Being a 21 year old male, I constantly hear my friends bitch and moan about whats going on in the world around them. But when it came time to vote, they were too busy playing xbox, going to the beach, or hanging out to care. I almost got fired becuase I left work to vote, and if I didnt get a lawyer and threaten a lawsuit, I would have been fired, but I would have still voted.

Coming from a blue collar family with multiple generations of Veterans, I appreciate the sacrafice that so many generations before mine made to ensure that I had the right to vote. I just wish more of my peers felt the same. They simply dont realize that the decisions made by 40+ year old men today, will have the greatest impact on the younger gene0rations that will follow.

The AARP is one of the largest lobbyist groups in the nation, and state and federal government officials listen to what this group has to say. Why is that???? It's becuase they represent a huge group of voters that could sway the balance of an election if the issues that matter to them are not satisfied by a particular candidate. Politics today is a simple equation, # of voters + $$$= power

If there was a similar group that represented the youth of the nation, young adults between the age of 18-30, then maybe we could have a positive influence in todays world.

Im here today, calling out as many members of this board that are in this age group. I am currently developing a website that will be the source of information for policies, laws, candidates, and issues that have the greatest impact on the life of a young adult. Feel free to contact me via pm if you want to be placed on the mailing list to be informed of the site's opening.

We need to spread the word, and get our peers, the future generation of ALL COUNTRIES, to step up to the plate and show the government that we do matter, and that the decisions they are making now, will have the greatest effect on their own children.

Morpheus is very politically minded and even active to some degree. You might see if the two of you share some similar views on trying to get today's youth more involved.

As to AARP, it's easy for them to lobby on the few issues that are directly involving them. They focus on health care reform (incl. Medicare), Social Security, etc. With the young, it is harder to coalesce the masses to support any particular measure. Often it will be greatly divided on abortion, income taxation and corporate breaks, equal and civil rights, foreign policy and the myriad of other issues. If you asked those that really care what one issue they would prefer to focus upon, it becomes even more segmented.

So trying to get a group to work together for a single goal means probably focusing on a single interest/topic (like the National Rifle Association) or a "get out and vote" drive which only asks people to go to the voting polls.

It would be great to see some well thought out political base of the younger generation(s) working as hard as AARP does to make it's collective voice to be heard and heeded.

United

Check out www.chicagopact.org

That was a young adults political power group I did a lot of volunteer work with when I was living in Chicago. We still weren't taken as seriously as we would have liked to be when I left Chicago (a year ago this coming August,) however, we had managed to get a some real victories.

If nothing else it could give you some ideas on how to think about what you're trying to do. If you're in the Chicago area though let me know and I'd be happy to help you get in touch with some people there.

I'm 17 now, and I'll be 18 by the next presidential election. I plan on voting. The problem is that most young people don't think their votes count. I definetly like that you're trying to spread the word.

Any youth group or movement to unite the youth, face 2.5 significant problems from what I have seen.

1) Many of todays youth are highly apathetic, because of what I call "cultural nihilism." We have become a society of voyeurs and watchers, who sit on the sidelines and judge the arena, without ever having to be "involved." Our society constantly reinforces messages of our powerlessness through the media. And of course its true many people, believe that voting is doesn't matter, (which is sort of a vicious cycle).

2) There are no youth issues which are big enough to unite the masses of young people. In the 60's there was Vietnam. Yeah sure, now we have the war in Iraq, but really unites anti-war folks, more than "youth" per say. Remember that it was because of Vietnam that the voting age was changed from 21 to 18, in the first place. There is some possible ground for a movement on the costs of higher education, that was an issue that got a large amount of youth to vote for Gov. Martin O'malley in maryland, he campaigned to cap tuition costs and increase aid programs, all which he has done.

2a)What this all boils down to, is that there is not a strong enough "Generational Consciousness." and of what little there is, its not political. There I would contend a "generational aesthetic," a point of view that our current early20's/late teens have, that has little voice right now. Who could be the voice of our generation? At what level? and to what degree? Is one necessary?

Well there's always video games.

http://www.videogamevoters.org/

I turned 18 last October, and voted for the first time in the Scottish elections this year.

Before that recent election, I always insisted that I would not vote, or at the very least that I would spoil my ballot paper or vote for the Scottish Socialists, due to my belief that nothing will change for the better unless the system itself is changed.

This election, however, had Scotland on the verge of quite a significant decision - that of ending decades of control by the "Labour" party and replacing it with a rejuvenated Scottish National Party, who essentially wish to bring independence to Scotland.

I visited the polling station and voted for the SNP.

One could describe it as a protest vote against Labour, but I do believe in a Scottish Republic (albeit a Socialist one), and I admire the SNP's staunch opposition to the Iraq war and the Trident programme, amongst other things.

The SNP just about ended up displacing the Labour party, although the issue of independence will have to wait for a few years or so.

Anyway, the political system that we have can sometimes be utilised in order to bring about a degree of change, although I still believe that true change cannot come about until the system itself is challenged.

There is a problem in the West with political apathy amongst the youth, although saying that, there are many who are politically active. Indeed, one of my former schoolmates (Link) was voted into the council and is now deputy provost.

Good man, keep it up. Right now Im working on a site that will feature articles, legislation, and news that affect the younger generations.

Its all about education, I had to take a government class in order to graduate, but it was really how government works. I feel they should revise that class and make it so it educates the youth graduating high school that it is important they keep up with the politics of there nation. WE FIGHT THE WARS, while these fat cat politicians profit off of us.

This little part of your speach I believe relates to me the most. I'm only 16 years old but I have a large interest in what goes on in the world today. It really annoys me when kids at school think they know what is going on by just listening to NBC. But yeah, once they see their video game system or someone is throwing a party. Oh! All of the problems of the world have vanished. I'm glad you brought this up because it's true of most people.

Good, spread the word then. I will post a link to the site when I am finished with it. Im not doing this for any kind of profit or political gain, I just want to see the youth myself included, understand that they need to start paying attention to the world today in order to have any postive impact tommorrow.