As a 30-something who's gone back to finish college (hopefully the first woman in my family to graduate!), I'm surrounded by people who are four to ten years younger than me. Despite the fact that I attend what has historically been a very liberal, politically active university, I've noticed a general apathy in the new student body. As a member of "Generation X," the fact that the next generation seems apathetic to me could rightfully be seen as an indicator of some apocalypse approaching...........
It's been pointed out to me recently that one of the differences between myself and someone just four years younger than me, is that "Generation Y" has only been able to vote in 2 elections: the 2000 election in which Gore folded and let Bush steal the presidency, as most of them see it, and the 2004 election in which Kerry folded and did the same. I have to admit, I can see how this could corrode someone's youthful idealism. Perhaps the only reason I still give a shit is that I was able to vote for Bill Clinton's re-election.
I'm alarmed by how many students at my college do not read or watch the news, and by the sense of hopelessness among many of my slightly younger acquaintances. There has been a prevailing cynicism, especially after 2004, that their votes do not count and that there is no difference between the two major parties.
That I, a self-described "angry atheist," am seen as a naive idealist should give you an idea of the sorry state of things.
...But then something happened this election season. While I've been wholeheartedly campaigning for Edwards (and I still believe he was our best choice), I couldn't help but notice that the age group whom I thought had given up on the political system entirely, was turning out to vote in the early states. And it looks like the candidate they've overwhelmingly been turning out to support is Barack Obama. I can not stress the importance of this enough.
A couple posts ago I wrote about the optimism of John Edwards and his supporters, and why it should be encouraged. And today I've decided that Obama's supporters are the ones who should be encouraged. That they NEED to be encouraged. I don't want the next generation of voters to be let down again. I firmly believe that their vote is needed in the general election, if we are to beat John McCain, and I also believe that they will not show up at all if Hillary Clinton is the nominee. I would put money on it (if I had any - I am a student, after all). And the effect goes beyond this particular election. A population without hope is a population that is easily oppressed and manipulated. We desperately need to break away from the Bush and Clinton dynasties.
It has been so encouraging, despite Edwards' dropping out of the race, to see record turnouts at the Democratic primaries so far, and to see record ratings for the Democratic debates (although perhaps the latter has something to do with the timing of the writer's strike working in our favor. The Democratic debates = the new primetime sitcom!).
And these new voters aren't people turning out to vote for Hillary Clinton. The grass roots momentum of Obama and his supporters is impressive, you have to admit, no matter who you support.
There are other reasons to support Obama, of course. Unlike Hillary Clinton, Obama took Edwards's challenge not to accept money from lobbyists. In fact, Obama has had more small donations than any other candidate.
And of course, Obama did not support the war in Iraq, which gives him an ENORMOUS advantage over ANYONE the Republicans throw our way. And unlike Edwards, Hillary Clinton has not apologized for her vote. I do not buy the excuse that she trusted Dubya not to use force when she voted to...well, authorize the use of force.
In a country that is clearly "aching" for change, as Edwards aptly described it, Hillary Clinton is not the candidate to beat the status quo Republicans. If Hillary Clinton is our best hope in the general election, then a whole Hell of a lot of people are going to lose hope altogether and just...stay home.
And so I say for the first time, if somewhat grudgingly, "Barack the vote!"
Oh, and I'll still vote in the general election if Hillary's the nominee, just to clarify. But I'm dedicated. I am not the disillusioned majority. This is an important distinction to make here at DailyKOS. I think it's easy, when surrounded by like-minded people, to insulate oneself from the rest of the country. We're political whores. We'll get our hearts wrenched out of our chests, dust ourselves off, and get right back up to vote for the next lesser evil. But we're not the average American. I think they've had their hearts broken one time too many.
EDIT (after reading comments): Holy crap. All this infighting. All this holier than thou. I think that I've been somewhat removed from it until now, being an Edwards supporter. Oh, to go back to the good old days of last week... If DailyKOS is any indication, the Democratic party is doomed. That's just anecdotal, mind you.;)