MICHAEL DECKLEVER
CHEYENNE, WY
Essay themes: Registering Independent

JOSHUA TAYLOR
CASPER, WY
High school student
Born: 1981

Essay themes: Explore lowering the voting age for certain elections
The current trend among young people to ignore the obligation that a democracy places on them to vote is a plague that must be solved. That the people contribute to the overall knowledge and abilities of a democracy is a point that is often neglected and ignored when informing our high school students of participating of their need to vote. This yet another symptom of the failure to interest the younger generations into voting.

Encouraging our younger generations to vote is not the cure for this ailment within our society. Students for years have heard the importance of voting from various sources, and have chosen to ignore this important message. Choosing to allow our younger generations to vote earlier on in life is could be a possible answer. No, this is not say that the United States immediately has twelve year olds voting the presidency of the nation. Instead we could allow them to vote on more subject within schools, encourage schools to become more "democratic" and allow the students more of a voice in the policy of their school. After all it is their schools and once they see their that their opinions do sway their environment, then the seed of democracy shall be implanted within their breasts.

This is by no means a silver bullet cure for the voting ills of our youth. Current opinions among of high school students is one of general "ambivalence" towards the state of our society, creating projects that involve students among the community and allow for their individual opinions to be raised is also a means of slowing the decline of voting among our youth.

Ultimately the distrust of the federal government and youths is barrier that must be broken down. Honesty on both sides of the wall has to be the first step both sides take to breaking the barrier down. Once the barrier has been broken down then neither side seek to use the other as a means to its own goals. Rather, both sides should seek to help each other reach mutual goals. This and the further educating of our young is sure means of meeting the voting needs of the United States. Which shall allow our nation to prosper in the coming millennium and beyond.

MICHAEL DECKLEVER
CHEYENNE, WY

Essay themes: Registering Independent
There is so much about the political system of our country that bothers me and many others that I do not think that everything can be addressed and fixed. The topics listed above may help, but probably will not have a significant impact on many of the young people. I think one of the major problems with today's young people is that not enough care. All the topics listed above would be great changes, but they would benefit the older people more than the younger people. Honestly, I cannot say exactly why it would be better for the old people. I guess they care a little more, and they see that all these things would make a big impact on the country, or could possibly make an impact. There is not a real change in the electoral system that would affect young people participation. The change has to come from the politicians that are in their elected positions. See, in this time, teenagers and young people in general are starting to express their opinions more often. However, it seems that no one is listening, no one thinks that this generation is capable of making a valid and intellectual argument.

Many adults think that this generation is to caught up in the drugs, alcohol, and music. Here is another stereotype placed on American teenagers. We do too many drugs and alcohol, we are too influenced by music and movies. The music we listen to, the movies we watch, and the games we play are too violent and sexual. When is the last time that you watched the news and there was not a clip about something violent and sexual? These are the times we live in, and we have to adapt.

Just because we have adapted to the times does not make us less intelligent though. I was at a conference where the guest speaker was in his thirties. He told us that we are better than his generation, our parents generation. We are smarter, stronger, faster, better-looking, everything. However, we are in a society that is, in actuality, worse. There are more drugs, more sex, more violence. Life for us is tougher by far, so we have to fight more to get through. Then, when we voice an opinion, or want something done to help us, and we are ignored, that is when we get frustrated, and basically get rid of that part of our lives. Our lives are very difficult now, and each teenager has their own way of dealing with it. The government says it is there to help, that they want us to voice an opinion. Then when we voice an opinion, nothing happens. The government tells us that they are here to help, but they never help in the way we want. So, we take it into our own hands, and do what we have to.

When a politician takes office and listens to what teenagers have to say, and tries to get people to look at their arguments, then many more teenagers will get involved. For now it is pointless. We are voting for people that make all their decisions based on our parents, and their needs. It just seems to us that nothing we say matters. I think that some of the politicians need to go to some schools, listen to what the students have to say, and take that back to Washington or wherever. I have been involved in class discussions that get so intense that the teacher has to stop us. We have strong opinions, and we are willing to express them, as long as someone is willing to listen. Now, I am not going to say that all teenagers can make valid, intellectual arguments, or that all teenagers feel the same way I do. I know that when I register, I am going to register as an independent because the Democratic and Republican segregation bothers me. I have ideas about how the country should be run, and I do not care if they are Democratic or Republican. I consider them American, or more specifically, my own.

Do whatever you want to the electoral system. It may sway a few people, who is to say it will not? However, in my opinion, more young people will participate when someone listens. Try remembering back to your childhood. Do you remember feeling like no one cared what you thought? Do you remember feeling picked on, and not being treated as an equal? Do you remember feeling that politics were pointless, and if you ever got in that you would change them? Teenagers are getting more and more independent every year. We do not need someone to do something for us. It is nice when it happens, but it does not happen enough. It's like when a teenager needs to get somewhere. We ask our parents if they can get us there. If they say no, that what they are doing is more important, does that keep us from getting where we need to get? No, we usually find other ways. We can get by without help, but like I said, it is nice when it happens.

The government is like our parents. We ask for help, but when they say there are other things that are more important, we do what we have to. If the government starts being more beneficial, saying that they will help, then more teenagers will go to the government and ask for more, and participation will increase. The major way to increase participation is not to listen, there has been enough of that. The way to increase participation is to do; to hear what students have to say, and do something to help. Until then, participation will continue to plummet as more and more teenagers become more and more independent.