The Youth Challenge: Participating in Democracy by Alison Byrne Fields
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The Youth Challenge: Participating in Democracy by Alison Byrne Fields About the Author: Alison Byrne Fields is a 32-year-old writer and communications consultant who recently served as the Creative Director and Chief Strategist for Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organiza- tion dedicated to engaging young people in the political process. She has provided youth political commentary for a number of media outlets including CNN and The New York Times and is current- ly pursuing her Master of Public Policy at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Govern- ment. Carnegie Corporation of New York asked her to write about her perspective on civic education and how young Americans feel about political participation, volunteer service and related issues. The goal of Carnegie “Challenge” papers is to lift up ideas and issues in a way that we hope will elevate them to the national agenda. The subjects we deal with, along with questions we explore, grow out of the work of Carnegie Corporation of New York but do not necessarily represent the focus of our programs. For more information about the Corporation’s grantmaking activities, please visit our web site: www.carnegie.org. Carnegie Corporation of New York was created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote “the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and under- standing.” Under Carnegie’s will, grants must benefit the people of the United States, although up to 7.4 percent of the funds may be used for the same purpose in countries that are or have been members of the British Commonwealth, with a current emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. As a grant- making foundation, the Corporation seeks to carry out Carnegie’s vision of philanthropy, which he said should aim “to do real and permanent good in this world.” Currently, the foundation focuses its work in four program areas: Education, International Peace and Security, International Devel- opment and Strengthening U.S. Democracy. Carnegie Corporation of New York • 437 Madison Avenue • New York City, NY 10022 n the eyes of many who are concerned about money for college tuition—as opposed to the stu- the future of our democracy, we have a crisis dent loans that saddle young people for years after on our hands. Young people between the graduation—could become a higher priority than I 4 ages of 18 and 30 are now the largest voting block prescription drug benefits for seniors. At the very in the United States: 43 million individuals making least the two issues might share the public policy up 25 percent of the electorate.1 Yet, despite the stage. Perhaps there would be more third-party strength that comes in numbers, this group of candidates in office as the result of young people’s 5 Americans is choosing not to participate in the growing disdain for bipartisan politics. electoral process. Since the elections of 1972, when young people between the ages of 18 and 21 were The reality is that younger citizens are not voting first eligible to vote, youth voter turnout has in large numbers. But maybe “the problem” is not dropped by at least 13 percent, a higher rate of as clear-cut as it initially seems. Too often, the low decline than the rate for older voters.2 In November voter turnout among young Americans is taken as 2002, with a number of pivotal electoral contests to conclusive evidence that they are not engaged in be decided, less than 13 percent of young people creating social or political change. Or, even worse, were expected to show up on Election Day.3 This that young people don’t care about their country or lack of representation at the polls is having an their communities. impact: young people’s issues and young people themselves are being virtually ignored by candidates. The truth is more complex. Cynthia Gibson, a program officer at Carnegie Corporation who It’s difficult to deny that this is a problem: if young focuses on the question of youth civic engagement, people made better use of their right to vote there suggests that young people today may be the most 6 could be significant changes in the current political engaged generation ever. Young people are volun- landscape of the country. While the same candi- teering at higher numbers today than in previous 7 dates might be elected to office, the issues that generations. College students are protesting more these officials invest their time and energy in could than their parents, the baby-boomer generation, become more reflective of the concerns of our did. According to the UCLA Higher Education youngest citizens. Federal funding for grant Research Institute’s annual survey of college fresh- 1 men, participation in organized demonstrations students responding to anti-globalization protests grew to an all time high in 2001.8 Across the from the left with their own pro-globalization and country, college students have organized demon- pro-capitalism demonstrations.10 strations against and in support of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, including students at Hamp- And it’s not just college students. Kids in high shire College who passed a resolution condemning school are fighting to establish gay-straight the civilian death toll in the war on terrorism. Stu- alliances. Young people in the Bay Area of Califor- dents at the University of Michigan have organized nia are taking on the juvenile justice system.11 rallies and petitions in support of affirmative High school students in New York City are walk- action. Resident advisors at the University of ing out of their classes to demonstrate their anger Massachusetts established the first-ever undergrad- over a lack of funding for education.12 Students in uate employee union to secure better pay and Massachusetts are boycotting standardized tests improved work conditions for themselves. Stu- that they see as being unfair to students in under- dents at Harvard University continued their efforts resourced school districts. from the previous year, organizing protests to establish a “living wage” for campus food workers Youth activism is being manifested in other ways as and janitors. The anti-sweatshop movement— well. Students are organizing their peers to get which spread nationwide three years ago—contin- teen centers and skateboard parks built in urban ues to have an impact, with students at Florida and suburban communities across the country. State University challenging their administrators to While many schools are not teaching young people join a watchdog group that enforces labor stan- what they need to know about electoral participa- dards for companies that manufacture university tion, some schools are requiring students to give apparel, a multimillion dollar industry. Other their time to their communities through service- issues being addressed on campuses include the learning programs and community service.13 Israeli-Palestinian conflict, racism in higher educa- Whether they are being directed into volunteer tion and funding for school facilities.9 The protests activities by their school or making their own deci- at colleges and universities are coming from the sion to get involved, large numbers of young peo- right side of the political spectrum as well, with ple see volunteering as a more viable alternative to 2 other forms of civic and political participation. they could be in their pursuit of better communi- Young people are also using their power as savvy ties and social and political reform. consumers to “punish” companies that choose to implement unsafe or unjust practices by organizing Missed Connections boycotts and are rewarding those companies that Over the past thirty years, voter turnout for young make a commitment to social responsibility with people between the ages of 18 and 24 has declined “buycotts,” giving them their business and their by approximately one-third, with a minor upswing loyalty.14 Young people are working together in 1992.16 The impact of this lack of electoral par- across lines of ethnic and racial difference. They ticipation has been that political candidates are are finding innovative ways to express their ideas rarely taking younger citizens’ issues into consider- and organize their communities and are redefining ation. On a broader scale, young people’s lack of for their generation what it means to be a responsi- electoral participation has ramifications for the ble citizen. All the evidence points to the fact that overall future of our democracy. Voting isn’t some- young people do care. So is there really a problem thing that a young American will inevitably “grow here? into,” like a sweater that’s too big in the shoulders. According to the Aspen Institute’s Democracy and Yes—and the problem is the disconnect: young Citizenship Program, “If Americans establish a pat- people do not think that the electoral process gen- tern of voting when they are young they will be erates any “tangible” results, particularly when it more likely to continue that pattern as they grow comes to the issues that they care about most.15 older.”17 The opposite is true as well: today’s Without suggesting that there is a hierarchy— that young people will not automatically “mature” into voting is a more important thing to do than voters as they transition into different age cohorts, protesting or boycotting or organizing your com- as studies of previous generations have shown.18 munity— young people who make the choice not to vote aren’t taking advantage of all the tools for If, then, young people are clearly not participating creating change that have been made available to in the electoral process in large numbers, what is them. And by not using all of these tools, they are the reason—or reasons—why? Unfortunately, preventing themselves from being as effective as there’s no simple answer.