anything.
2000 - Florida went Republican by 537 votes a difference of
0.00901%
and New Mexico was decided by just 366 votes
Technically US Military bases are not required to follow
State laws.
A few years ago, the Marines were considering allowing 18 year olds to drink on base as an incentive to increase Marine recruiting.
So it's the fault of the teacher that he didn't vote? Yeah, nothing like taking personal responsibility to find out for yourself what's going on that may have an impact on your wallet and your future. I'm sure he probably learned about all of the parties that were going on off campus--things that were really important.
That's still an idea that might be followed up on. It's been going around for a long time. It's not to increase recruiting anymore though. It's a safety thing now. Their thinking is that sometimes accidents happen and don't get rreported because of fear of reprisal of under age drinkers.
Define "young". It was young people that have fought in all the wars so far (I know how you're going to respond about "no righteous wars since..."). As soon as I read your statement, I couldn't help but think of a young man by the name of David of Bethlehem.
This would have included the young lad who gave all of his lunch to Jesus, who accepted it and then proceeded to feed the 5,000. (Which, BTW is the only one of Christ's miracles that appear in all four Gospels.)
Moreover, there are lots of young people today who've done lots of volunteer work for worthy causes all over the world.
And I must assume that when you were young, you never accomplished or changed anything either, right?