Kerry's sales pitch: Immaturity

On MTV's "Choose or Lose" last week, John Kerry appeared, taking questions from young people and MTV in a softball interview and fluff news special, hoping to sway the "20 Million Loud" to vote Democrat.

His daughter, Vanessa Kerry, was interviewed, too. While helping the Kerry campaign with the young demographic, she tried to sell the idea of another President JFK on MTV, but came across as juvenile and condescending.

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The MTV News "reporter" asked Vanessa Kerry, "What do you say to those of your friends who say they don't give a damn about politics?"

Kerry replied, "I ask them pointed questions. … 'Well, do you not care about having a job waiting for you when you get out [of college]? Aren't you pissed off about the loans you're paying right now for higher education? Don't you want it to be more affordable? Wouldn't you like some help?'"

Vanessa Kerry asks, aren't you "pissed off" about actually having to pay for college? Cut to video of her father explaining his plan to give away four free years of college education.

Vanessa Kerry asks, do you really want to have to hunt for a job when you finish college? Cut to video of her father explaining his plan to grow 10 million new jobs – practically putting the unemployment rate at zero.

The moral of the story: Vote for Kerry and we'll give you free stuff! It's a flashback to high-school student body president campaigns – "Vote for me and I'll get a hot tub installed in every locker room!"

The Kerrys chose to cater to the immaturity of the young voter base rather than treating them as serious individuals with serious concerns. What about the growing minority of young adults who have serious concerns about the future of America? There are plenty of political issues that are very relevant to Generation Y.

Vanessa Kerry correctly identified one of the biggest: public education. However, the real issue is not about free higher education, but about the quality of education. Any current high-school student realizes the entire system is a joke. Whether it's at the top, with the bureaucratic Department of Education and special-interest influence, or at the bottom, with the ridiculous "Lord of the Flies" culture and the sorry excuse for education in the classroom, the system is an unproductive monster. Public education is simply a tool for special interest, a pawn for politicians and a job for bureaucrats, with many teachers and every student being disenfranchised. Moreover, all this is true for many areas of higher public education.

Both presidential candidates have plans for education that won't solve much. President Bush already passed his "No Child Left Behind Act" without problem. The legislation, largely with the help of Sen. Ted Kennedy, created more bureaucracy and more micromanagement control. John Kerry has different ideas; for instance, he doesn't support the voucher-type system in Bush's legislation, and he has criticized President Bush for his lack education funding – as if billions of dollars in increases to the education budget wasn't enough. Still, their ideas are alike in how they contribute to the monster of government in our education system.

Another issue relevant to my generation is Social Security. As we pay into a program that will never give back, young people will feel the brunt of the effect when the program collapses. Apart from scrapping the unconstitutional program altogether, the best alternative is in privatization. President Bush is in favor of the idea, while John Kerry viciously opposes it.

Another issue, correctly identified by Vanessa Kerry, is the economy. What about getting a job after college? By all accounts, President Bush has a good plan for that: cut taxes. And it's working, as the economy grows and the unemployment rate stays steady at 5.6 percent. John Kerry wants to roll back the tax cut and has a "plan" to create 10 million new jobs. With such a low unemployment rate, I never thought that was possible. Is he planning on drafting 10 million people into the military?

There are real issues that are relevant to young people. We don't need to be talked down to and we don't need juvenility marketed toward us. This generation should be given the opportunity to grow up and look at politics in a mature fashion, but how can we when a candidate hoping to be the leader of the free world won't even act appropriately?

In this election year, the young demographic is targeted as a powerful political force, with young people being urged to register, stay informed and volunteer. While that's all good, the incentive given for being involved is juvenile and immature. Unfortunately, that's the message given to a demographic that may well be a deciding factor in November.