uring a recent campaign stop, US Senator John McCain told a largely young audience that in the 1998 election the 18-20-year-old voters logged their lowest turnout ever.
McCain said if he were elected he'd like to do what other great presidents have done - inspire young Americans to get involved in efforts beyond their own self-interest. And, he added, he'd like to get them voting.
Those are commendable goals, and it got me thinking about why more young voters don't vote and what it would take to get them to the polls on Election Day. I don't get a sense that any of the present field of candidates has inspired young voters, but if one does, there are benefits worth the effort.
These young voters are like apples on a tree just waiting for someone to come and pick them.
I had a chance a few days after I heard McCain to ask a group of college students if they vote: nine said yes, 13 said no. The major apparent obstacle for those who said no was getting registered and voting while at college. That problem is easily solved here in New Hampshire: college students can register at the polls when they go to vote. They lose their hometown registration when they vote here, but that's easily regained later.
The students and I talked for a while about voting and what it means to them, why some want to vote and why some don't. Those who voted said they wanted a voice. ''If you don't vote, you can't complain,'' one said. ''I want to make a difference,'' another student said.
Others said they did not vote because one vote wouldn't make a difference. I told them about a mid-'70s New Hampshire US Senate election where only a few votes separated the two candidates. After several inconclusive recounts, the US Senate finally decided the winner. Don't tell John Durkin or Louis Wyman one vote doesn't make a difference.
Our discussion roamed across the political landscape and we touched on a number of reasons why the so-called Generation Xers may seem less than eager to participate in the political process. Here are a few of their reasons and a couple I've added.
They are cynical. They think a biased media give them something less than the whole truth and they think politicians often don't say what they mean or mean what they say. Where did they ever get ideas like that?
They don't like the government spending billions of dollars to be global policeman while there are problems at home that need attention and money - like schools.
Here's a question I hear often. ''Why am I old enough to join the military, fight and perhaps die for my country, but I'm not old enough to drink a beer?'' Don't be fooled by this question. The issue isn't just drinking; the issue is being treated like second-class citizens.
Politicians don't talk to them. Candidates say they want the young vote, but what do they offer? Not much. Tax breaks for the wealthy, promises of increased military spending and pledges to save Social Security don't resonate with the young crowd.
What would get them interested? You might be surprised to know that concerns about education are at the top of their list. They've spent most of their lives in schools where they've listened to parents complain about the cost, the teachers and the apathy of the students. When they get to college they find that federal student aid has shriveled and they seem to be the only ones who care.
These young men and women are more involved than they let on. They may be nonplussed by voting, but most are happy for a chance to perform volunteer work that benefits others. Service to the community is big on college campuses these days. When spring break comes, many students forgo a week on the beach and work for Habitat for Humanity or go into the public schools to work with needy children.
They love volunteer work. It makes them feel needed and wanted. It makes them feel like they matter. Politics doesn't do that for them.
When was the last time you saw a movie or a television show where a person from the government wasn't either evil or a moron, or both? Remember the movie ''E.T.''? Who were the bad guys? These kids have grown up in a media culture that scorns and ridicules the very things we wish they would take seriously. Politicians do the same thing. They run against the government.
We've become anti-kid in this country and young voters are not about to forget that. ''Skateboarding is not a crime'' is about more than skateboards. We want to try young offenders as adults and send them to prison. We blame young people for all manner of social sickness. Every year we make it more difficult for kids to get and keep their drivers licenses, something quite important to them. We don't like their music, we don't like their clothes, we don't like their tattoos and their nose rings.
Generational differences are nothing new. Our parents talked about us in much the same way. Today's young people, both voters and nonvoters, will turn out fine, just like we did. Right?
As for how to get the vote of young people, that's no mystery - ask for it. Speak to them.
Hank Nichols is assistant professor of journalism and writing at New England College. He lives in Suton.
