college affordabilty

h/t ThinkProgress

Not a lot going on this week - but a few notable things I thought I'd share.

• This week Markos over at the DailyKos wrote a piece about the GOP's attempts to win over young voters. Markos says ... good luck with that... He outlines their "genius plan" on the issues

  "The environment: Trash it.
  War: Wage it.
  Economy: Undermine it (for all but millionaires and billionaires).
  Education: Cut it.
  Freedom to marry: Hate it.

  And don't forget—nothing brings home the youngsters more than worshipping a guy who first got elected president 31 years ago. Fact is, as much as this granddaughter of the Founding Father of the Great Depression might want to talk about "individualism," it's Republicans who get in the way of the aspirations of the millennials.

• House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi met with Young Americans this week to talk about the debt crisis and hear their concerns. Video from Campus Progress:
  
• On the table for cuts in the budget is - you guessed it - Pell Grants. After an historic increase in the investment in youth in 2007 now we're looking at historic cuts in youth investment all to continue to subsidize the wealthy. Leader Pelosi and other Democrats are standing up to fight for it.
• Speaking of young republicans. Young Americans for Liberty - the Ron Paul Revolution offshoot is doing a co-conference this week that they'll be live streaming.
• You can read David Halperin's remarks from Campus Progress's national conference from last week. Amazing talk about our generation fighting for progressive victories.
• Reuters has a piece about the higher ed crisis titled Schooled in Austerity: Students Reluctantly Borrow.
  

  For many who came of age during the financial crisis and deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, blindly borrowing for an education makes little sense, especially when they are not certain they will find work after graduation.

• Feel good Alert! Young voters and young elected officials are taking New Jersey by storm says this piece.
  

  ""It’s sort of a harbinger of things to come," said Elizabeth Matto, director of the Eagleton Institute’s Youth Political Participation Program, which has tracked younger political up-and-comers at the local, state and national levels for nearly a decade.

  Matto attributed the rise in participation to the so-called Millennial generation’s commitment to community, and a propensity to get and stay involved, which itself could be tied to current socioeconomic factors: a poor economy, high unemployment, ballooning national debt and growing angst tied to war and terrorism."

• If you've served in the armed forces - don't forget you can get college credit for that. An article reminds us tours of duty get you credit and save you money
  

  "The Lone Star State is luring her back to school in San Antonio with a pledge that her war-time tools can translate into college credits: Credits that could make her a “sophomore” her first year in school.

  “So, I guess about 60-credits hours? That would usually cost about 30-thousand dollars a year, or something to that effect. It’s a huge savings.”

• In the line item budget cuts in Virginia mental health services paid for by Medicaid for teens and children is on the chopping block. Seems like a good idea - I mean it isn't like mental health persists into adulthood right? There's no real chance of these problems getting worse and creating dangerous or violent adults that will be a greater drain on tax dollars, right? Great place to start Virgina... good luck with that.
• In religious news - young evangelicals are taking back their religion by "creating" this piece says, rather than "condoning."
• And finally this week began the end of Harry Potter. If you don't know how it ends - I'll fill you in. Harry quits school and creates a social network. Ron's twin brothers sue him, but if they had thought of it... they would have made it. The final book that I've heard is being written by JK Rowling (via Bill Maher) is Harry Potter and the Burden of His Student Loans.

We've had some site issues with FM as well as most of the FM writers traveling this week so apologies for our lapse in bringing you the essential news.

• The fight to save the 40 year old practice of Election Day Registration in Maine continues with its campaign to garner enough signatures to get The People's Veto on the ballot.
• This week's Campus Progress annual conference brought former President Bill Clinton to speak to attendees. The BigDog warned young people that their right to vote is increasingly being challenged by conservative Governors and state legislatures across the country who are threatened by the enthusiasm of young voters and our increasing ability to move elections. Watch the full speech here at CSPAN
• Oddly enough these same republicans are trying to recruit more young people to opposing the President and join their oh so welcoming and positive message against the government.
• Funding cuts might be coming to vocational training for young people according to a piece that follows a young man who was an at-risk high school student but his counselor found he excelled at hands on skills based classes. He now talks about getting his bachelors in engineering and starting his own business.
  

  "Now, federal funding to provide such vocational and technical education is at risk. President Obama has instead made it a priority to raise overall academic standards and college graduation rates, and aims to shrink the small amount of federal spending for vocational training in public high schools and community colleges. That aid comes primarily in the form of Perkins grants to states.

