Will The Youth Vote? Thoughts on the 18-24 Democratigraphic

[garthranzz]

The first election I remember was 1960. My parents were what might be called solid Democrats - not fervent, not all Democratic, all the time, but Democrats. (My father won a small school board position as a Democrat around that time.) I, on the other hand, became a fervent Democrat, or perhaps, Kennedy-Democrat. Hope and innocence and enthusiasm don't die in a young teenager; they do however wane.

But politics was too much in the family. Or maybe I just liked to argue, even then.

In 1968, I was just a few months too young to vote. But in late adolescence, right and wrong, and enthusiasm, and energy and dedication, cannot be denied. There was a war on. You HAD to be involved. To save the country. All we are saying...

In 1972 I cast my first vote for President. I despised Nixon. Still do.

Through the 70's and 80's I grew up, started a family, stayed somewhat involved - mainly, stayed informed - and started teaching college (English) and working with young adults, whose mindset I never wholly abandoned.

The passion for and necessity of involving one's self in politics - born with Camelot, fueled in the fires of '68 - did not appear in the students I taught. (Oh, there were exceptions. There are always a few exceptions.)

The same was true in the 90's.

Even after 9/11 - yeah, get them. Yeah, mourn for NYC. But politicians - they all lie. Give me music, internet (fill in the blank), video games and the simpsons (or whatever).

A trickle in '04.

And the young people, from '72 to '04 didn't vote. Why were we/they given the vote at 18, anyway?

This year? In the spring semester, I have never - NEVER - seen such enthusiasm, such commitment, such involvement. Not in over 30 years.

Will the youth vote? Or will they just carry banners, talk, and then go back to the various rites of spring in the fall? Despite the record registrations, will the Republican/Right Wing Steal-the-Election-Again narrative of young people not voting (in the booth, they don't know your age, and you can vote your racist heart, and no one will know) be a self-fulfilling prophecy?


Anecdotally, instinctively - YES, THE YOUTH WILL VOTE!

And therein will lie the difference. The future will decide the election.

This time, the youth will vote. This time, their voices will not only be heard, but the latent energy, an energy that had been suppressed for 30 years, will emerge, channeled and explode.

Yeah, this young cynic is still an old optimist. Or vice versa.

[ccharles000]

1. Wonderful writing.

I am 19 and will be happy to vote for Obama.

[rpannier]

2. Here's hoping you are correct

I think they will...

Here's also hoping the fence sitting republikkans vote for barr (those that won't vote for Democrats)

[skooooo]

3. Let's put it this way...

If they don't get out in mass numbers, we're screwed.

[VADem11]

4. I think they will

I'm in that demographic and everyone I know is interested in the election and especially in Obama. I know it's anecdotal but there's a palpable shift from 2004.

[snowbear]

5. YES they will show for Obama!

~~ http://bp1.blogger.com/_oBPMl3xDxQg/R6_OavGqaJI/AAAAAAAABRk/EtdSOEe3vgM/s400/Obama+Crowd.JPG ~~

[depakid]

9. I'd peg the most common age at the Portland rally at 30 something

The youth demographic wasn't represented in all that many greater numbers than a normal frequency distribution.

[LaStrega]

6. This will be the first year ...

That my daughter can vote (18 in Sept.) She and virtually all of her friends are extremely excited about the upcoming election. They've all been actively campaigning (for Obama), going door-to-door, making calls, you name it.

Yeah ... I agree, the youth vote will decide it.

Yay!

[Doremus]

16. MySpace is Obama territory!

My DD (who is also voting for the first time this year) tells me there is massive support on MySpace for Obama.

The Millennials are involved and won't let us down. I have great faith in them.

[LaStrega]

32. Agreed! I get all misty when I hear her ...

and her friends so pumped up about being part of the process. Kick ass!

[pinto]

7. I'm creeping up to 56 years, and haven't seen as much interest among

that demographic, from what I can see, since I was in that demographic...

People seem fired up.

It's good to see.

:kick:

[Breeze54]

8. "And the young people, from '72 to '04 didn't vote."... Wrong!!

