How do you get people politically engaged?

Question

I am a member of a student run political organization called JSA (Junior State of America). I am hoping someone will have a method to get students more politically involved.

Answer 1

Threaten something they favor.  Put a bill on the ballot which threatens to: criminalize abortions, ban all smoking everywhere, outlaw muscle cars, outlaw teens having driving licenses, require costly user fees/taxes on the sale of all music/video games, etc.  Those targeted will turn out to vote against the bills; big time.  While voting against that, they will also vote for/against other things.  It works every time.

Answer 2

You have a president like Jimmy Carter and you see how fast you get people to wake the h**l up.  That was what did it for me.   I shudder each time I think about that train wreck.

Answer 3

Develop a pledge card that they can sign that states they will register to vote at age 18, register another teen, and vote in the first possible election.

Create a game on the internet that will reward teens for their knowledge of current issues and candidates.

Call the local Democrats and Republicans and ask them to sponsor some teens at their local fundraisers, Jackson Day or watch parties or victory parties.  You can ask the members if they need volunteers for those events.  It's a lot of fun and you learn a lot.

Ask a local organization for disabled persons if you can ride along to the Capitol in their bus on their legislative day.  You can hang around and see how they visit legislators and strategize.

Call a political candidate and see if you can walk with them as they hit the neighborhoods for sign delivery and meeting constituents.

Best of luck to you!  Remember this is a life long commitment and enjoy your political participation.

Answer 4

find an issue that is related to youth and youth problem,like street gangs,racism,youth poverty,and teen age pregnancy anything that makes a young man/woman feel that they have can have a turn ofr there voices to be heard or there opinion counts

Answer 5

The lamentably defective current political systems based on nation-building philosophies do not have the answers to world problems.  We need a new system based on the spiritual principles of caring for the entire planet, one which is based on establishing justice and prosperity for every human on the planet.  Tell the students to forget about the train wrecks that we call governments.  They are falling apart from their own dead ineffectual weight because they cannot deal with planet-sized problems.  Youth should settle for nothing less because that's what they deserve.  

Youth need to ally themselves with groups that care about the whole planet, not with protecting one privileged place at the expense of others.

Answer 6

I think you need for them to decide to do so on their own

Answer 7

US and UK have the same problem it's a lack of trust in our politicians and this has caused a very dangerous indifference to the activities of our rulers and a low turn out in elections.

The politicians have to regain trust not by smart spin but by the truth. It will hurt for a while but ultimately it will gain respect if not liking. respect in the long run will gain votes and discourse