  The administration has proposed a 20-percent reduction in its fiscal 2012 budget for career and technical education, to a little more than $1 billion, even as it seeks to increase overall education funding by 11 percent."

  We all have to make sacrifices in these tough economic times. I mean unless of course you're the top 2% of wage earners in the US. You don't have to make sacrifices - we'll give you a tax cut.

• More depressing higher ed news - the likely incoming president of Cal State San Diego is getting a $100k salary bump from the previous university president, bringing his take home dollar a whopping $400,000 a year. In a totally unrelated story - CSU is slated for one of the steepest tuition increasesin the country, with a 12% hike - the 10th increase in a decade.
• Don't have a job? Well falling back in a US Military job may no longer be an option according to this CNN report. "The Army and Marine Corps are getting smaller, and now there's a nearly year-long waiting list just to get into boot camp, no matter which branch you want to join."
• Having a hard time with the student loans? Here are five tips to getting a handle on your student debt. Some good pointers.
• Last week was the President's Twitter Townhall where he was asked about giving incentives to companies hiring honorably discharged veterans. He said it was certainly something they were talking about in the West Wing in large part because the level of unemployment is higher among young veterans than non-veterans.
  

  "It reported that in May 2011, veterans from the post-9/11 period had an unemployment rate of 12.1 percent. By comparison, non-veterans that month had an 8.5 percent unemployment rate."



• In the Dalai Lama's latest trip to the US he spoke and answered questions from Buddhists and young Americans who sat on the Capitol lawn in Washington DC this weekend. In his address he said two notable things that encouraged the young crowd:

  1. "Oh yes, things are always changing," the Dalai Lama said to an eruption of cheers from a crowd ranging from fellow Buddhist monks to young Americans lying on the grass on a hot summer morning.

     "Certainly, I think the voice of freedom, democracy, rule of law, more and more voice(s are) now coming," the Dalai Lama said in English, noting that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao himself has called for political reforms in recent years.

     "So things will certainly change," he said. "Not only (in the) Chinese case, but the whole world, things are changing."

  2. The Dalai Lama did not speak about the Karmapa but, responding to a question from a 14-year-old, urged young people to be "warm-hearted" and to turn the page on the bloodshed of the 20th century.

     "My century is gone. The people who brought the 20th century are now ready to say goodbye," the Dalai Lama said.

     "Young people -- you are the people who really make the new shape of this century," he said. "You should have vision and determination and willpower."

• In the millennial marketing world a story about the gourmet nature of young people who have high standards for food. If you read my post about the recent survey on millennial marketing you know that restaurants are where young people love to spend their time and their money.
• Aviva - the sixth largest insurance group might be trying to woo young people with its do-gooder marketing tool on Facebook by asking users to donate their status to one of four youth-focused charities that is in the running for the company's $100,000 grant. Interesting - their facebook looks like a cause based FB ... with little mention of anything insurance related.
• In the past few weeks since Google launched its new social network Google+ the online world has spent a lot of time comparing it to Facebook and Twitter and talking about its potential for successes and challenges. Notably the marketing world has discerned that success depends largely on Google+'s ability to capture the enthusiasm of younger generations.
• As if Google+ isn't enough The Google is also working to lure great thinkers of our generation with its Young Minds Contest
• More in social media news: I'm sure you've heard it before - that young people share way too much information on social networks. That these "over shares" can hurt you from getting jobs, and Sen. Jay Rockafeller event went so far as to say young people have no "social values." Funny.... As it turns out, older Americans are just as bad as young people when it comes to sharing their information on Facebook. What do ya know...



• The food and farm report details info about young dairy farmers. I actually have a friend who's been talking about doing a dairy farm. And given the report above about the youth attraction to more gourmet foods if you make fancy cheeses then... hey you might have something! Perhaps, this is the reason that there is said to be "promise" for rural Wisconsin youth.
• And the final story for the day is consistent with my appreciation for graffiti art. An artist in New Zeland has teamed up with local police to paint walls encouraging young people to consider joining the police force. Great public marketing tool - and sick art.

Dalai Lama photo curtsey of the AFP/Ghetty credit to Mark Wilson

• Kind of a cool art story about a veteran with PTSD who healed by using his talents as a graffiti artist.

