I don't know about you, but this is all I hear from the pundits. Occasionally one will speak up for young people in this country, explaining that they're not all a bunch of hooligans, and that they do seem really, really, awfully excited to vote this year. Oh, and that they came out to the primaries in pretty big numbers, right?
But then all the rest of the talking heads at the table burst into laughter, and one usually makes some inane remark about "kids" voting when 1)pigs fly, 2)hell freezes over, or 3)the Cubs win the World Series.
Well, as EJ Dionne points out todayin his Post column, the Cubs might actually win the Series...and young people just might tip this election:
Dionne on the trends:
The trend started four years ago. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, or Circle, electoral participation among 18- to 24-year-olds increased from 36 percent in 2000 to 47 percent in 2004. For the larger 18-to-29 group, participation rose from 40 to 49 percent.
The 2006 midterm elections brought a greater increase in off-year voting among the under-30s than in any other age group.
Then came this year's primaries: According to Circle, the turnout rate for under-30s nearly doubled between 2000 and 2008, from 9 to 17 percent.
But wait--those damn kids!!! They don't vote!!! They can't get off their lazy asses and quit mouthing along with American Idol or sleeping off their beer induced comas long enough to get a job or a haircut, let alone stand in line at the polls. Right? Right? RIGHT??????
Dionne, having to seem sober and thoughtful, of course tempers his analysis by explaining that young people probably won't turn out in numbers that equal their elders'. But still, he says. In fact, his whole column is a big "but still."
But still, for example:
The increase in political interest among the young is staggering. Between 2000 and this year, the percentage of those under 30 describing the campaign as interesting was up 36 percentage points; the increase among those 65 and over was a more modest 18 points.
And he explains that this is not a one time thing, as many of us know. Kerry also rocked the under 30 vote (well, anyone-but-Bush rocked the under 30 vote) and this is a continuation of the trend.
Maybe young people won't turn out in greater strength than the bluehairs. And maybe my beloved Cubs will lose like they always lose, at the end of the day. But still:
Could the young make a difference in Barack Obama's favor? Again, the answer is clearly yes. Age is one of the most powerful lines of division in this election. In Pew's survey, under-30s gave Obama his largest lead, 56 to 36 percent. He also led among voters ages 30 to 49 but ran behind among voters 65 and over.
What do you think? Will young people make the crucial difference in this year's election? Or will they all follow Obama girl's lead and forget to vote in their enthusiasm over Barack? Comment away, please. And get the hell off my lawn.