Our nation is at risk of losing this generation's participation in democracy. Young people today are generally apprehensive about their future and cautious in their dealings with others. Although it is true that young people rate being involved in democracy and the community among their lowest priorities, this study also supports many other study findings that have shown youth volunteerism is on the rise. Our study also suggests that this type of volunteer work is motivated by a young person's desire to help others in a personal way. Young Americans have only a limited, vague understanding of what it means to be a citizen in a democratic society.
Young people suffer an information and skill deficit about politics and the process of voting.
Their personalized and often vague understanding of citizenship deters them from getting involved in the political process. Parental political engagement is a critical ingredient in youth political engagement and, as reported later, many youth are learning not to vote from their parents. Focus group respondents reinforced this survey finding, explaining that their high school courses failed to teach them how to register or how to vote. Youth also lack a clear understanding of the differences between the two major political parties. I'm not sure what either of them necessarily stands for.