From the Outside In: Young Americans’ Views on Creating Political Change

Young Americans are looking for new ways to produce change in the Trump era. While traditionally elections may generate hope and optimism about the power of government to bring about change, the actions of the new administration and Congress have yet to satisfy the concerns of young Americans. It is therefore understandable why young Americans are increasingly looking to create change outside of the political system. In fact, according to the most recent Survey of Young Americans by the Harvard Public Opinion Project, young Americans believe that voting, talking about important issues, and performing community service are the most effective ways to produce change.

If the 2016 election produced a message for young Americans, it is that voting matters. In an election that many assumed would continue Democratic control of the White House, voters instead elected President Trump and changed the direction of the nation. With Trump already setting foot on an immensely different path than that of his predecessor, it is clear that young Americans have felt the impact of voting and believe in its power to bring about change. In fact, 74 percent of young Americans listed voting as one of the top three ways to produce change.

Aside from voting, it appears that young Americans are pessimistic when it comes to their ability to produce change from within the political system. Only 31 percent saw running for office as an effective way to produce change and only 39 percent held this view when it came to contacting their representative. The latter statistic may appear startling in light of the recent wave of outreach by many legislators. From town halls to tweets encouraging phone calls and letters, members of Congress have sought the input of their constituents. However, seeking input and acting upon the concerns of constituents are not one and the same. To this end, only one in five young Americans trust Congress to do the right thing all or most of the time. Furthermore, neither Democrats nor Republicans in Congress received a majority approval rating from young Americans. Thus, with many failing to see their voices being translated into action within the halls of Congress, it is clear why young Americans do not see engaging with elected officials as an effective means of creating change.

In contrast, young Americans are much more hopeful when it comes to their ability to create change from outside the political system. In fact, according to young Americans, the second and third most effective ways to create change after voting are activities that require no political expertise. Over half saw talking about important issues as one of the top three ways to produce change. This belief that open discussions about the issues facing our country can create change speaks to young Americans’ belief that understanding others and their viewpoints is vital to the promotion of progress. Beyond discussion, it appears that young Americans believe in taking direct action to create change at the local level. In fact, 41 percent of young Americans identified community service as one of the best ways to create change. For many, service provides a means to engage with their community and produce tangible change. However, while two thirds of young Americans see performing community service as honorable, only a third of young Americans reported actually participating in community service within the past year. Nonetheless, the current state of national affairs may help to inspire more young Americans to give back to their communities.

While young Americans may be wary of their national officials representing them properly, they rightly believe in their own ability to create change. Through voting, careful conversation, and community service, young Americans see the various ways they can promote change in their communities and are ready to act.

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