Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

In many civic activities, there were only small differences in the rates of participation between young people and older people. . .McClatchy Newpapers.

Good!  You youngsters look a lot like us (as we like to think of ourselves) political veterans.

But here's the bad news.  

Fifty-eight percent of young people were considered "disengaged";. . .28 percent participated in [neither civic nor political activities].

    By contrast, 44 percent of adults are considered disengaged. . .

[Let's hope they're all conservatives!]

A survey was conducted by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement, a nonpartisan group funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts.  They examined 1,700 youths and 550 adults ages 26 and older nationwide by telephone and online survey over three months this spring.  You can find the details in their report titled, THE 2006 CIVIC AND POLITICAL HEALTH OF THE NATION: A Detailed Look at How Youth Participate in Politics and Communities.

Some highlights of their findings:

-African-Americans age 15 to 25 are the most politically engaged racial or ethnic group: more likely to vote, donate money to campaigns or volunteer with campaigns.

    -Asian-American youths are the most civically engaged, with the highest rates of volunteerism.

    -White youths presented a "mixed picture" in their level of engagement. They were the most likely of their peers to run, walk or ride bikes for charity, but the least likely to protest, donate money to candidates or political parties, or try to persuade others about elections.

    -While Latino youths were the least engaged, they were the most involved in protests, with 25 percent saying they had participated in a protest - more than twice the proportion of any other ethnic group. That was driven largely by the debate over immigration policy, researchers said.

    - Men and women had similar levels of overall engagement, but men were more likely to be active in politics while women were more likely to be involved in civic activities.

But here are three distressing findings:

In a test of political knowledge, 56 percent of youths didn't know that only U.S. citizens could vote in elections. Only 30 percent could name a single member of President Bush's Cabinet.  [Also,] young people vote and pay attention to news at a lower level than in previous generations. . .

Obviously, political knowledge is poor.  Perhaps the most distressing finding is that of those in the 20-25 year-old bracket only 26% say they vote regularly.  Reasons given for that low turn out may ride on the finding that young people have lost confidence in government.  [Scandals, such as the one involving young pages in the House of Representatives certainly can't be helpful!]  

* Two thirds of young people believe that government should do more to solve problems, but a plurality says that the government is "almost always wasteful and inefficient." This represents a big drop in confidence since 2002.
    * Young people, no matter which political party they dentify with, are more likely to say that government is almost always wasteful and inefficient today than in 2002. Changes in this view have been greatest among Democrats and Independents, and smallest among Republicans.
    * Young people who are more engaged in their communities have more positive views of government than those who are less involved. However, substantial numbers of young people, no matter their level of engagement, say "government is almost always wasteful and inefficient."
    * Asian-American youth have the most positive view of government relative to all other racial/ethnic groups. Seventy-two percent of young Asian-Americans say "government should do more to solve problems" compared to 68% of
    African-Americans, 65% of Latinos, and 60% of Whites. And 67% of young Asian-Americans say "government regulation of business is necessary" compared to 51% of young Whites, 52% of young African-Americans, and 55% of young Latinos.

Balancing on the cusp best describes young people when examining their tolerance.  "Young people are tolerant, but somewhat less so than in 2002."

In spite of all these discouraging notes, more happily for us liberals, progressives, and leaners-to-the-left-of- Attila-the-Hun, the report states, "Young people are paying attention to the news, discussing politics, and leaning to the Democrats.

Perhaps all that is needed for the "patient" youth is for us old political veterans to simply ask a young person we know to join us one weekend on a Habitat for Humanity project, or drive the car and lend a hand and hammer putting up signs for the candidates we support; or advising a group of disgruntled teens on the best way to conduct an effective peaceful protest when their favorite Harry Potter book is banned from their school library.  

Reaching out to the youth of America in these and similar ways may not seem like much.  That's good.  It means it's very easy to do, and I bet it will help make a difference in their lives and in the future of America.

President Kennedy said it best in his inaugural address, "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you --- ask what you can do for your country."