Hi, Deb,

Don't give up. The millennial generation is an interesting one - very attached to its parents, very full of that so discussed self-esteem. They expect the world to go their way, bring their parents to job interviews, believe they will enter the work force on the top levesl, and I suspect there will be a rude awakening as the employers no longer are as understanding as their parents about convenience and bending rules or when they find they have to take entry level jobs.

I already see great excitement about Barack Obama and the possibilities of change - so maybe good things are coming.

The Buddha speaks of the need for compassion, so have compassion for these poor young people who are going to have to carry the burden of all the things this generation has done wrong. I think change will come, with patience and with time.

Hmmmm....well, maybe I've been looking at different Facebook & MySpace profiles but what I've seen is quite the opposite. In fact, I have had more in person in depth conversations with those under the age of 20 regarding all the current issues & political parties than I have been able to garner from those in my age category. In addition, if you search for some politically bent groups on Facebook, you will find a bunch. I searched using the word "politics" & came up with 3 pages worth.

Add to that the extreme popularity of Jon Stewart's Daily Show & Stephen Colbert's Colbert Report & you've got a group of "younger generation" who has a much less skewed look at things. When I was growing up, The Smothers Brothers for one would take jabs at political leaders & issues. They were taken off T.V. Now you can find many differing views on every media source available. Plus MTv 's Rock the Vote & other younger demographically based magazines, radio stations & T.V shows have been bombarded with feedback. One of many groups, The Change Agents, of which my daughter is a member, is hosting a mass registration day at their high school for voter sign up. I helped my daughter sign up to vote & when I shared that information with other moms they were unaware that you could register early. Personally I have great confidence that the younger people are getting better informed & doing what they can to make a voice & will strive to right what has gone wrong sadly due to a lot of people our age who created or added to our current problems.

I just thought of something else. Take a look at the military in this country. How many recruits are fresh out of high school? Voluntarily, not because they are drafted. I know many who have served in various branches of the armed forces under the age of 20. Sadly I also know of many who did not return from their tour of duty. What greater stand can someone make than with their own life? Again, not because they were "made" to do it, but because they simply believed in it.

It's always risky to generalize about who cares and who doesn't. Think about it. The past eight years have been a frustrating and infuriating time, during which bunches of teens became twenty-somethings. And this couldn't be a clearer-choice election. Keep pushing. Get the word out. The people are running 'way ahead of the media in 2008.

Yes I agree with DaveN they are not being brainwashed as easily by the media like so many of us were. Yes so many of them are going to war and finding out what politics are really about. The biggest problem I see is they don't have enough on respect and as the old saying goes do unto others as you would want done to you. Families were united and not split from so many divorces. At least one parent was home to teach our kids instead of their learning from other people (teachers and nurserys). Usually these places are too full of kids to give the one on one teaching they need. Also we had shows like Leave it to Beaver and Andy Griffith where Andy would tell Opie " How would you like to be treated that way when Opie did something that hurt some one elses feelings. We were taught to think of others and taught to respect our elders. That's what's missing.

Life like it was on the Andy Griffith show is definately gone.

There are pockets of responsible, intelligent and compassionate youth...

But truthfully....Isn't there much more arrogance and ignorance?

Sadly I see more arrogance & ignorance in the 40+ group. I dunno, did we get tired or did we just get lazy ? My Scottish temper gets me fired up, I just load up my soapbox & head on out to preach it.