Throughout the history of America young people have always played a crucial role in politics. The famous writer Srirangam Srinivas wrote, “Our country is not in the hands of lazy and corrupted old politicians, this country is ours i. e. youth”. Young people between the ages 18 to 25 are the future of this country and its political system. The young people of America have a responsibility to be involved with politics and with their civic duties.
The youth in America must be involved in politics to ensure that America stays a country of freedom, and to combat the corruption in politics, they must also be involved with their civic duties in order to give back to their country and to leave a legacy of political and civic participation for generations to come. It is no secret that there is a considerable amount of corruption in American politics. A poll conducted by CSNNews. com, shows that 91. 9 percent of citizens think that corruption is “a significant problem in Washington DC. It seems there is always a new story about a political figure taking a bribe or lying. This has been a thorn in the side of the American political system since its creation. Olusegun Obasanjo wrote, “Corruption, the greatest single bane of our society today”, the corruption in our politics is causing America to regress. The youth in America have the opportunity to change this. By getting more involved in politics America’s youth can expose the corruption in politics and work to alleviate it for good. This is only possible however, through the youth playing a more active role in politics.
The problems in America’s political system aren’t going anywhere and will still be around for the next generation unless something is done about it. If the corruption in politics is to be dealt with Cavins 2 young people must make it a priority to become more involved in politics and make it their duty to be honest and fair politicians whose only goal is to serve the people of this country. This is only possible through an increase in the involvement from young people in politics. Furthermore, young people are charged with the task of ensuring that America remains a free nation and a fair nation.
When the founding fathers drafted the Constitution their main focus was creating a nation where everyone would be free from the restraints of a controlling government and treated equal. America has always been a nation of freedom, and needs to remain that way. The youth in this country is charged with the task of ensuring that America remains the “land of the free”. Without involvement in politics this is not possible. If youth are to maintain the American ideals of freedom and equality it is imperative that they be involved in politics.
Voting every four years for the president, who is more of a figure head than anything else, is simply not enough. Young people need to take a more active role in politics such as running for a political office, local or national. This is the only way they will be able to put their beliefs into action and ensure that America upholds it’s long standing values of freedom and equality. The youth need to start taking action as soon as they are old enough. However, young people need to be educated on politics and be firm in their beliefs before delving into the world of politics.
In recent years the youth have shown a trend of disengagement and apathy toward political involvement. According to “The Good Citizen”, a book written by Russell J. Dalton, political analysts and politicians agree that the youth are losing interest in politics and losing faith in their government. This is a major problem for America. If the youth do not remain Cavins 3 active in politics there can be no guarantee that America will remain the same nation of freedom and equality. There is a need for the youth to become more active in politics as soon as they are able.
Without the involvement of young people there is no guarantee that America will remain as it is today. Civic participation is another must for the young people of today. The youth need to communicate their ideas and beliefs to the politicians to ensure that policies reflect their needs and desires. However, according to, The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), from 1976 to 2004 the voter turnout by 18 to 24 year olds was consistently below 40%. Although there was a rise in the 2002 and 2008 elections there is a trend of low voter turnout from America’s youth.
If the young people in America expect their voices to be heard there needs to be an increase in voting. Being the easiest way for a citizen to get involved in politics there is no reason every person, of the age to vote, shouldn’t be voting. In order for the voice of the youth in America to be heard there must be an increase in civic participation. Civic participation not only gives a voice to citizens it also gives them an opportunity to give back to their country. There are many countries around the world where citizens get absolutely no say in what happens with their government.
As American citizens young people have the not only the right but the privilege to participate in politics and it starts with civic participation. The idea of political involvement from young people came only because previous generations of youth decided to get involved in politics. Without their example youth would Cavins 4 have no motivation or reason to become involved in the political system. The current generation is given the same task as the generation before them; they must leave a legacy of political participation for the generations to come.
The youth’s role in politics will not only have an immediate effect but will also have a long term effect for the next generation to come. A trend of 18 to 25 year olds being involved in politics must begin now, if the youth is to leave a legacy of civic and political participation they must begin to become more active in politics. The youth will always be the future of this society and the future of its politics, a legacy must be left that will echo for generations to come. The role of 18 to 25 year olds in the political realm and in civic participation is simple, there needs to be an increase and it needs to happen soon.
The youth of America must begin to become more involved in politics and this begins with civic participation, when a citizen of this country turns 18 they must exercise their right to vote, their right to be heard, and never take that right for granted. Beyond that 18 to 25 year olds need to begin to run for political office in order to combat the corruption that currently exists in our political system. They have the power and obligation to put a stop to political corruption and to instill a political system that is focused only on serving the needs of the people and representing the ideals of society.
The young people of this country need to become involved in politics so they can leave a lasting legacy of involvement for the generations to come, they need to set the example of how to be young and politically active. Perhaps the most important role young people play in politics is ensuring that America remains a nation that is home to freedom, fairness, and equality. Young people must increase their role in American government so that America continues to reflect the ideals of a nation of free people.
