Young People - It is time for us to step up to the plate

When most people think of politics they think of people who cannot be trusted. They think that all politicians are liars who cannot be trusted and are out for their own self interests. Because people are so turned off from the negative stuff that they hear and read about when it comes to politics they decided to turn away from. As young people, members of generation X and the millennial generation, we have witnessed a President cheat on his wife, another President steal an election, unemployment at an all time high, 9/11, unaffordable college tuition and rising costs in everything. Yet, the people who are in charge making these decisions that result in these out comes, who are bickering constantly on Capitol Hill and not getting anything done are people who are not from our generation. You have folks our parents and grandparents age bitching (pardon my French) and complaining about what the other side is doing or saying instead of making decisions and getting stuff done. This criticism is on both sides of the aisle. People are worried about the next election and raising money from special interest groups instead of trying to compromise to get things done.

I don’t care if you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green party or Independent, when young people vote it changes the outcome of elections. It was proven again in 2008 with the election of Bracka Obama. In 2008 approximately 22 and 24 million young Americans ages 18–29 voted. That was second highest percentage of young voter turnout since 1972 when the voting age was lowered to 18 years old.

As young people we cannot sit on the sidelines and shrug our shoulders. We must speak up and say something. The tea party protest and the Occupy protest are great in getting people excited about the issues. But it does not make a difference if we don’t vote the people out of office who are part of the problem. If you are not registered to vote then you cannot vote. If you do not vote, then you cannot complain about the people in elected office.

It is time for young people to step up the plate.

- Nicole Williams

Nicole was a former candidate for State Delegate in Maryland. She is currently the Chair of the Judicial Council of the Young Democrats of America, member of the executive board of the Young Democrats of Maryland and President of the Prince George’s County Young Democrats. Her grandfather was a Republican but has chosen another path.

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