America's youth turns left.

[Odin2005]

I ran into this fascinating survey showing that the Pukes have lost the youth vote is a massive way

http://democracycorps.com/reports/analyses/Democracy_Corps_July_27_2007_Youth_Memo.pdf

The political stakes with this generation could not be higher. In 2008, young people
(ages 18-31) will number 50 million, bigger than the baby boom generation. By 2015 they will
likely comprise one-third of the U.S. electorate. While participation among young people still
lags well behind other generations, turnout increased two election cycles in a row and, in 2004,
jumped nine points (to 49 percent).2 In 2004, younger voters were the only generational cohort
outside of the World War II generation to support John Kerry (56 percent). In 2006, younger
voters supported Democrats by a 60 – 38 percent margin, the highest of any generation.3

The looming disaster Republicans face among younger voters represents a setback that
could haunt them for many generations to come. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama lead
Rudy Giuliani—the most acceptable of the Republican offerings among youth—by significant
margins, assembling a diverse coalition of support and leading the vote among independents.4
Exploring attitudes toward the parties themselves, young voters’ reaction to fundamental issues
and their perceptions of the GOP suggest a fundamental alienation from the Republican Party, a
crisis that will not leave with the Bush administration.

Young people react with hostility to the Republicans on almost every measure and
Republicans and younger voters disagree on almost every major issue of the day. The range of
the issue disagreements range from the most prominent issues of the day (Iraq, immigration) to
burning social issues (gay marriage, abortion) to fundamental ideological disagreements over
the size and scope of government. This leaves both potential Democratic nominees with
substantial leads over Rudy Giuliani, but importantly, both Democrats still have room to grow
their support among younger voters. The current problems with the Republican brand are not
fully reflected in young people’s preferences in for President.

Moreover, young people, while preferring Democrats on every measure, will need to see
them deliver on the issues that matter to them most. Locking down this vote means challenging
some of the assumptions and stereotypes about this population and the issues they care about
most. Without question, issues like global warming and the Iraq war can drive this vote. But
young people’s economic struggles, more than any other issue, defines their political agenda.
The economy leads their concerns when asked (on a volunteered basis) what issues they want their
President and Congress to address and an economic argument proves the most powerful
message tested. Importantly, young people’s progressive views on most social issues may not
be as important to energizing this vote as their economic situation.

[jbonkowski]

1. It doesn't matter. They don't vote.

[Perry Logan]

2. Another down-in-the-mouth liberal.

Twenty-plus years of watching rigged elections and listening to biased news will do that to you.

Cheer up. I'm sure many of them will vote.

And if nothing else, they'll get older and start voting.

[Odin2005]

3. Youth voter turnout is increasing.,

The low youth voter turnout in the 80s and 90s was a Generation X phenomenon, that is now reversing as us Gen-Yers have come of age since 2000.

[Hippo_Tron]

8. Sadly it's true, as much as I hate not being able to legally drink

I realize that the only reason it is that way is because 18-20 year olds don't vote.

[mdmc]

4. We still need a draft or a beer tax

something to make them vote.

[Golden Raisin]

6. Tax Ipods, Cells and Blackberries.

The votes will come like Niagara. I don't see any of today's young people marching in the streets, a la their counterparts in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Why are they not on buses to Washington, DC for mass protests?

[More Than A Feeling]

5. Bush has created a generation of life-long progressives.

Whether we vote or not now, I suspect we'll vote Democratic as voting increases by age.

[AX10]

7. But, but, the pundity insists that all Americans are...

really conservatives who are dissatisfied with Bush's "straying" from conservative "principles".

:sarcasm: