I was listening the other day to the host of a local talk show discussing with some college kids the lack of interest in politics among young people and why the young are so unlikely to vote.
The host thought that youthful apathy was a shame, but I didn't see what the problem was.
Why should young people care about politics? Most people become interested in the process when they start paying taxes, owning property, raising families, and serving in the military.
It's when they become invested in society and start thinking seriously about their future that they begin to see the importance of the ideas which will determine that future. Until then they're much too preoccupied with their studies, sports, and the opposite sex to spend the time it requires to learn about what's going on in the political arena.
The problem, in my opinion, is not that young people don't care about politics. That's normal.
Nor is it a problem that they don't vote. Those who don't keep abreast of the affairs of state are doing the right thing by not voting.
The problem is that our politicians, in an attempt to exploit the ignorance of the young for their own political gain, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in 1971 thereby enfranchising a demographic group which is very unlikely to go to the voting booth with an informed opinion on whom they should vote for.
It does not enhance democracy to have an electorate consisting of large numbers of uninformed voters. It's bad enough that many people over 21 really have no well-thought out idea why they're voting for the person they are, but it makes the problem worse when we add to their number by encouraging 18 year-olds to join them.
While we're on the subject here's a voluntary voter disqualification test. If you can't get at least ten answers correct perhaps you should consider recusing yourself from voting while you bone up. Answers below:
- Which political party is most likely to lower taxes?
- Which political party is most likely to appoint judges who will rule on matters of law according to what the Constitution says?
- Which political party is most likely to scale back spending on national defense?
- Which political party looks most favorably on a woman's right to choose, gender surgery on minors, and the secularization of society?
- Which political party is most likely to reduce the flow of illegal immigration into the U.S.?
- Which political party is most likely to favor measures which will make us a "color-blind" society?
- Who is the current Secretary of State? Vice-President?
- Which party currently controls the House of Representatives?
- Which party currently controls the Senate?
- Who is the current Speaker of the House? Senate Majority Leader?
- Who is the current Chief Justice of the United States?
- Which party favors policies which would increase the supply of oil?
- Which party is more likely to reduce regulations on businesses?
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Answers:
- Republican
- Republican
- Democrat
- Democrat
- Republican
- Republican
- Anthony Blinken, Kamala Harris
- Republican
- Democrat
- Mike Johnson, Charles Schumer
- John Roberts
- Republican
- Republican
How'd you do?