Some of those “complaining” young people even suggested to start voting at 16.
“We're not taught about politics and it’s only when we turn 18 that the politicians and society become interested in us, but is this right?”
“Most people argue that we shouldn’t be able to vote until we are 18 because we aren’t mature enough to make an uninfluenced decision until then. However, if we were taught about it and were involved in it we would have enough intelligence to make our own decision. After all, who’s to say that at 18 we can make a completely independent decision? We don’t suddenly turn 18 and understand politics, do we?”
“At 16 I can smoke, leave home, start work, join the armed forces, pay tax and get married with my parent’s permission. At 17 I will be able to learn to drive but it’s not until I’m 18 that I can vote for who I want to be the Prime Minister. Is this fair?” (Kate Sutton,17) [2]
Of course it’s not only the politicians’ fault that the youth don’t participate properly in politics (due to the lack of information, propaganda, absence of proper political studies at schools and colleges and whatever else). There are other factors which influence greatly on a person – a family and media.
The word politician envisages an old, tired and worn-out individual but, in general, we hardly think of youngsters as politicians. Many of us regard politics as "quicksand" where if one gets in, will never be able to come out. Due to this wrong notion, politics is definitely not one among the diverse career options chosen by the youngsters. Many of us portray youth as `cool, young and happening' but we fail to realise the potential and capacity of the young blood in reforming our age-old politics. That’s why all the political information given by different kinds of media is generally aimed at the adults.
“At the age of 39 I don't blame young people for being apathetic about politics. The only way to have any influence is to be selected as a member of a focus group which exist only to provide politicians with key words for their slogans. On the BBC's Newsnight during the Tories' last conference, people struggled to tell apart soundbites from Ian Duncan Smith and Tony Blair. I would be surprised if young people were NOT apathetic.” (Martin Berridge, UK) [1]
As such, a prudent reason for the youth not entering politics is the misrepresentation of the youth as `cool, young and happening' and entering into politics or even discussing it is considered as a waste of time. A very less number actually possess a voter identification card and even lesser number actually go to vote, all of which results in a degraded majority and a wrong party on power. And then, with a frown on their face, the same youngsters moan," Our country will never change". [5]
If we observe from the societal point of view, the reason for lack of interest in politics among the youngsters can be their parents and elders. They feel that politics is not their cup of tea and that they would rather want their sons and daughters to have a secure life. In other words, they want their children to choose a career that has more security and more potential, i.e. a good job with good money. Due to this, many ebullient youngsters who have the real potential to change the political scenario of the country sit in their air-conditioned offices, doing a more "secure" job and deriding and despising the politics of the country. Of course they disparage the politicians too.
Conclusion
Having analysed quite a lot of articles, comments of people of different ages and social status, statistical data I have come to the conclusion that the problem of youths’ participation in political life of a country is very ambiguous. One the one hand the percentage of non-voters in the USA and Great Britain is still high. I’ve singled out several major reasons for young people’s lack of interest. They are:
1) considering politics boring and waste of time;
2) lack of knowledge about the political system of the country’;
3) the assurance of no relevance of the participation;
4) excessive influence of parents on their child’s political identification.
On the other hand the rise of activity of the youth on the local level is seen recently and the interest to the nation-wide and global problems is fixated. These are good symptoms which indicate the recovery of the British and American society.
Of course some forms of political participation in Britain and the USA appear to be in crisis. Moreover, the way that the media and politicians have responded to the apparent crisis of youth participation has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. A full review of young people's place in the political environment is needed. This requires the application of different criteria for evaluating youth interests, and the avoidance of some of the most routinely used phrases to describe young people's attitudes to politics
The mediated portrayal of youth, politics and citizenship is critical to the future of any democratic state. Frequently charged with being dangerously apathetic, news media could look towards changing common media representations of young citizens, and promote more active contributions.
References
Date of access: 9.11.2008
2. Kate Sutton / Apathy rules UK - unless it's a war protest. Mode of access: http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/teens/2003/04/youth_politics.shtml
Date of access: 9.11.2008
3. Michelle Austein / Young Americans Paying Close Attention to Presidential Race. Mode of access: http://www.america.gov/st/elections08-english/2007/December/20071206173711hmnietsua9.809512e-02.html
Date of access: 19.11.2008
Date of access: 19.11.2008
5. Priyanka Rao / Gloomy scenario: The word politician envisages an old, tired and worn-out individual. Mode of access: http://www.hindu.com/edu/2006/05/22/stories/2006052202390400.htm
Date of access: 9.11.2008
6. Sarah Wheaton / Political Youth. Mode of access: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/partying-for-the-youth-vote/?scp=6&sq=youth%20&%20politics&st=cse
Date of access: 19.11.2008
7. Stephen Cushion / Misrepresenting Youth: UK Media and Anti-Iraq War Protesters. Mode of access: http://bad.eserver.org/issues/2004/65/cushion.html
Date of access: 19.11.2008