In as much as there has been a notable decline in civic engagement among the general populace over the last thirty years, the phenomenon is particularly acute among the adolescents. In simpler terms, young adults in the US are evidently disconnected from public discourse. Today’s youth is disinterested in the government and more suspect of fellow citizens. The feeling of a sense of identity and pride of American citizenship has dissipated amongst the youth. The ripple effect is a nation whose youth show little likelihood to register as voters, or engage in any political discourse beyond voting.
I do concur with the author’s assertion that the entry level for in-depth inculcation of civic engagement is too high for some youths. Not all students make it to college and, therefore, civic leaders need to find ways of capturing the imagination of all of them at a tender age. To come up with a better institutional framework, it is important to first address the root cause of this disengagement. People actively engage in public life when they have the opportunity, ability and motivation. College level is too late a level to teach these fundamentals of representative democracy.
Way Forward
The youth spend most of their time in leisure sports, there should be campaigns aimed at teaching them civic engagement besides having fun. In this regard, community initiatives should embrace modes of dissemination that is relevant to the youth and sensitive to their concentration.
Finally, the internet with its array of platforms like social networks, blogs and magazines are an invaluable resource. Most youth spend their time online and are more likely to encounter such campaigns.
References
O'keefe, G., & Pearson, C. (2011). The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics, 127(4), 800-804.
Schaffner, B. F. (2010). Politics. New York: Cengage Learning.
Williams, E. V., & Hollander. (2010). Politics for Business Students:A Comparative Introduction. Sydney: Pearson Education Australia.
