Unit 3 blog 1

Youth Make a Difference

Our text Writing Arguments state that “Writers must focus…on three main phases or stages of argument” with one of them demonstrating that there is an actual problem to be solved (Ramage, Bean, & Johnson, 2010). Therefore, one of our assignment options is to prepare a proposal to a congressperson about a local or regional problem. I think this will be a new realm for many young people since the number of youth who aren’t involved in their local communities is daunting. This lack of involvement appears to be due to how youth view themselves, as well as how they are viewed by other members of society who wield power politically. According to a University of Michigan study done by Katie Richards-Schuster and Barry Checkoway, “Young people do not normally view themselves as a group that can influence policy, adults do not view them as competent citizens, and public officials do not view them as central to their work”. The question becomes: why do today’s youth feel they cannot influence policy. In political-speak this is called a ‘lack of efficacy’, or the inability to make a difference. Perhaps it is due to them feeling alone against the tide. As Vicki Combe at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation explains, “Young people are well aware that the decision politicians make affect them. Yet they also feel marginalized from the political system”. However, today’s youth should take note that this tide may be changing and quickly. A Youth Participation Report in Germany says that “half the world’s population is now aged below 25 years” and expanding. Politicians are becoming aware of this as young people are being targeted for spreading political messages using new technology as well as new pools of campaign funds. This was demonstrated just recently by the youth vote during the 2008 Presidential election between Barack Obama and John McCain. Obama’s victory appears to have hinged on the turnout of the youth vote. Not only had “young people turned out in droves…an increase in youth turnout by at least 2.2 million over 2004” but “[the youth vote] is turning states that [Obama] would’ve lost or barely won into more comfortable margins” (Dahl, 2008). This targeting of youth support also helped Obama financially as their excitement translated into campaign funds. As Melissa Dahl states, “For 24-year-old Jade Baranski, Tuesday was the second time she’s voted in a presidential election – but it’s the first time she’s cared enough about a presidential race to donate her own money”. This shift shows that young people can make a difference when they decide to put their time and effort into it. They don’t have to feel excluded when it “can be tackled by providing real opportunities for young people to have a say in decisions that impact their lives and communities” as Vicki Combe points out. This is the key to being a part of the changes that impact their lives. It can and should be done at the local level, exactly where this assignment of writing a proposal can help. So get involved, keep committed to your efforts and know you do have efficacy. Tomorrow is the world’s youth of today and we need you – heed the call.

Works Cited

Dahl, M. (2008, 11 5). Youth vote may have been key to Obama's win. Retrieved 4 25, 2011,        from www.msnbc.msn.com: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27525497/ns/politics-          decision_08/

GTZ. (2010). Concepts andrelevance of youth participation. Retrieved 4 25, 2011, from    Youth Participation: http://www2.gtz.de/dokumente/bib-2010/gtz2010-3221en-            youth-participation.pdf

Ramage, J., Bean, J., & Johnson, J. (2010). Writing Arguments (8th ed.). U.S.: Pearson      Education, Inc.

Richards-Schuster, K., & Checkoway, B. (2010, 1 29). New Lessons from Michigan          Municipalities. Retrieved 4 25, 2011, from Youth Participation in Public Policy at the     local level: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ncr.273/abstract