• Speaking of soldiers, I turned on the news this morning to a piece about soldiers with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries and the healing powers that animals can have on people. This program was started by a young soldier who served in Afghanistan and deferred studying at Harvard Med School to fight overseas and when he came back he decided to try and find solutions to these problems. He started Dog Bless You and now a philanthropist is giving away a free service animal to a soldier for every person who "likes" their facebook page.

NPR Did a story yesterday about the impact on the electorate changing demographics have. Teaser is that America is among one of the biggest and fastest demographic changes EVER. WOOT!

"It's not only a phenomenon of Phoenix and Dallas and Miami. Iowa, Utah, Nebraska are seeing substantial increases in their minority population, particularly their Hispanic population. And all of these changes are most concentrated and forceful among the young.

Today, the census tells us almost 47 percent of Americans under 18 are minority or non-white. Under 18, our youth population, will be majority minority by the end of this decade. And it kind of begs the question we're going to have to - we may have to come up with some new terminology once we are in that America."

• General Colin Powell spoke to the young people at the World Youth Peace Summit
  
• CNN does a story on concussion dangers for young athletes.
  
• In financial news, apparently the Millennial Generation is beginning to dive into the idea of the stock market. Those that are investing weren't investing before in stocks but that has doubled since 2003. We here at FM would also encourage some of those investments to be donated our way.
• Speaking of the changing market for the Millennial Generation - the rental market is taking a turn in the Twin Cities according to a report Saturday. Evidently a few years ago the majority of the rental market was made up by 30 and 40 year olds but that is changing now with Millennials taking over. Their findings, where were reported during the National Apartment Association Education Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas last month, were that wifi is critical, and renting provides a high end option to those who want fancy but can't yet afford or don't want to commit to a long-term mortgage.
• Another breaking news story about the tail end of the Millennial Generation (those born in the late 90's) it turns out the Vanity Fair cover with Justin Bieber sold the lowest ever. When asked about the cover the Vanity Fair spokesperson said "Who knew 12-year-olds didn’t buy magazines?" In the words of Perez Hilton "Umm, everyone!?!" I'd be interested to see if magazines are on their way out with Millennials and younger generations.
• In college affordability news: For Profit Colleges continue to be a train on tax dollars and run students into debt. Likely to run away and hit someone... I know it seems like I post at least a few stories like this a week but the higher ed lobby for for-profit schools is so strong that we have to do everything we can to bring to light those that are unfair and harming students.
• Student Loan means high flying career never materializes, but debt persists.
• Here's a story about how the minimum wage is boosting unemployment numbers. I expected this to be a right wing attack on the minimum wage saying we should cut it entirely because it doesn't help but this is actually starts off with a good argument for why it should be raised in New Hampshire who has legislation up to increase it to the federal standards.
  

  "New Hampshire officials may be thinking of young job seekers. Unemployment in the state averaged 18 percent for 16- to 19-year-olds in 2010. Horrible enough, though well below the national average of 25.9 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And the minimum wage affects youths disproportionately: About half of those paid the federal minimum or less are younger than 25.

  Do penny differences really count when it comes to employment? The case that they do is stronger than it used to be, especially when it comes to less-productive workers such as teens. Particularly problematic for teens is the federal minimum wage, an old fixture of the American workplace."

  The concern I have: when the piece continues saying that the FDR set a high minimum wage saying that with more people making enough to get by they could work less hours and provide more jobs for more people. This hit companies who, the article claims, are getting less for more. I would argue that the "worker harder for less" ideology disproportionately hurts people and accounts for the significant increase in stress, anxiety, obesity, and other health problems we have in the US. When we say a 40 hour work week we're living in a disillusion. Because realistically, Americans work more like a 50+ hour work week, for 40hr pay. When you compare our work culture with those working 30-35 hour work weeks for the same pay they are much healthier than we are.

• Here's another probably Baby Boomer talking about how young people don't really know anything and that Democrats are stupid for listening/recruiting young people. Look for a full response to this later today.
• According to a new study in the UK, video games can help young people who have learning disabilities. Basically, using games that involve physical activities like the Wii and Kinect can help with motion tasks that can sometimes be difficult for those with disabilities. "Participants in the study were aged between 16 and 24 and had disabilities ranging from Down's Syndrome to autism spectrum disorders." Interesting study and a great idea for ways to help young people to be more independent despite challenges.
• DoSomething.org makes news with a new piece in Non-Profit Quarterly that details orgs that are making a difference through text messaging.
• Here's a good idea. A UK piece talks about apprenticeships for young musicians who want to get into the biz.

