Question: The youth of America are directly affected by the decisions made in Washington, yet since we are too young to vote, we have no say in what those decisions are. What are your plans to help the youth of America have our voices heard by our government?
Submitted from Alexis of Santa Monica High School through Youth-e-Vote (10/27/00)
Answer from George W. Bush:
Bush Encourages Young People To Get Involved In The Election
Alexis you ask a very important question.
I believe that as the future of our nation, teenagers have a significant role to play in this election. Many of the policies that leaders will enact directly effect you. I have outlined proposals to improve education, make college more affordable, and enable you to save some of your Social Security payroll taxes (the money taken out of your paycheck listed in the FICA box) to save for your retirement. But this will be done in a responsible way so that you will receive a better rate of return on your Social Security taxes and your parents and grandparents will still receive their Social Security checks.
My campaign is actively reaching out to young Americans with Students for Bush and Young Professionals for Bush organizations in virtually every state.
I would encourage teenagers and younger students to participate in this election in any way possible. Some suggestions are:
Get informed about the issues by reading your local newspaper, visiting candidates' Web sites (mine is www.georgewbush.com), going to the library to heck out books on the Presidency, the White House, Democracy, and the electoral process in the United States.
Organize a mock election or convention at your school.
Invite local candidates to come and speak to your class or school.
Invite exchange students in your school to speak about the political process in their countries. See how the two compare and contrast.
Volunteer with your parents at a campaign headquarters.
Help your parents distribute yard signs, literature or collect signatures for candidates to get on your state's ballot.
Put a candidate's bumper sticker on your bicycle or wagon.
Talk to your friends about the candidates.
Start a scrapbook about the election.
Go with your parents to a candidate's speech. Write your own political speech.
Urge your peers to get involved in learning about our democracy and the electoral process.
Join organizations that encourage your political curiosity and civic involvement -- like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, political groups for youngsters.
Finally, put the ideals that you love most about your favorite candidate into practice. For instance, if you want to be a part of the little armies of compassion that I talk about, then you should find out how you can volunteer in your community, or you can read to your younger brothers and sisters, or you can be a mentor to another kid.
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