Involving young people

[mdmc]

The only way to get young people involved is to inspire them. We should be looking to oppose the drug war, oppose the death penalty, and stop the Iraq war.

People think that a draft will help the dems court young people. Young people think that politicians are the problem, and that there is not much difference between the dlc and the gop, and that there votes won't make a difference.

Ask young people what they care about and believe in. They care about sex, drugs, rock and roll. They care about being hip, popular. They care about the environment.

We need to be a progressive, liberal party to court young voters. It is the wave of the future, DU!

[H2O Man]

1. There is an interesting

article in the Feb 13 edition of THe Nation by Sam Graham-Felsen, "The New Face of the Campus Left." I am hoping to see greater participation in the 2006 elections by those under the age of 30.

[mdmc]

4. you don't have a link, do you?

Thanks for your post!

[H2O Man]

8. There is a note

on the inside of page 2 that says, "Internet: Selections from the current issue become available Thursday night at www.thenation.com "

[mdmc]

11. thanks h2o

I may even buy the mag.

peace and low stress,
mdmc

[BushOut06]

2. Nixon got elected while the draft was going on

So I'm not entirely convinced that would help, although it would get a lot more people involved.

[mdmc]

6. the draft will help a third party

the hawks in the gop and dlc will make the draft negative for the status quo, including Dems...

[atreides1]

3. No

The draft won't help any political party to court young people, but if the younger generation realize that they have as much of a chance as Joe Snuffy, to be inducted into the military, be sent into a combat zone and possibly return in a bag, with parts missing, or with their wiring screwed up
they might take a real interest.

You seem to want to provide them with access to drugs, free sex, and mind numbing music. This may have worked during Vietnam, but they also had the draft to deal with.

So, let's do your suggetion along with the draft.

[mdmc]

7. the draft won't help...

only freedom and liberty... the pursuit of happiness.... only this will help court youth to our movement.

[Lone_Wolf]

5. I agree. We need to concentrate on building a progressive infrastructure

We need places were progressives can get together, exchange ideas, expose others to progressive ideas, and to organize. We need these progressive hubs if we want to build a progressive culture and change society for the better. These hubs can be as simple as local coffehouses where people and progressives are welcome.

[mdmc]

10. thanks lone....

I thought that you were describing this web site at first... Encourage young people to stand up for their ideals, including lowering the drinking age. All it takes is one 19 year old Iraqi war vet to speak out, and change the world.

[jane_pippin]

9. How are you defining "young people?"

Is there a general age group you have in mind?

I'm interested because depending on the definition, I could be one of those young people, and this sort of thing has been on my mind a lot the past few days.

[mdmc]

13. Gen x'ers and younger

I'm 34, and part of the youth movement. I also worked with at risk youth, so I know what inspired them to get involved with politics.

These young "thugs" that I worked with loved Kucinich! They thought that it pissed me off 'cause I was a Dean supporter. Once these thugs heard Sharpton and Kucinich, they were hooked on politics! They are down with legalizing the leaf! I tell them that people will listen to them more if they are not h.s dropouts in jail. I tell them that more people would listen to their thoughts on legalization if they were on the honor roll and a star of the basketball team (they have the ability to do these things, really!).

You have to inspire!

[jane_pippin]

15. Ah. Well I'm slightly younger than you and I'd like to say

thanks for the work you do and your perspective. I'm glad you're listening to them as well as teaching them how they can have a say in what happens to them instead of scolding them for not being involved--something I think there is a little too much of to go around. (But that's just me--I'm going through a big 'eat your parents' thing right now and it's not fun.)

The kids you describe sound a lot like my younger cousins and your approach is the one I use with them too. It's not quite there with them yet, but we're making progress.

And I think you're right--a party that stands up and lives up to its progressive ideals will go a long way towards appealing to younger people. At least I hope with everything in me that that's the case, and I'll do what I can to make it so.

[mdmc]

16. thanks for your post

I basically said what I had posted above during a Superintendents Hearing / CSE (Committee on Special Education) meeting that was held at school when one of my kids returned from a psych hospital.
The kid was arguing that herb "was no big deal" and should be legal.
His probation officer, teacher, guidance counselor, basketball coach, drug counselor, Superintendent, psychologist, and mother all disagreed with him.
It got ugly. Loud.
Then I spoke up. "Jessie," I said "I agree with you that pot should be legal. I don't agree that pot 'is no big deal', just like alcohol is 'not a big deal'. If I had my way, people would legally be allowed to smoke herb in their own homes. But even if I was in charge, your ass would still not be legally allowed to get high. Your 15 years old, failing high school, and on probation. You are a textbook case of WHY POT SHOULD BE OUTLAWED! People don't want to hear about legalization from a high school dropout in jail. Now, if you were on the honor roll, and you were going to West Point on a basketball scholarship, and you were the current team captain, and you were working instead of committing crimes, then all these adults in this room would be willing to listen to your thoughts on legalization."
All the adults in the room were stunned that I said that pot should be legal. They weren't willing to debate legalization with THIS kid, but they all conceded that they would listen to a successful person advocate legalization. The kids mother, a staunch mormon, told him that she would let him get high in the house if was off probation, had a job, and was on the honor roll. It opened this kids eyes.

As far as your kids "eating their parents", remember, it is your role to parent them, not to be liked. You need to be their parent. Nothing else matters.

Lastly, I live across the river from Pete and Toshi Seeger. This folk couple is in their 80's, yet they are still part of the youth movement. Youth is a frame of mind.

[jane_pippin]

17. Great story...

One minor correction: It's me that wants to do the eating. I don't have any kids just yet, though if and when I do I'm sure they'd want to do the same some day too.

[mdmc]

18. they take your youth and money, just so you know

(this is all I really know about parenting)

[Solve_et_Coagula]

12. Great...

Great message... thanks a lot... smile

best wishes from Switzerland

lwwb
Roger

[mdmc]

14. welcome to DU!

peace and low stress.... feel free to drop me a line if you get to ny... peace..