Is Access Granted or Taken?

A generation of young people accustomed to immediate, open access in most areas has been effectively shut out of public decision making on issues and policies that affect their lives. Can older people and organizations rectify this situation, or do young people simply need to stop waiting to be asked to the dance?

While Millennials are pragmatic and not prone to extreme ideologies, they are left without an overarching political philosophy to guide their interest in or opinion of government affairs. They have a sense of futility about political involvement, particularly with regard to changing policy—the kinds of strategies tried by their parents with little or no societal impact.

“There is a chasm between general interests in causes and particular things we can do as individuals,” says Ben Rattray. “People want to feel that they are part of a critical mass of people dedicated to one overriding cause.”

David Smith, founder of Mobilize.org, continues: “There is an opportunity cost for young people of when and where to dedicate their time. They don’t know how to get started; they didn’t even know that public officials would meet with them. They keep doing service after high school, but because they don’t teach civic education and teachers are scared of political involvement, they don’t know how to access the political arena.”

The themes Rattray and Smith raise were echoed often in the interviews conducted for this paper. Young people feel they have no access to decision makers and decision making, particularly with regard to public policy. This too often and too easily stops them from participating in policy-related discussions and efforts. Ginger Thomson, the CEO of YouthNoise, echoed other respondents when she said, “Young people need more training, guidance, and supportive places to build a constituency for their causes.”