Justin Rockefeller Opens 80MS

Opening the conference was Justin Rockefeller chair of Generation Engage. He spoke a little about his history and the number of elected officials in his family.

"My father was red in the face many times when coming home, remarking how one piece of paper crafted in this building has a very tangible effect on real workers in VA. On average young people don't tend to see politics as a means to the end of the process."

I agree, though Future Majority has spent a lot of time talking about how this isn't necessarily the case. In the past, our generation has been monumentally ignored. The statements are - we don't vote, we don't care, we don't pay attention. We all know that we care, and we absolutely pay attention - and if the progress of the last 9 years is any indication we do vote.

But my long-time belief is that the major failure of government is a lack of outreach to young people.

I remember being in high school when the West Wing first started on TV. And a conversation that the fictional President had at a UVA townhall he conducted. In it he said that young voters make up 1/3 of the country yet only a small percent of the voting public. He asked the audience - "so are you failing us or are we failing you... I think its a little bit of both"

"Politicians and young people pass each other like ships in the night. Too often American democracy at times seems like a monologue rather than a dialogue. So many under privileged young people lack access and influence to the process to impact their future." Rockefeller continued.

It couldn't have been said better. A major underlying narrative about getting young people to the polls has been - if you build a movement they will come - if you ask us, we will vote. The same is true with participation and engagement in the government process. If government continued to engage young people after the vote was given, young people will be more engaged in the process.

"If you remember nothing I've said remember this: Encourage your friends to embrace their frustration."

Indeed out of frustration, progress is created.

"Social entrepreneurship combines the best of liberal and conservative ideology because it is results driven but promotes social ideology. As has been said, you can teach a man to fish, but social entrepreneurship is revolutionizing the fishing industry."

Video will be provided in a few hours, stay tuned.