Have a great 4 day work week!

Here's whats up today:

• 40 years ago 18 year olds got the right to vote - Craig will have a piece today detailing all of the reasons for this. But if you're on Twitter today participate in Youth Vote Overseas's twitter campaign asking people #WhyUVote
• In student loan and higher ed news - according to one op-ed writer the Higher ed bubble about to burst
• For Profit education probe continues
• Student debt largest ever
• Student loan debt continues to increase for young physicians
• Student Loan Blog says taking out loans is totally worth it... well of course they'd say this... they're the student loan blog, right?
• Knowledge Gap 7 in 10 without college degrees don't know basics about applying for financial aid - probably because they've never done it before.... and its not mandated on the No Child Left Behind Act...
• What's going on politically? Well today is a protest day in Egypt among youth movement organizers. Headlines say that there are Different names for Friday's protest in Egypt as youth movement calls for demonstrations
• Back at home President Obama answers questions at live twitter townhall with #AskObama tweets

In the marketing and business world:

• 20 something bring different culture to the workplace
• Young people don't use financial advisers, they use facebook
• More young people turning to mobile banking. Bank marketing people... take note!
• Study shows internet addiction is declining among Young people - probably due to internet addiction finally being seen as similar to television addiction
• Young Navajos leave reservation life behind to seek jobs

Have an awesome weekend and a fantastic Independence Day!

Here's what's going on in the world for young people

• Lindsey Lohan made a commentary on her twitter account yesterday about the US Dollar saying that it will be worthless if the Fed keeps printing money. It turns out Lindsey's tweet was out of character for a reason... she was paid to tweet it - though no one seems to know who paid her to tweet - maybe Ted Nugent... She later clarified that even though she was paid to tweet that she really does care about gas and food prices.
• FM friend Cryn Johannsen posts her response to Ted Nugent on Spark Action
  

  "When it comes to their take on abortion and other social issues, Tea Party folks generally have more conservative views. That does not tend to be true for Millennials, however. For example, a recent study suggests why Millennials do not identify with the values of the Tea Party:

  Overall, they have a more progressive view on politics.

  They are also quite diverse. That diversity lends itself to more progressive politics.

  Those Millennials who are white are even more progressive than their minority counterparts.

• Economic Outlook on young people who have mental health illness. "Recent research shows that people who experience a mental health illness in early adulthood could face a range of negative economic outcomes by the age of 30."
• Protests follow Walker to the Empire State; Bloombergville connects with Walkerville. Young Americans stepping up for cheeseheads everywhere!
• This blogger runs some numbers asking if America's Young people put Ron Paul in the White House As much as I wish this were true - that American youth could have that great an impact - American youth aren't registered to vote as Republicans as much as Democrats or Independents. I don't think the sheer volume numbers are there for Rep. Paul, but his youth outreach should never go unnoticed or ignored.
• Unless you were living under a rock yesterday, you heard about the meeting of the new think tank Google is running called Google Ideas. They brought together ex-extremists from various walks of life including Muslim extremists, Mexican gang members, Northern Ireland folks, etc... and talked about the impact on extremism in the world. Many of these folks got involved in extremist behavior when they were young and a blogger implores the world to Teach young people about other religions or risk extremism.
• Here is an interesting post. There's an upcoming training session in Hanoi to teach young people how to deal with climate change. People are obviously embracing that climate change exists across the world and are beginning to prepare young people for how to manage what's coming. Maybe the time for negotiating the science is over and our generation should just start preparing for the floods.
• We need to make sure young people know the true facts of higher education. And what do those true facts entail? Well it comes out of the UK but the reality is that college is expensive no matter where you go. This writer implores us (emphasis mine)
  

  "All too often in the recent past, politicians and others have given greater priority to attacking the government, rather than advancing the interests of young people and students. Politicians of all parties, student leaders, trade unionists and all others with a public platform and who are listened to on these issues must now make sure that they know the facts and do everything to make sure young people and their parents also understand the facts and are not misled."

