The baby boomers will be retiring soon and leaving the workplace, which leaves the next generation to take their place. Generations X and Y have a difficult job ahead of them with many obstacles standing in their way. During the Clinton years, the financial future was promising, but today the opportunity is less hopeful.

The attacks on Sept. 11 and an economic recession have left the teens and 20-year-olds of today with an unwelcoming work outlook. The world has been changed, and it will take a dedicated, hard working group of young people to turn it around. Yet the upcoming generations do not seem to have an interest in what really shapes our country: politics and economics.

Many surveys have been done that show a lack of interest in political science. Since 1966, the annual Survey of American College Freshmen has recorded the attributes, activities, expected educational outcomes and life objectives of the students entering some 1,600 institutions. The most recent report has findings about how important political information and influence is to these undergraduates. Overall, freshmen consider politics less essential than other personal, financial and social objectives, and there has been erosion in the percentage of freshman intending to major in political science.

A survey was conducted with 100 LVA students, and the turnout was not any better. Some of the questions on the survey were: "Do you know what Enron is?" "Do you know what is going on between Israel and Palestine?" and "Do you know what America is doing in the 'war on terrorism?'" Of the students who cared to answer, some of the responses were either wrong from lack of knowledge or answered without any opinion or concern.

Common responses to the questions such as, "I don't care," and "I don't have an opinion," were shown over all grade levels. When asked what other ways our country could handle the terrorism, one student said, "I'm not sure; I really have never sat down and thought about it. Whatever my country does, wrong or right, I will support it."

This unconditional support for the country shows that many students do not care about getting involved in political affairs and public policy. That was not the only quote that showed this type or indifference.

A sophomore replied, "I think what we are doing is right. I mean, it is not right to kill, but how else are they going to learn not to mess with the USA?"

And yet another tenth grader said, "I think we should stay out of the situation because the government is going to do whatever they want anyway."

Some answers were just completely off track, like one sophomore who wrote, "I am totally sure what Enron is; it is the cells of a baby before it is born. We should not be killing the cells of a baby, but parents should give it up for adoption."

For those of you who don't know, Enron was once one of the world's leading energy companies, which in December 2001, filed the largest bankruptcy claim in U.S. history.

Not to be discouraged, there were many surveys that were answered with intelligent, opinionated answers. Surprisingly, the most opinionated were the tenth graders. The sophomores were mostly inclined to answer the question, "What other ways could our country handle the problem of terrorism?"

Sophomore Jessica Aceredo wrote, "We are also being terrorists by going and doing the same thing over there. Now after the attacks, we've decided to help the people in need in Afghanistan, why not before?"

Aubrey Forston, tenth grade, said, "Our country should make our security better; intimidation isn't right. Terrorists are just going to have more fuel for their anti-western world fire."

The question answered the least was the one on Israel and Palestine. The Arab-Israeli conflict is the continuation of an Arab-Jewish struggle that began in the early 1900s for control of Palestine. There has been a constant bloody struggle over the land between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Sophomore Kevin Santos said, "Israel and Palestine are fighting a holy war, and I believe that there should be peace between these two nations. They should be tolerant of each other's religions and learn to live in peace together."

Most seniors answered all the questions right, but they did not have an opinion, or they did not want to take the time to write it down. One senior who did was Nate Kimbaum, who responded, "I think we should spend less time investing in military and warfare and spend more time focusing on recovering our economic losses. Militaristic response is unnecessary; by committing similar acts of warfare, we are not any better than the terrorists themselves.”

While these responses may be hopeful, the overall turnout is not encouraging. The fact is, most students are not interested in politics, and the Survey of American College Freshman says, "The current youngest American cohort displays greater political apathy and cynicism, lower attention to political information, lower voting turnout, less inclination to identify with political parties, lower levels of patriotism and of pride in how democracy works in the U.S., and less pride in being a citizen than any other cohort ever studied.”

-Return to May 2002 Issue-