Misdiagnosis: Youth Are Sick with Disgust, Not Apathy on Health Care Reform

Over the past few years, youth activists have confronted annoying memes suggesting that Millennial activists were just another continuation of Generation X, apathetic about the political process, not appreciating any opportunities for civic engagement. The elections of 2004/2006/2008 have helped with that, providing some proof that youth activism today is present, just not the same brand as the Boomer media/commentators are used to seeing.

Well, it turns out that some of these Boomers are still having a difficult time understanding the nature of our activism. Harold Pollack, a social scientist from the University of Chicago (who should probably understand generational dynamics a little more than he lets on), writes a particularly annoying diatribe lamenting the lack of participation among young people in the health care debate. Pollack speculates why young people aren't involved, and surprise, surprise: he thinks it's because we don't care about the debate.

We can all offer some reasons why [youth don't get involved]: It's hard for 20-somethings to get excited about free colonoscopies or co-ops and the public plan option. Some of this stuff is mind-numbing in its complexity--particularly if you feel decades away from needing most of the medical care we are now discussing. Maybe my own move from HuffPo to tnr.com has soured the younger demographic. Maybe it's summer vacation.

Pollack apparently forgets that he's another kind of doctor, as he doles out prescriptions for youth to get more involved.

With all the shouting and recrimination, you may believe that there is nothing you can do. That's wrong. First, learn the facts. Go to nonpartisan websites that explain the similarities and differences among the different bills. Keep up with the New York Times or Washington Post every day, in print or on line. Follow experts such as Jonathan Cohn and Ezra Klein. The bills have complicated details, but the basic structure is simpler than people believe.

Then get involved.

Call or write your Representative or your Senator. Get some of your friends to do the same. You'd be surprised what a real impact this has.

Sit your butt down at a town hall or forum in your community. Be civil but unapologetic in standing up for progressive values. After you attend, write about your experience in a short and clear letter to your community newspaper.

Pollock's diagnosis, though, is inappropriate. He makes a diagnosis before more clearly evaluating the symptoms.

The acrimony is what is making us sick, sir. The "shouting and recrimination" is evaporating any kind of will or desire to participate in this discussion among youth. Why rehash run-down ideologies, debating 'til we're blue in the face, when it doesn't do anything?

Dr. Pollack expresses disappointment that nearly everyone he saw attending town hall forums on health care reform was over 50. Maybe that's because youth recognize that these "town hall forums" are a sham. Ironically, these days, those who seek to participate in these discussions actually set out to stifle discussion. Speaking from a civic-minded perspective, which is the way our generation tends to view things, we want to talk about topics and problems.

The reason young people are "strangely passive" to observers like Dr. Pollack is that they continue to view politics through their Baby Boomer generational lens, viewing every problem this country faces as an opportunity to exploit the political struggle to stage a debate judged on volume and tactics, not rationality. Today's young people aren't enamored with the debate because it's not legitimate.

And once more, so we're clear - the refusal to engage in the noise machine that makes up this debate does not equal apathy. We're not apathetic about this. We realize that 40 percent of those uninsured are between the ages of 19-29. We get it, trust me.

Dr. Pollack's only one in a long line of people his age who repeatedly try to castigate youth for not being involved. Perhaps they should re-evaluate whether their own involvement needs to be treated before addressing others'.