• 6 young illegal immigrants arrested in Georgia protest rally for DREAM Act
• Is Jon Stewart tearing young people from newspapers? First of all... what's a newspaper? Kidding. If you saw Stephen Colbert's video where he picked up our Ted Nugent hit - then you've heard the joke before about it being funny that the Washington Examiner thinks Millennials even know what the Washington Examiner is... But when the Post asked what is getting youth away from papers one Twitter respondent honestly said
  "@demisdouble: 20somethings lost 10% of their ability to read."
  What a jackass....
• After the reports of the average age of farmers and ranchers growing older and older there has been a call resound[ing] for more young people in agriculture
• Good piece to compare and contrast. College tuition in America and Abroad. This actually also references a piece about 8 ways to cut costs when going to college. But here are the shockers from this piece
  1. The tuition in Finland is covered by the State through the Ministry of Education.
  2. Norway offers free tuition as well, but the cost of living there can add up quickly.
  3. If you have a working knowledge of German, then this country is a great and affordable option. Germany has offered free tuition for quite some time and in most cases still does.

  Lucky foreigners....

• The Company you Keep - yet another article on how job prospects are harmed by facebook photos. Interestingly I got questions from my mother after sharing religious beliefs on my facebook page which she said would probably hurt me in job searches. Which may be true - like it or not. The likelihood of me working for someone that would take issue with my ability to have thoughts on religion however ... not very likely. Maybe Bill Maher should give me a job and I can enlighten him about young people....
• Lawyers say unpaid internships exploit workers - which they do. And if you are offering unpaid internships make sure you're doing so legally. Interesting - in the UK they say that charities are the worst at exploiting unpaid interns. Though that doesn't surprise me. They seem to be the same here in the US. Everyone's trying to save a buck....

• Friend of FM Cryn Johannsen reports on what happens when young people who are in debt with student loans get into an accident and can't work... a really really really sad story.
• Something from the League:
  What would the Green Movement look like if Van Jones were still in the White House?

  That's the question we asked of Cornel West, Malia Lazu, Julian Mocine-Mcqueen, Ethan Case and Chuck Creekmur. Check out 99problems.org for their thoughts.

• The incredibly attractive fake Republican Meghan McCain schools the GOP with 7 tips for Presidential Hopefuls
  

  "...Most young voters my age don't remember Newt Gingrich's claim to fame; after all, the Clinton impeachment trial was so ‘90s.
  What the Republican Party needs is a candidate unafraid to put the president up against the wall and call him out on all the damage his administration has done, especially to the economy, in the last three years."

  This post is around the same time McCain appeared on MSNBC and talked about the coolness factor in Presidential candidates. Politico: You are not cooler than Obama.

  Meghan McCain wants the Republican candidates running for president to stop trying to be cool. She hopes they will step away from the comfort of Fox’s Greta Van Susteren and befriend MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. And she thinks Tim Pawlenty is kind of wimpy.
  Along with a willingness to challenge the president, she wants candidates to remember that they are “not cooler than President Obama.” “No, you are not. No, seriously, you are not, not even you, Sarah Palin,” she advised. Instead, she wants a Republican to emerge as the “smart candidate, the serious candidate.”

  Of Palin, McCain wrote, “If she enters the race, there will be a proverbial tsunami of media coverage for months. Don’t panic and ride it out. The cream always rises to the top and at some point she is going to have to do something other than come up with clever sound bites.”

  It wasn't Maddow it was that one dude that isn't Keith Olbermann but here's the video:
  
  

  Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

• 2011 Grads Success not assured
• For Profits deepening debt
• Paying for college without loans. My solution - sell a kidney...
• So this is interesting - when I was pulling the clips last night I came across this article from the West Virginia Metro News: WV takes steps to monitor for-profit schools. The problem is the article is gone and I searched for the headline and couldn't find it. Maybe the for-profits sent people over to break their legs...
• One columnist says that your youth is an indicator that Now's the time to goof off.
  

  "Graduates of 2011, you don't need me to tell you that you are facing an uncertain job market. The economy has been tough, good jobs are scarce, and you likely have heaps of student loan debt. So I get that there might be a temptation to put your job search on hold and continue with your education while deferring your student loans. But (and don't tell my daughter who will be a college freshman in the fall that I am telling you this) let me make one thing perfectly clear:

  Stop going to school!

  Don't go to business school. And don't go to law school. Don't even go to dental school. No, what I want you to do is rule school out. There may be a time to go back to school down the road, in fact, hopefully there will be, but that time is not now.

