Young people formed a core constituency of the 2008 Obama campaign and contributed significantly to its success. A large majority of voters 18 to 29 years old (66 percent) voted for Obama, by far the largest proportion of any age group. Youth voter turnout in 2008 was the highest since 1972, the first time 18 to 20 year olds could legally vote. Armies of young volunteers canvassed, made phone calls and carried out the legwork of the campaign.
But the Democrats have not delivered the change they promised. The Obama administration tripled the number of soldiers in Afghanistan, intensified the drone strikes in Pakistan and initiated a massive bombing campaign to install a client regime in Libya.
The issue of youth unemployment and underemployment was completely neglected and remains at catastrophic levels. Financially crippling student loan debt—now totaling more than $1 trillion, more than credit card debt—was not seriously addressed.
Racist police brutality continued unabated. Police officers still murdered Black and Latino youth in cold blood with near total impunity, and the prison industrial complex expanded. More deportations were carried out than under George Bush.
So now, four years later, many members of the same generation that was largely responsible for the president’s election are understandably and correctly feeling a sense of betrayal. Others feel trapped by the two-party system and will vote again for Obama, but only out of a begrudging sense of obligation. The excitement that defined the 2008 campaign has been crushed by the reality that the presidency serves as the CEO of the same capitalist system.
But it would be the ultimate victory of Wall Street if this dejection led young people to sit on the sidelines and believe change was impossible.
Last year, the Occupy movement, led mainly by youth, emerged and marked the beginning of the people’s counterattack against the bankers and CEOs. Another mass youth-led movement was launched in the wake of the racist murder of Trayvon Martin. Through militancy and determination, this sustained display of outrage forced authorities to bring George Zimmerman to trial.
Most recently, young Latino immigrant rights activists—a group which had been generally emblematic of the enthusiasm for Obama in 2008—defied those who told them to stay quiet and help the Democrats. As with the in-the-streets LGBT equality movement, they took action and as a result, scored a victory.
The more young people encounter the realities of capitalism, the more they radicalize. The collective experience of this generation is leading to one conclusion—the whole system has to go.
This conclusion is what leads the Party for Socialism and Liberation to run Peta Lindsay—age 28—for president and Yari Osorio—age 26—for vice president. We have no illusions about the rigged electoral process, but we know that we have to pursue every available avenue to reach poor and working people and radicalizing youth.
