Post from Senator Joseph Lieberman, January 7, 2004

Are young Americans not voting because politicians do not pay attention to us, or are politicians not paying attention to young Americans because we do not vote? And what does paying attention mean anyway?

It's clear that young people are more engaged in their communities than ever before -- in environmental groups, church groups, tutoring, mentoring. It's really impressive. I look at my own kids and I'm inspired by their involvement.

But we also have to admit -- civic participation all too often stops at the voting booth.

And I don't think we should accept that cynicism. I don't think 'politician' should be a dirty word.

It was John Kennedy who inspired me to go into public service. A young man named Bill Clinton worked on my first campaign for the Connecticut state senate.

I think we need to make young people proud of public service -- and proud enough of our government, their government, to help shape it again. Here are three ways we can encourage young Americans to become politically active:

1. Remind them that every vote counts. If we ever forgot that, we learned it again in Florida in 2000. Just 537 votes made the difference between Al Gore and George Bush...between cleaner air and having the worst environmental president in history...between protecting civil liberties and having the government peeking over your shoulder whenever you're in a library.
    
2. Talk about what will affect their future. Jobs. Global warming. Stopping terrorism and nuclear proliferation.
    
3. Level with them. Cynicism breeds apathy. Integrity encourages trust -- and participation.