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Apathy? Not Quite
Rod Owens
September 08, 2003

It confidently declared that it would “form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.” And with that brief utterance, We the People simultaneously willed into being both the Constitution of the United States of America and American democracy. The very foundation of the American political institution has always relied upon its citizens to continue articulating their will in the promotion of public welfare.

Voting is the principle avenue in which we exercise our will. When we do not vote, we become voiceless, bound within a system where others determine our welfare and public policy and can potentially morph from the liberator of individuals and groups to their oppressor. By forfeiting the most essential privilege as citizens, we become political slaves, powerless in securing liberty for posterity or ourselves. Some critics with an eye towards the democratic health of American politics warn that many of us are losing our voice in this system. They recognize that a majority of Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 simply do not take part in this primary aspect of democratic participation. It is a trend that has been developing over the past 40 years. They foresee this crisis as the inevitable breakdown of democracy—or is it?

The imperative question is: Why aren’t young Americans voting and how does this relate to record numbers of this group still engaged in community transformation? The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) reveals that Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 are now the largest group of legal voters in the nation, and the least likely to vote. Poor political engagement among this demographic has been traced back to the 1972 elections, when people between the ages of 18 and 21 were first eligible to vote. The Committee for the Study of the American Electorate explains that from 1972 to 1998, turnout by 18-24-year-olds declined by almost 35 percent. Moreover, during the November elections of 2002, with key races pending, less than 13 percent of young Americans were predicted to cast their votes. Even the controversial Presidential elections of 2000 saw two-out-of-three young Americans forfeit their vote. In a report released by the Carnegie Corporation, current trends reveal that since 1960, each new generation has voted less than the generation before. In addition, as each group of young Americans progress to higher age brackets, they still vote less than the bracket they replaced. Critics predict that we are on the verge of creating a permanent non-voting class. Though we may understand how young Americans are becoming less politically engaged, the most important consideration in this puzzle may be related to why young Americans are less active.

A report complied by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics exposes that young Americans’ disillusionment with American politics might be having a direct impact on their democratic participation. According to the report, 64 percent of those surveyed do not trust the government to do the right thing most or all of the time. 74 percent believe that politicians are motivated by selfish reasons while seven percent strongly agree that political activity is worthwhile. Some experts point out that recent events including the Iraq War are contributing even more to young Americans’ perception of the government as corrupt, untrustworthy, aggressive, and insensitive to their needs. Former U.S. Senator and sociopolitical commentator Eugene McCarthy once declared, “Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it’s important.”

Yet, what if young Americans do understand the game to such an extent that they consciously turn from political engagement to something they feel will create the most effective change? Maybe they’re tired of playing dumb and direct community action is the most fulfilling choice for them? Though young Americans may be the least politically engaged generation in recent history, they have proven to be the most socially responsible generation, committing themselves to community empowerment through service, advocacy, and activism. The Harvard report also discloses that 86 percent of young Americans agree that volunteering in the community is easier than volunteering in politics. Overall, 85 percent prefer community service to political engagement as the better way to solve important issues facing their communities. Moreover, 60 percent prefer service to political engagement as the better way to solve important issues facing the country. CIRCLE also reports that over 40 percent of young Americans are volunteering and concludes that this group is more likely to volunteer than any other demographic of Americans.

Young Americans’ dedication to community as their means of social transformation is evident through their work in living wage campaigns, community organizing, tutoring, working with homeless outreach organizations, protesting and demonstrating, working with health education groups, and other initiatives. Perhaps it is the personal interaction with those they are empowering that motivates them. Perhaps results are clearer and more rewarding than traditional political engagement. Yet despite these beliefs, the most lasting and effective change will come when young Americans unite their passion for community empowerment with the political institution that has power to establish the policies to support lasting change. In the end, despite the apparent inadequacies of the American political system, it is still our best means to ensure the general welfare.

“Politics is one of the only ways to truly make a difference,” explains Hannah Kane, a senior at Emerson College in Boston. “Though I am often disillusioned with politicians, I still believe in the American political process.” Michael, a student at a local Boston college, is active in the community and also still sees the importance of democratic participation. “I think every generation is great in their own way. Today’s young adults are smarter than ever before. We will face new challenges and we will meet them.”

Reprinted from Whats Up, Boston, MA, August 2003.