  And while we are at it, rule out that first big job too. You will have plenty of opportunity - too much opportunity frankly - to work in your life. But not now.

  So, what should you do instead of going to school and getting a job? Let me give you a few ideas:

  For starters, you can goof off."

  I'm all for this ... but I'm sending him my "goof off" bills.

• What to do about young voters who feel abandoned? Good question. I know the numbers are showing the president is losing support among youth and as a result the White House has really stepped up its outreach hoping no one noticed they ditched us when the hard policy was happening (HCR... environmental stuff... etc...). The "hey what about me?!" narcissism of politics and voters.... Is it narcissism when you demand accountability?
  

  "Is there an explanation for such a development? It seems that young people feel the President is no longer focused on them. Other issues have captured his attention including issues related to older people. One young lady summed it up this way: “He made young people feel important, then he got into office and there was no one talking to us.”

• Young Entrepreneurs help fuel economy. Good time to mention Our Time's Buy Young campaign soft launched focusing on businesses that are run by young people that are sustainable and make products from recycled materials. If you sign up you get 30% off or more!
• Ron Paul says young people are tired of the wars
• As many of you know, student financial aid funding is at risk of being cut in high pressure budget negotiations - including eliminating almost 1.5 million students from receiving important grant programs like the Pell Grant. While members of Congress traveling home to their districts this Summer we must hold them accountable by telling them how much student aid means to us.

  Here is a new online action that helps you write a letter to the editor of your newspaper

• Fair Elections news - The latest Voter Suppression Update, provided by FELN and Campus Progress, is available. Some really really good news for Missouri, Maine, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina - but bitter sweat with some sad news about NC and Ohio... so much work to be done to help prevent voter disenfranchisement especially among young voters.

Other ORG news:

• On July 12th the Break The Chain Campaign is hosting the first CARE CONGRESS: the historic public launch of the Caring Across Generations campaign. This is your opportunity to join us at this historic gathering! You can register here.
  

  This year is the first year of the "age wave;" every eight seconds, an American will turn 65. In the coming years, more and more members of our communities will need care, just as more and more workers will need quality, dignified jobs. At a time when we desperately need new jobs, new paths to citizenship, and new solutions to persistent crises in care, a broad coalition of people from all walks of life are coming together to push for change.

  When: July 12 - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm [Meals Included]

  Where: The Washington Hilton - 1919 Connecticut Ave NW

  Who: Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and 700 people who care

Lots of news today about President Obama and young people. From the looks of things he's up.. then down... then up... then down.

Don't forget if you're at #NN11 today there is a youthy panel:
Changing of the Guard: Youth Leading Democracy
FRI, 06/17/2011 - 4:30PM, M100 FG

• How to lose an internship in 10 ways
• Unpaid Internships and the jobless people fighting for them
• Entries open for SBA Entrepreneurship competition
• An older post I discovered today but totally worth the read - Using Peer Pressure to Change the World
• Letter to the editor for Salon
  

  You are far too generous

  in your assessment of Obama's performance. What you call poor communication I call a complete lack of conviction. Attempting a conciliatory approach is fine at first, but it quickly became clear the Repugs were going to have nothing to do with it. If he had wanted to, Obama could very easily have used the bully pulpit to at least advocate for all the progressive policies he campaigned on, but in the final analysis I think it is clear that was all a bunch of BS and lies. The man has no courage, no vision, no convictions. Totally worthless, and the worst part of all this is the disillusionment of the young voters who thought he would make a difference.

  —tballou

• Billionaire's front group attacks young voters among others
  In speaking about the American Legislative Exchange Council

  "In 2009, ALEC drew up the Voter ID Act to ban university students from using their college-issued ID's as proof of residency for voting. Seven states have adopted this model law, which is intended to bar eligible students from the voting booth. These kids must be disenfranchised, New Hampshire's house speaker bluntly said in February, because they're "voting liberal, voting their feelings, with no life experience." This model bill has been introduced in 18 other states this year in a rather obvious ploy to hold down the student vote in the 2012 presidential election."

• From the Miami Herald students facing unemployment with student loans
  
• Young voters aren't the only ones "Souring with Obama" it seems Young Environmentalists Displeased with Obama
  

  "The displeasure amongst young environmentalists does not necessarily reflect the feelings of young voters nationwide however. In a Harvard Institute of Politics poll, 55% of all voters between the ages of 18 and 25 approve of the President’s job performance. Amongst college students, the percentage raised to 60%. But despite high approval ratings, young voters are hesitant to back the President in the 2012 elections.

