For youth in 2012, Iowa and NH are different story void of Obama-mania

Wes, the Associated Press is hearing your analysis of Paul...and what you and I have reported on the ground from Ohio to Massachusetts.

In the most recent report of Paul's youth surge and zealous college supporters, the AP's headline reads: "At 76, oldest candidate Ron Paul's message of personal freedom is captivating youth vote." At this point, media reports of young people's alliance with Paul may be overstated. Let's wait to see what real electoral impact these young libertarians for Paul will have, both on GOP Super Tuesday and if/when they jump ship for a third-party bid.

At this point, realistically speaking, Huntsman would fare best in a Unity08-esque effort designed to champion a moderate presidential ticket. Young people would respond enthusiastically to such a political shake-up, according to own reporting since the '08 cycle.

Over at Forbes, I've read perhaps the most incisive commentary yet on young people's participation this cycle. According to the plain data, as Stephen Richer of RK Research reports, youth turnout, void of Obama-mania, has shrunk considerably from the '08 numbers.

2012 youth turnout, New Hampshire – 15 percent (CIRCLE)
2008 youth turnout, New Hampshire – 43 percent (CIRCLE)
2012 youth turnout, Iowa – 4 percent (CIRCLE)
2008 youth turnout, Iowa – 13 percent (CIRCLE)
In 2012, 8,800 young voters caucused for Ron Paul in Iowa. (CIRCLE)
In 2008, 30,000 young voters caucused for President Obama in Iowa. (CIRCLE)

This leads me to a very direct question, Wes: Amid the sour economy, so many heartfelt concerns about the future of the country, and unrelenting grievances posited against their current commander-in-chief, why are young people not going to the polls?

For me, the answer goes back to the deficit of civic education in America. The Christian Science Monitor convincingly opined that our national recession in civics is alarming (much as I editorialized in the Monitor as well as in The Washington Post this past summer).

In order to realize the importance of the ballot box, a young person needs to connect the dots between their own democratic empowerment and the livelihood of their people.

If youth don't learn about the essential fabric of American government (as they are not, sadly, in huge numbers), they will not register to vote. If they don't register, they won't vote. And they will continue NOT to vote.