Today’s New York Times has an article that talks about how the 2008 race for the White House “fundamentally upended” the way presidential campaigns are fought in this country. Part of that is because blogs and the internet have played a greater role this time around. But what’s more, the electorate has changed because of efforts by the Democrats to register and turn out new black, Hispanic and young voters, the Times says.
I see the change at the grassroots level, in my own family. Both of my two kids are too young to vote, but both are far more aware of the candidates and the issues than I ever remember them being – or than I ever remember myself being, for that matter.
My middle school daughter is an Obama supporter, and she’s been wearing her Obama button on her backpack since September. My teenage son – a little less committed, a little more alternative – nonetheless has been reading political bloggers and consuming tons of political videos on YouTube. They watched the debates, they watched Obama’s infomercial, they talk to their friends about who they are supporting and why, and I overhear their conversations from the driver’s seat. Both of them voted in mock elections at their schools yesterday, and discussed the results at dinner last night. (Obama took both.)
Some of this is clearly trickling down from their parents. But at the same time, it seems a reflection of a broader trend: Kids are becoming more civic-minded.
In politics, in the environment, in social issues, it seems my kids – and yours – are seeing the world with a broader view. They are interested. They see the world positively, at least in that they want to get involved, and they have decided they can make a difference.
At least, that’s what I’m observing, at my house. What about you? Do you see the same kind of interest and involvement from your own kids?
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Ann Handley heads up content at MarketingProfs and also writes her acclaimed personal blog, A n n a r c h y: Subscribe to A n n a r c h y here. It’s really fun to follow her on Twitter.
