For anyone who thinks young voters are disengaged from the election...

[marmar]

I was in the Genesee County (Michigan) Democratic Party office today, which was a beehive of activity, sign-making, phone-banking and so on. But half of the 20 or so people in the office were under 30.
The party has a group devoted solely to getting the under-30 vote out. They've gone out every day to apartment complexes (where under-30s are more likely to live) based on voter reg records to register voters and talk to them about why they need to get to the polls. They have a brochure solely for young voters discussing the various issues that hinge on this year's election and what the potential impacts are on them. About 1,700 new voters have been registered in Genesee County (which has a total population just shy of 500,000) in the last several weeks, a good chunk of them under-30 voters.
The long and the short of it is that young voters do care, and with a little effort on the part of local Democratic parties you can get them motivated and get them out to vote. The disastrous policies of this administration and this Republican Congress are wrecking their (and mine, hell I'm 34) future more than anyone else's - who's going to be stuck with the debt and a generation of elderly baby boomers who can't pay for prescriptions? All you've got to do is crystallize this for them, and you'll have a motivated voting block and an energetic group of campaign volunteers.

[Monkeyman]

1. You should see Normal IL

I have not seen this many kids lining up to help Democrats

[applegrove]

2. I think the young make up a good percentage of the 35% who don't bother

to vote. And I think the young are more likely to vote Dem.

[babylonsister]

3. What a great message, marmar! Everyone should read this and

get busy!

[marmar]

4. Thank you babylonsister....

Hanging out at the party office today definitely got me more motivated. We all need to get busy.

[pooja]

5. It is good to see those so involved. Our little group of Pinkies

was small... as the election nears we have joined forces with 2 other groups 9/11 truth and world can't wait. Its electrifying... We just had a walk out on Ann Coulter the other day. Of course, not a lot of press exposure... but it was great to see active participation. Especially college students. They seem to have just a little more time. I am swamped with work, kids, husband, our personal business (this aside from working at a reg. job 56hrs a week). I have so little time to actually do a lot of volunteer work. I apologize to my country for that. But I continue to do what I can with what extra time I have. I may not have time to give at a call center or even make it to the many protests I would like to, but education is key and I have contact with a lot of people on a daily basis. I walk and talk campain issues.

What is amazing is that the people I work for are small business owners. They fled Guyana when it was really bad. They are the American Dream. Good people, good family, great friends. Yesterday, the husband of this duo said "can you believe over 600,000 Iraqis have died since this war began. That number is way too much for freedom. I didn't think that changing Presidents mid-war was a wise strategy, but that number is astounding." I know he was personally thinking of the atrocities that conflicted his homeland and his own need to leave in due part to the violence in their own country. America is waking up. The news is getting out there. It is impacting people who don't normally into politics. This is good.

[marmar]

6. "I am swamped with work, kids, husband, our personal business (this aside from working at a reg. job

I don't think you have anything to apologize for. It's too bad that you have to work that much to keep your family going.

[pooja]

8. It is considering I have that so coveted college degree... welcome

to America.. thank God I am waking up early enough to realize what we need to be doing.. which is the reason for the side business... extra money and a start at something I own and do and can be proud of.

[brook]

7. Last night

someone (I've forgotten who) did a TV piece about youth and politics. It was the youth that changed the course of the country during the Vietnam era. Clearly, youth are alarmed at the country's wrong turn under the neocons...and are again energized.

One thing I heard several times - and with which I concur - politicians need to recognize our younger generation; learn about their concerns; talk to them; include them in the plans and ask for their opinions about remedies for our future. They are the future for heaven's sake.

We all need to connect. Throwing money at "Drug Wars" and excessive taxes collected for "Tobacco Wars" rather than education and rehabilitation is a farce - as is the money thrown at "Abstinence Only" programs that can never be a substitute for honest-to-God sex education. It's not just parents who need to engage their children's reality , but all of us: grandparents, friends, clergy, teachers - and, yes, politicians.