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Politics for the Under 35 Set
LISTEN TO "Politics for the Under 35 Set" (24MB MP3)
Take a moment to let your mind go back to your college or high school days -- or if you're in one of those fine institutions right now, just pause a moment... think of that great energy that takes over the school when it is time to elect a new student government. Hopeful leaders canvas the campus with their friends, taping photocopied election signs on every empty lamppost, pinning them on every available bulletin board. These leaders believe they can solve the problems the school -- and sometimes society -- faces.
Then they graduate and the enthusiasm fades into the realities of day-to-day life.
Well, that happens for some of them. Then there are those who continue canvassing. They end up leading our communities long before many people think they have the experience to hold office.
Right now in Oregon there are a number of political leaders who are still very young. A group of legislators in the state government have bonded together under the banner "Five Under 35." They're working to highlight the issues facing youth, and to inspire other young people to run for office. Then there's the mayor of Gresham -- he's 35 -- and the mayor of Union who is a mere 19 years old.
What unites these young leaders? What issues do they come together to deal with? They cite the access to post-secondary education, economic development, environmental concerns, and increasing voter turnout, to name a few. What else should be on that list?
Are you a Millennial or a Twixter? A Gen Xer? The parent of a Gen Yer? What issues are most important to you? Do you feel well represented in politics? Does the political process inspire you, or does it feel like a hindrance to participation? Are you going to vote?
GUESTS:
Ben Cannon: State Representative from Portland. He?s a Democrat, a teacher and community activist. He?s Chair of the Bus Project and the organizer of ?Five Under 35? ? a group of legislators working for the interests of young Oregonians. He?s 34.
Shane Bemis: Mayor of Gresham and the owner of three local restaurants. He is 35 years old and was first elected to the Gresham City Council when he was in his 20s.
Kyle Corbin: Mayor of Union City. He?s 19 years old and was first elected to office as a write-in candidate when he was 18. This year he?s running for County Commissioner as a Republican.
Sara Gelser: State Legislator representing Corvalis and Philomath. She?s one of the ?Five Under 35.? She?s running as the incumbent for House District 16. In the primary she?s uncontested. Her Republican contender is Rockne Roll ? a 21 year old.
Tagged as: 2008 election · generation x · generation y · politics · youth
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I am not sure what generation I am part of, but I am 22 years old. I am entusiastic about politics and will be voting. I think young people can bring a fresh energy to politics. We haven't had the time to become cynical and pessimistic. I think we can still think outside the box and be creative with our solutions.
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I'm newly 30 and no kids, so those issues don't apply to me now. I enjoy the new style of politics because it revolves around honesty, admitting when one is wrong, and not just telling folks what they need to hear via soundbites.
We don't have kids yet for a few reasons but if we wanted to, we couldn't afford it. How can Oregon make the tax structure more fair so we can have a house, a kid and a life and not eat beans for weeks? -
Cook97203, what kind of a change in the tax structure did you have in mind?
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I like the parks issue that Shane Bemis has raised. With youth obesity becoming a bigger issue (no pun intended) every day, and budgets getting tighter at the same time - our parks often go woefully underfunded.
As a skateboarder who has been involved with getting skateparks built here in the Portland metro (as well as nationwide) I have an interest in the Portland mayoral race. Sam Adams has demonstrated his support for the skateparks built recently, and he offers the best bet to further develop more of the planned skatepark system. -
One issue that faces the next generation, as well as everyone else, is climate change. I wonder what these two are doing to curb the effects of global warming on the state and city level - and how young people can help in those efforts.
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I'm excited there are more youths in politics, because there should be, everyone should be represented. However, younger people are so often presented in a simple and saintly fashion, not just by you, but in general. Young people are not sacred or noble, they are no cure-all. Yes, young people are sometimes more liberal but this usually changes with age. Look around at popular culture its hardly a place of optimism, good will and philanthropy. There really isn't as much substantive disparity between the old and the young, most is cultural and superficial.
This relates to a view I have of the elderly: just because they seem old and fragile doesn't mean they are good people. The mean and the nice grow old too!
-Portland, Oregon -
I am 18 years old and have recently registered to vote, but I am well ware that there are many young people who feel that government and politics do not affect them. For young people people who do not own very much property and do not pay taxes, there is not as much selfish motivation to vote. I, however, feel that voting and civic participation in general should be looked at not as a selfish action to further personal beliefs, but rather as a way to invigorate our democratic system and collectively build policy that is best for everyone. While this view may seem idealistic, the idea of enlightened self interest and doing what is best for everyone in order to help yourself is nothing new. I think that helping young people learn about the side of politics that is concerned with common good and not just bickering over issues will help encourage youth voting.
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I'm 62 but for 35 years I lived overseas in developing countries. Problems with getting absentee ballots on time effectively disenfranchised me.
Since moving back to the US I feel like a new voter and I love working alongside young voters. They usually "get it" on on the need for workforce housing, public transportation, and public restrooms. Plus they are entrepreneurial on social issues and in business.
Our neighborhood association just elected a strong new board with lots of under 35s, enabling me to step down as Chair and simply support younger folks who will get the job done. -
I wish that in a discussion of participation, we are not talking about the Electoral College and (at least in relation to the presidential election). We have cut most civics classes and as little as the youth dont know about politics, most are really not going to know that it is not a representational vote.
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As a candidate for Oregon House District 42 (SE/NE Portland), I have talked to hundreds of young adults over the last few months. I have heard concerns about debt from higher education, the lack of employment opportunities, inability to afford a home, begin a family, and plan for the future. With the health care and credit card industries increasingly becoming obstacles for upward mobility, many of the young adults I am talking to are feeling more disconnected and disenfranchised. What do you believe is the greatest impediment and the solutions to getting young people more involved in politics and social movements?
-Teddy Keizer
Candidate for House District 42 -
As an educator and grandmother, I am thrilled that young people are getting more involved in the electoral process. But, I have concerns. My experiences find that young people generally do not think through their political stands and perspectives. They really don't know what they know or believe about the issues confronting either communities, states or the nation. They most often cast their vote based on charisma of the candidate or the provocativeness of the issue presented through internet or popular media: whether it be for the student council president, local politicians or national issues and candidates. Thank you.
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I just turned 40, but, other than being a lot less arrogant, I don't feel my mindset is very different from when I was under 35. We need to search for the universal truths that underly our passions/views and strive to live up to our ideals.
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Just wanted to let folks know the next dates for the 5 Under 35 listening tour of Oregon college campuses:
Tuesday, April 22nd: PCC Sylvania - 6:30-8:00pm - Performing Arts Center Foyer
Tuesday, April 29th: Willamette University - 6:30-8:00pm
- Hatfield Room in the Hatfield Library
Thanks for listening today - and I hope that you can come and share some of your ideas with the representatives at either stop on the tour. -
I'm 27 years old and I believe more young people need to get involve into politics. As a young worker, I believe that we are being squeezed for the benefit of older generation. I'm talking about Medicare and Social Security. It is hard for us to cut benefit, because the moment we try that, AARP and other special interest groups will lobby as hard as they can to prevent that from happening. And who will bear the burden, workers in the age of 35-year and under.
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I guess I'm part of the movement in Oregon towards younger politicians. At 27, I'm running for US House OR-2. As a young adult I fill the gap between student and professional, as a mother I understand the needs of children and families, as a gerontologist I understand the needs of elders, and as a physician I understand the breakdown of health care in our country. My generation understands the risks of environmental degradation- and the promise of technology.
~Tristin Mock -
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