1972 Election > Youth voter turnout (most recent) by state graph- 1st year they were allowed to vote = 50.2% !!!
http://www.statemaster.com/graph/gov_197_ele_you_vot_tur-1972-election-youth-voter-turnout

:bluebox: Youth voter turnout in 2006? 18% !! :wow:

http://www.ocyd.net/YouthVoterStatistics.html

The 2004 elections marked the largest increase in young voter turnout since 1972.
Over 20 million young people ages 18-29 case a ballot, a nine-point increase over
2000, more than double that of any other age group.

----------------------

The Year of the Youth

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1708570,00.html

Alexander Marlow, 22, a Republican, poses on the campus
of the University of California, Berkeley.


(Do all republicons just kill things as they pass by?)

snip--

Frustrated by feckless Washington, energized by the unscripted, pundit-baffling
freedom of a wide-open race, young people are voting in numbers rarely seen
since the general election of 1972 — the first in which the voting age was lowered to 18.

[garthranzz]

14. I should have said EXCLUSIVE of '72 and '04

I meant that the youth voted in '72,

not in '76, '80, '84, '88, '92 (despite Clinton and his saxy boxers), '96, or '00.

The numbers picked up again in '04.

So did the enthusiasm.

Unjust wars and revelations of malfeasance in office tend to energize that group. :)

[Breeze54]

18. Yeah.... and those were the reasons the Class of '72 were energized!

And because of the draft.

Thanks for the reply! :hi:

I feel much better now because I worked my young ass off in '72 getting friends to register and vote.

I'm proud of what we accomplished! ;)

[garthranzz]

22. We're of an age ... Revolution and Blackbird

There is something to be said for living simultaneously in two worlds, two time periods.

I'm more hopeful now, because of the younger (we're still young) crowd.

[ladywnch]

10. we took our 12 and 14 yo to the caucuses

and are hoping to take them to the platform meetings next week (still waiting to hear from the host).
They were very engaged from the caucus and asked all kinds of questions which we were more than happy to answer. Their mother didn't even vote in the last election (and told the kids that!). She is a limp Republican so I'm sure it just frosts her ass to know that we are turning the kids Dem (added bonus).

[Colobo]

11. Yes, we will vote!

[yellowdogintexas]

12. my friend who teaches PoliSci @ TCU says the same thing nt

[silverojo]

13. Here's why young adults will vote:

They want this war to end. They don't want to see their friends getting killed left and right. And they sure as hell don't want to see a draft that would force THEM to go to war. It's only common sense...nobody with a brain wants to be sent on a suicide mission.

[H2O Man]

15. Interesting OP & thread.

I have had contact with younger people interested in this election in a couple of ways. One is from attending and speaking at events at area schools and colleges; the second is from having the opportunity to speak with (and listen to) the circles of friends of my sons -- both of whom will be back in college this fall.

The interest and passion of the younger generation gives me confidence that this nation will be able to repair the damage to the foundation of our Constitutional democracy that has happened on my generation's watch.

[garthranzz]

17. Thanks - and isn't that one of the ironies?

We who emerged from the 60's have in a sense failed, failed ourselves, our ideals, our parents and our children. We allowed the Nixonian plague to slither, Voldemort-like, and re-form itself, and so poison from with the reforms we thought we'd achieved. Bush is a grotesque version of Nixon.

[CK_John]

19. I don't think they will follow up with registration, address change,etc n/t

[Writer]

20. Because these children were told repeatedly how much they matter...

how they can enact change, and how they can make a difference. They are, in their parents words, "special."

The kids before them didn't matter as much. They were the most aborted generation in American history, witnessed high rates of divorce in their families, the beginning of massive layoffs, AIDS, a rise in economic disparity, and were called slackers when they entered the workforce. If that doesn't make a person disenchanted with their nation, then I don't know what.

More from my journal: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Writer/39 Note that the generation you're knocking is Obama's generation.

The young of today is also an exceptionally large cohort compared to the previous generation.

