We saw a couple of stories over the weekend about young people.
First, a USA Today story discussing the grim job prospects for young people.
Second, a story (via Bill Katz) about young people tuning out of politics:
Students across the country are protesting commencement speakers of all political varieties. Rutgers students balked at Condoleezza Rice and her ties to the Iraq War. Smith College kids and professors threatened to jeer IMF director Christine Lagarde’s monetary policies. And Robert Birgeneau faced protests at Haverford College over an incident involving campus police and batons. All the high-profile speakers are taking a pass.To be fair, President Obama is not responsible for an educational system that graduates students who offer little to real world employers.
The dispassionate protest represents a certain irony: The under-30 set is deeply dissatisfied with politics and institutions of government — an attitude emerging ahead of an election year when Senate Democrats could use some first-term Barack Obama-style enthusiasm from the young.
But a recent national poll of 18- to 29-year-olds conducted by Harvard’s Institute of Politics found that few intend to vote in the midterms.
Less than one in four said they “definitely” planned to vote in November.
Young Republicans showed more enthusiasm than young Democrats for participating in the midterms.
Another Harvard poll showed that post-election partisanship on a number of issues is deepening.
Young adults are losing their faith in government."
In other words, too many degrees are worthless, as my friend Aaron Clareywrote about a couple of years ago.
On the other hand, President Obama is responsible for inspiring a bunch of young people in 2008 with utter nonsense and phrases like "we are the change that we've been waiting for." Too many expected a President Obama to walk on water. Sadly, they've learned that he can't swim.
Politically, this is a challenge for the Democrats in 2014 because they need a turnout. At the same time, it is an opportunity for the GOP to gain some support with sound economic proposals that focus on growth.
P. S. You can hear my chat with Bill Katz of Urgent Agenda about this & follow me on Twitter @ scantojr.
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