Youth vote doubles in 2008 primaries

While I am not surprised, this is still pleasant news to read.  CIRCLE has run some numbers and declared that the youth vote (ages 18-29) nearly doubled from the 2000 primaries to 2008.

Young voters turned out in record numbers, casting a 6.5 million votes. This year’s percentage of young voters was nearly double the turnout in 2000 (in the states that collected youth-voting data that year), according to figures compiled by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE).

…The more than 6 million votes cast is a dramatic increase in youth-voter turnout compared to the 2000 election and marks the first time the youth vote has risen in three consecutive election cycles since the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971, according to CIRCLE.

“This primary season, the Millennials have gone to the polls in record numbers, showing they are an influential voting bloc in American politics,” CIRCLE director Peter Levine said. “They realize what’s at stake and the impact this election will have on their future and the future of our country.”

No doubt — an engaged youth is a sign of a healthy democracy.  And a health democracy is absolutely needed if the common good is to be served.

Glad to be back

I picked up my Mac today from the repair shop.  Luckily I hadn’t stored too many things on my hard drive because all of it was lost.

But we’re back in business now.  They even detailed my computer a bit, as that stain just to the left of my caps lock key has been buffed and is barely noticable.

I feel like I finally might be able to make some headway with this blog.  So please, I beg of you, do not remove me from your RSS subscription list.  I’ll make up for it over the next few weeks, I promise.

Thanks for your patience!  It’s much appreciated!