[garthranzz]

23. I'm not "knocking" that generation

I have brothers in it. I was observing a fact. And without leadership, people will look to take care of their own. JFK called us to service and sacrifice. MLK and RFK, by example and by word, trusted us and, to us a cliched word, empowered us.

Who in the 70's or 80's or 90's inspired and channeled the energy of young adults? Reagan? Older people, maybe, but not younger - except to grab. "Morning in America," yes, but for MY American Dream, not America as The Dream. (Though I must agree with Obama that Reagan's rhetoric redefined America's self-view, and in some ways, some ways only, for the better.) Clinton? He might have, if he'd behaved himself, hadn't given the smearers and snivelers - cowards - a weapon against him.

Kerry? Almost, perhaps. But he, a gentleman, could not be a thug - and so was forced to allow the election to be stolen.

Gail Collins's article has Obama just right - he's anti-stupid. Which means he really respects people. That's elitist! And people respond.

[Diamonique]

21. With McCain calling for more and longer wars, I'm sure they'll turn out at the polls this year. n/t

[Imagevision]

24. Interestingly, the M$M reported the 18-29 age group never showed up in 04 election...and

today Christine Aguilera kicked off a rock the vote campaign to get registered and VOTE!

[girl gone mad]

25. I wouldn't compare this election to the last few.

As a gen-xer, I know that most people in my generation were never thrilled with the Baby Boomer candidates we had to choose from. Obama, however, represents a real generational shift. His values and ideals are more in line with those of young people in this country. The diverse family background, absentee parent, disaffected youth, choosing community organizing over corporate work, and wanting to be an involved parent in a strong marriage are all things that a whole lot of people in gen-x and gen-y can directly relate to.

[Breeze54]

26. Did you vote in 2000, 2004 & 2006?

Just curious. :hi:

[garthranzz]

28. Yes, and in the odd years, and in the 70's, 80's and 90's

I think I might have missed '76 because my polling place got switched at the last minute. Other than that, I've never missed. I'm a committed voter - every election.

:toast:

[girl gone mad]

30. I did..

but getting many of my friends involved was like pulling teeth. It isn't that they didn't care about political issues, they were usually just uninspired by the candidates (on both sides of the aisle).

[Breeze54]

37. I hear you about getting people motivated... you have to be a salesperson

sometimes and act like a used car sales person. LOL! I'm glad you have been talking
to your friends about it. Older people can be just as apathetic. I find it infuriating.
I've never missed voting in any national election since I got the right to vote in '72
and I don't understand people who don't value voting or care about it. Hopefully, this
year will blow out all the stops! ;)

[garthranzz]

27. I think us Boomers would agree

with most of the points that appeal to you. We were, after all, the paradigmatic disaffected youth; where do you think "choosing community organizing over corporate work" (Peace Corps, anti-war) came from? "wanting to be an involved parent in a strong marriage" is cross-generational. The only one that probably doesn't apply is absentee parent; no, that one does, too. Else The Beatles's "She's Leaving Home" and a couple other songs (titles escape me) would not have resonated.

We were frustrated with the candidates, too. :)

Hence the parallels between Obama and Kennedy.

[Bluerthanblue]

33. my oldest voted for Kerry/Edwards - he was 20 and it was

his first presidential election. He voted in the primary, and is voting for Obama this Nov. Most of his friends also went to vote, and are planning to vote. Maybe it's because we're in a very little town, - voting is like a rite of passage here, always has been.

peace~

[Lord Helmet]

29. first vote cast in 2004 election and I'm hoping this one goes better

[Bluerthanblue]

35. good for you! It will-

go better this time around- Especially if we all do everything we can to be sure of that.

peace~

[knixphan]

31. Explode, baby!!

[Seen the light]

34. Obama has something no candidate has ever had: the cool factor

Clinton kinda had it, but Obama is seen as absolutely cool among my fellow young people. Nearly rock star status.

We'll vote.

[Katha]

36. This 24-year-old

has voted every single chance she has, and is itching to cast her second vote for Obama in November.

My boyfriend (who at 25 is still young himself!) switched from Republican to Democrat in the primaries to vote Obama, and says that Obama is the first politician he's ever actually been excited about.