I still remember when I was nine years old and Nickelodeon came up with a following of the election between Al Gore and George W. Bush that was kid-friendly and gave a watered-down version of politics and what makes the president so important. It was educational and I felt like I had a small grasp of being a grown up. I never cared about another election since then, but at least I paid a little more attention than I used to.
In an interview with Jonah Goldberg, editor of National Review Online, he gave his rash opinions about how incredibly stupid the youth in America really are and that the voting age shouldn’t be as low as it is. And it reminded me of that time 12 years ago.
While watching, I thought it was the most obvious statement ever broadcasted because, yes; the youth are stupid in a way. Speaking as someone who is still young in life, I definitely think there are less than half of people my age who’ve cared about politics and have a mature understanding of politics and world issues since high school. Those are the ones who joined Model U.N. as their extracurricular activity and/or spent their time talking to teachers about what’s going on in the world because they know talking to their classmates would be a waste of time.
See, even us as the youth know we’re ignorant. But to condemn us and say we are dumb and not worthy of voting at our age is naïve for Goldberg, the guy saying we’re the ones who are naïve. Hey, we’re young and enjoying life before we have to be real adults and live in the real world.
Just because not all of us are mature enough to understand politics or even care doesn’t mean that the less-than-half of the youth should suffer. If the legal voting age changes, you might as well change the age of becoming a legal adult and the privileges that go along with it.
Or let the youth be as they are—dumb. We don’t need some guy to tell us that we’re immature and completely able to be swayed one way or another on certain views. We already know because we’re living it. That’s why those who matured faster than the rest of us don’t associate with people their age.
He does make one comment that made me laugh in surprise. When talking about politics and the youth favoring socialism over capitalism he said, “That’s something that conservatives have to work hard to beat out of them, either literally or figuratively, as far as I’m concerned.”
Sorry Goldberg, I’m pretty sure not many “youth” want you to spank them for being naughty.
This article appears in May 31 – Jun 6, 2012.
I am much less concerned about kids being dumb than the fact that so many never outgrow it.
I find it apalling how ignorant young people are today. Despite trillions of dollars thrown at education, our students rank 17th in the world in math and science. I find myself astounded at how little my grandkids know of geography, history and general knowledge. I’m an old codger, but when I graduated from high school I was ready for college. Want to know why? Because if a student in my generation couldn’t pass a class, her or she was held back until they could. Young people need to be challenged or they will never develop into informed, literate adults. That’s not happening nowadays, and our country is going to suffer for it. The only reason the U.S. can still hold its own with the world is the influx of brilliant foreign students into our universities. If that ever stops, we’re going to be a third rate nation, with China and India eating our lunch.
Is this a joke? A put-on? Can anyone really write this badly? Have logic this circular or opinions so ill-informed? Dear God, save us from sweet young things who “don’t understand politics or even care”. She may even vote on November 6th!
I find it appalling how ignorant our older Americans are , not only are they not willing or ready to hand over the torch, they are not willing to take responsibility for allowing trickle down economics to borrow from the future thereby saddling us with debt. Trillions of dollars do not go into education in fact most of our programs get cut for War,or more Cops, you let companies poison our water , you let business’s program us and steal our money.It was you , you were supposed to guide and teach us . You money grubbing old bastard’s dropped the ball on us and one day you will wonder in your geriatric state gnarled over in a wheelchair why we dropped the ball on you.
Our kids today are stupid.!!! And You CAN Blame the schools. I used to work at a school in a rural area, Every yr. during Christmas and Easter for 2 weeks the kids were taken out of class during the mornings when they do most of there work, they sat on the gym floor and colored, or talked. while waiting to be called up to practice for the program. I was totally blown off when I asked why they didn’t do this in the afternoon when they have library, computers and music. Then I was laid off HMMM I wonder now??? Schools don’t teach anymore they babysit.
How do you expect the Youth of today to understand something as complicated as Politics when the Politicians do nothing but lie for their own interests? Your solution can only be as good as the information that you are given…
it doesn’t matter how old you are. in the united states, the only sign of intelligence is knowing how much (masonic) bullshit you are surrounded by. politics? lol
I agree, change the legal age, across the board to 21 or 25. Having the privledge to vote and go to war but can’t buy a beer… typical political mentality
what dis say? Sum1 can read to me?
The first symptom of senility & dementia is forgetting what it was like to be young.
Crap! I tried to watch the whole clip of Goldberg but his repetitive use of UH, AND, & UM was unbearable. What a terrible public speaker.
Jesus Christ, I hope this is just the most pathetically-executed satire ever.
Ms. Valdez, your thoroughly asinine and unsubstantiated commentary only proves this man’s point. Dude, just stay home, you’re making all of us look bad.
Stupid people have a right to representative government. Here in Arizona, they got one. They are well represented in government, as are the mean people. Any talk of denying them the right to vote would be, um, Floridan?
When I was 18, I knew enough to know that Mr. Goldberg’s book, Liberal Fascism, was nothing more than a conservative smear piece.
Really, what we need are to get the blind, ignorant, ideologues on both the right and left out of politics forever by denying voting rights to everyone with an IQ of below 120.