You know, it's interesting to see how ridiculously frosted these presidential debates are. Politicians wonder why young people don't vote, but they do so while creating specious situations for practically every campaign opportunity. As both parties squabble about where the timer light goes and how high the podiums should be raised, the youth of America call bullshit on the whole thing. Really, can you blame them? It's all so false and diversionary; the phonies of which Holden Caulfield spoke have grown up, and they are running the show.
I don't think we'll see higher voter turnout among the 18-to-24 population unless candidates start speaking their language. That doesn't mean pulling a Wesley Clark and talking about Outkast (although that was kinda funny). It means respecting them enough to cut the nonsense. Young people (oh god, I sound so old) went crazy for Howard Dean in large part because he ran an inclusive campaign that wasn't all about flag-wrapped showmanship. People talk about youthful idealism as though it's a bad thing, but the hope and drive of youth is what everyone should hold dear. What I see happening is this: as the campaigns descend even further into petty mud-slinging and media-jocking poses, people of all ages decide that it's all a bunch of grandstanding hoo-ha. Some of them might not vote, but I'm guessing that many who still do vote do so wishing that our potential leaders would spend more time on things that matter and less on whose skin looks orange.
Because I take all of this mess pretty seriously, I'm still going to watch the debates with great enthusiasm. In fact, I have combined my newborn passion for politics with a long-standing love of home entertainment. That's why I'm hosting a debate-watching party at my apartment tonight, and that is why the cupcakes served at this party will be decorated with these little signs:
I don't think we'll see higher voter turnout among the 18-to-24 population unless candidates start speaking their language. That doesn't mean pulling a Wesley Clark and talking about Outkast (although that was kinda funny). It means respecting them enough to cut the nonsense. Young people (oh god, I sound so old) went crazy for Howard Dean in large part because he ran an inclusive campaign that wasn't all about flag-wrapped showmanship. People talk about youthful idealism as though it's a bad thing, but the hope and drive of youth is what everyone should hold dear. What I see happening is this: as the campaigns descend even further into petty mud-slinging and media-jocking poses, people of all ages decide that it's all a bunch of grandstanding hoo-ha. Some of them might not vote, but I'm guessing that many who still do vote do so wishing that our potential leaders would spend more time on things that matter and less on whose skin looks orange.
Because I take all of this mess pretty seriously, I'm still going to watch the debates with great enthusiasm. In fact, I have combined my newborn passion for politics with a long-standing love of home entertainment. That's why I'm hosting a debate-watching party at my apartment tonight, and that is why the cupcakes served at this party will be decorated with these little signs:
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