  The most important issue for these voters is the economy. In February of 2011, 43% feel their economic situation is “very” or “fairly bad” and 22% are currently looking for work. When asked whether they will vote for him in 2012, only 38% say they will while 25% say they plan to vote for his Republican opponent. The rest are unsure. While young voters have stuck beside President Obama, it seems the spirit of “Yes We Can” has faded."

• The other Obama's however are doing great work with young people! Michelle Obama Africa Trip Focuses on Youth Leadership
• Young Voters win at GOP Debate
• Red State blogger calls Social Security a Ponzi Scheme and instructs young voters to Opt Out
• Here's an important notation to mention: US Supreme Court Rules a Youth's Age is Relevant in Miranda Analysis. More specifically
  

  "Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the majority opinion (PDF). “It is beyond dispute that children will often feel bound to submit to police questioning when an adult in the same circumstances would feel free to leave,” she wrote. “Seeing no reason for police officers or courts to blind themselves to that commonsense reality, we hold that a child’s age properly informs the Miranda custody analysis." You can read more about the specific case at the link.

• 4H Shout Out: Youth learn Responsibility and Leadership through raising Livestock
• Congressional personal financial disclosure forms reveal some still have student loan debt... welcome to my world. You'd think these members would be the ones leading the charge to fix it!
  

  "Nevertheless, the reports offered reminders of the more typical financial burdens faced by most Americans. Many lawmakers reported unpaid student loans or hefty credit card balances. One cash-strapped freshman put himself on his campaign payroll to make ends meet last year."

• Should you start a business right out of college?
• And today came an email from the White House:
  

  Good evening everyone,

  As many of you know, last week, President Obama met with a number of inspiring young Americans here in the West Wing to de-brief on the “100 Youth Roundtables” Initiative. In that session, young folks reflected on the feedback given to the White House during the course of the initiative. They discussed issues regarding environmental regulations, community organizations, legislation that the President supports, and how to really make a difference all around. To follow up on that feedback, the President announced a new series that will take us through the summer, called, “How to Make Change.” Check out video of his announcement here.

  This series will specifically foster a conversation between young Americans, advocates, and the White House on the issues that matter to us all. What are specific deliverables you would like to see? What tools can we offer you so that you can achieve what you set out to achieve? Let us know! The full schedule for “How to Make Change” will be announced next week, so stay tuned.

  Have a good Thursday night,

  Kal

Some people bring you the news - others share the news - Future Majority brings you what's really going on with our generation and why it matters. Think about sharing on your Facebook or Tweeting it.

• The economy is so bad that Lawyers settle for temp jobs. I've actually been hearing about this from friends graduating from law schools and from older folks who are working at firms. Firms just don't have the money to hire new law school grads. They'll take them for internships but they can't afford the expense for new council.
• That said - you can still go hang out with some fun people. On behalf of Van Jones, you are cordially invited to the launch of Rebuild The Dream!
• OK this isn't entirely youthy but it's kinda a BFD. These people have been going after bloggers and websites who quote content from news pieces and claim that it's copyright infringement. Here's the thing, we bring you a lot of information, always cite it, and comment on it. They say this is illegal. But a judge says BS and they should just die a slow death (legally speaking). Judge to Copyright troll: your lawsuits are shams, give it up
• Workers in the European Union say that unpaid internships are bad. So now there's a nice Unpaid internships bill in EU gains momentum
• Well this is cool and super nice of them! Wish there were more people out there doing this! I know our generation could use it. If you live in the Chicago area - jump on the opportunity! New Naperville company helps college students find jobs
• I'm so excited CBS noticed: College Costs soar, and wages cover less of the tab
  One problem is this:

  "If you have any doubt about the value of a college degree, just look at the employment numbers. Overall unemployment is at 9.1 percent, but among college graduates, it's just 4.5 percent."

  These are "general numbers" and doesn't splice out 18-29 year olds - this stat is for all generations and all ages. Despite this story being about young people the numbers aren't the unemployment numbers for young people which are nearly double what CBS cites.
  

  The most important part of this piece is this:

  "In 1980, a 10-week summer job at minimum wage meant a teenager could save up about half of the cost of a year's tuition at a public university. Today, that same minimum wage job covers only 18 percent."

