Political Apathy: How to Interest our Youth in Politics

1
Political ApathyHow to Interest our Youth in
Politics
Friday 13, 2008
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center of Public
Policy Project Citizen Interns Meg Johnson
Jackie Cox
2
Our Situation

• The youth are the future leaders of our country.
• Political Apathy
• Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding
  matters of politics
• Indifference to issues involving government
• Impassiveness to participate in politics
• Century old problem
• How do we educate our youth about politics when
  they are not interested?

3
The Evidence

• 50 Surveys
• Downtown and UTK area
• 20 questions about Politics
• Ages 17-50
• 50 Surveys
• Downtown and UTK area
• Ages 17-28
• 1 question
• Would You Be Involved or Interested in Politics
  (in any way)? Why or Why not

4
Politics What Comes To Mind

• Obama
• Lies
• Unbelievable
• System
• Scandal
• Game playing
• Problems
• Debate
• Arguing
• Old people

• Corruption
• Government
• The way of the world
• Sleazy
• Crooked
• Cheap
• Boring
• A joke
• Conspiracy

• Politics

Politics
5
Knowledge Or Lack There Of

• Who is the state governor? 43/50
• Which party does he belong to? 30/50
• Who is the lieutenant governor? 4/50
• What is the supreme governing document of out
  country? 39/50
• What is impeachment? 21/50
• What is the electoral college? 25/50
• Who is the secretary of state? 42/50
• What does the vice president do? 13/50

6
Do You Feel That Politics Impact Your Life?

• 86 said that politics impact their lives.
• 14 said that politics do not impact their lives.

7
Are Politics Important to You?

• 30 said politics were not important
• 70 said that politics are important to them.

8
Would You Be Involved or Interested in Politics?
Why or Why Not?

• 66 said no they would not be involved or
  interested in politics.

9
The History of Our Youth Voting

• In 1972
• First election were voting age was 18
• 43.4 of 18 24 yrs cast ballots
• Influenced by young JFK
• 2000 Presidential Election
• 28.7 of youth voted
• Let us not seek the Republican answer or the
  Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us
  not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us
  accept our own responsibility for the future. -
  JFK

10
More Voting Participation History

• 1972 Elections
• 55.2 - total participation
• 23.9 - youth participation

• 1996 Elections
• 49.9 - total participation
• 10.6 - youth participation

• 2000 Elections
• 54.2 - total participation
• 15.5 - youth participation

• 2004 Elections
• 56.7 - total participation
• 12.3 - youth participation

11
The Key

• The key to getting youth interested
• Involvement
• Hands-on experiences on local level
• Local Politicians, Understanding local issues
• VOTING local national
• Basic form of participation in politics
• Our solutions are small school wide steps to get
  the ball rolling.

12
Alternatives

• Have Pledge Cards for student voters.
• Debate Watches for local national politics
• Add a public policy club or Project Citizen to
  schools
• Volunteering at local elections
• Ballot counting
• Helping with campaigns
• Involve local politicians
• Round table talks
• Debates at a school

13
Plan of Action Schoolwide

• Notre Dame High School
• Present to Principal Dean of Students
• Perry Storey Principal
• John Mullin Dean of Students
• Find Sponsor
• Mike Leiper Young Republican Sponsor
• Candy Cornilission Young Democrat Sponsor
• Get Student Initiative SLC, Student Government,
  Class Officers
• Bonnie Townsend Student Leadership Council
  sponsor

14
Disadvantages/Disagreements

• Older Generations
• Not used to change
• Youth arent mature enough to make political
  decisions
• Certain Politicians
• Youth hurt their chances
• Certain Schools
• Money
• Time
• Effort

15
Existing National Programs

• Rock the Vote - Encourages Youth to Vote
• Uses music
• Pop culture
• New technologies

• Choose or Loose
• Street Teams
• Blogs, Videos, Interviews, TV

16
Existing Policies in Schools

• NYU- September 27, hundreds of NYU students were
  among the 24,000 supporters and curious onlookers
  as McCain and Obama pay a visit.
• Tufts University- systematic program of
  registering students to vote, for first semester
  on campus students are provided with a free copy
  of The New York Times.

• Norwell High School- Boston, verbal match,
  2004, Young Democrats, Young Republicans, and
  Junior State of America chapters.
• Knoxville- Youth Action Council, meets with
  mayor, representative body of teens, youth have
  opportunities for community engagement.
• UTK Decision 08, Speak Out, Debate Watches,
  Pledge Cards, Documentaries, Voting Registration

• Politics

• POLITICS

17
Sources

• WEBSITES
• http//www.nasrecruitment.com/TalentTips/NASinsigh
  ts/GenerationY.pdf
• www.engagedcitizen.org
• http//www.multied.com/elections/1996.html
• http//www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/10/
  28/political_activism_takes_hold_for_local_high_sc
  hool_students/?page2
• http//www.gannettonline.com/gns/election/elec1.ht
  ml
• http//www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/Oc
  tober/20071026124123ndyblehs0.5286676.html
• http//www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_f
  _kennedy.html
• http//www.mtv.com/chooseorlose/voter101/
• DOCUMENTS
• Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam
• Why Young Americans Hate Politics What We
  Should Do About It by S. Bennett
• PEOPLE
• Notre Dame High School Faculty Staff