  With increases in costs running rampant wages haven't kept up which makes our society and our economy out of balance. This will be the broken leg our generation will be forced to stand on for years to come.

• Paying off student loan debt through job opportunities - should students seek out employment that allows repayment and forgiveness
• The decline but not fall of hierarchy - what young people really want. Oddly enough this feature in Forbes doesn't include the answer to "what young people want" as being "jobs, health care, affordable education." But rather... social media access.... Ok ok its true yes we want that too but I think that comes behind the big three at the top....
  

  "having grown up engaging in dialogue with prominent commentators, journalists, and politicians, Generation Y wants the same at work and large companies have now incorporated social media platforms across their organizations..."

• Debt ignores young people's concerns
• Why young people were more interested to work in Australia?
• As Economy Further impacts young people "Generation opportunity" takes flight
• MAINE GOP not alone in trying to lower voter turnout
• Congrats to the AWESOME 2011 40 leaders under 40 from the NLC
• Recession Grads: Judggling a tough job market and student loans
• Revolutionizing student loans in poverty-stricken countries
• Class-action law suit alleges fraud at Henrico for profit school
• Teachers may lose raises for masters degrees. Typically people who have masters degrees would go into teaching positions if they got a bump in pay for their advanced degree. Because the economy is so tough and funding for schools is being cut - those students who are getting their advanced degree while waiting out the economic crisis/downfall/depression might not be able to make the same extra bank if they "fall back" on a teaching gig.

Lots of great news going on for our generation

• A new org (you've heard of them before) wants Millennials to be a more powerful buying and voting bloc. If that isn't enough OurTime.org news for you here's another from the New York Times, Segal says we should Fix the Economy not by kicking out older workers and moving in new workers but instead inspire innovation and entrepreneurship. I still think Death Panels was a great idea. I kid I kid!
• After doing a piece on a series of young people who had graduated with Ivy League or masters degrees writer Kevin Carey, an education writer and policy analyst, did a follow up piece for the New Republic that looks at where they are today.
  

  "they all turned out pretty well. They were no doubt damaged by the downturn into which they graduated. But they turned out vastly better than most people of their generation who didn’t get a college degree. Today, in fact, you could probably use a couple of them to illustrate a very different trend: the growing gap in the pay between college graduates and everyone else."

  "For going on four decades, the press has been raising alarms that college degrees may no longer be a sound investment. Two things about these stories have remained constant: They always feature an over-educated bartender, and they are always wrong."

• Speaking of college degrees... Ohio State University students protested Boehner commencement . Asking him - Don't cut our future - students turn their backs on Boehner during the ceremonies because he's turned his back on them. This is AWESOME! I just wish it could have been done at colleges across the country, to every politician that spoke at a commencement. Because they all need to get a clue!
• LGBT in school: "I lost a lot of my friends"
  Don't worry ... it gets better
  Until then there's this: StopBullying.gov.
• Creating Good Citizens
  This week was the National Action Civics Conference - and a New Policy Paper calls for Investment in a New Corps of Young Americans to Create and Share Civic Information
• A Child Psychologist did a thing about how young people these days are just too sarcastic and cynical and how to get your teen to stop it. I refute the whole thing on my personal blog with sarcasm and cynicism.
• Bastard-sons-a-bitches: Bill to End Same Day Registration Approved in Maine. Great.. FINE just make it MORE difficult for young voters to vote...
• You want fries with that degree? This says what you think it does. The writer attended college in 1966 when "My tuition fee was, I believe, something like $270 a year." I threw up in my mouth a little. When is something going to happen to make college more affordable?
• Well - here's one way to save- Student Money: You don't need to live away from home. *Sigh
• Double *sigh - For-Profit colleges deepening student debt crisis. These people have such a powerful lobbying force - how can we ban together as a generation to stop them?
• Marriage Attitudes Evolving in Millennial Generation. Did you know that the average Millennial doesn't get married until 28.1 years of age? True! Turns out the economy and all the other barriers are cutting into our social lives. TIME did a big piece on this around the end of last year that was really good.
• Poll: Young Voters dissatisfied with Obama's handling of the economy. I hate to say it but.. I think a lot of us are....
• And Millennial News wouldn't be Millennial News without something technology related!! Technology helps define high school and college seniors