Thanks to the COM352 students for contributing a bunch of new pages! I'll be moving these pages into the main area of the wiki soon.

From UMassWiki

Problem- In the last fifty years, there has been a drastic decrease of voting and political activness by american citizens. With each new year, the prblem is geting bigger and bigger. In the year 2000, more americans voted for Maerican idol then the presidency. Our country is so unique because it has such a strong sense of democracy. When Americans either are to lazy and or do not care enough to vote for the presidency or any other lection, nto only are they robbing them selves and are country, but also people everywhere else who do not have this freedom. One of the main causes of this problem is the lack of participation of the American Youth. Either the youth are not interested in it because they feel they can not help or they uninterested becaause no one has taught them of the power they possess.

Alterate Views and Solutions- Many Americans believe that the government has brought on this problem by themself. Many believe the govenrment must chnage and become more democratic and trust worthy in order to get the youth involoved. Other people have different views on this matter. Some suggest this is good not having the youth involved because therefore {some believe) only knowledgeable and dedicated voters are voting, thus the outcome will always be the wisest.

Potenial Readers- In my opinion it does not matter whether or not people believe in the same party or want the same outcome, instead it is pivatol to get all eligable americans involved. Therefore the people get what the people want. Nobody can complain (like in 2000) that the elections are unfair or the popular vote did not match the electoral vote. The more voters, the more diverse election, and the stronger the outcome. I want to write my letter to highschool and college kids who really are not either passionate or aware about american politics. I dont want to try to brainwash my fellow pupils to my ideas and opinions, but rather want to stress the importance of involvment and awareness. I could publish my writing in the Collegian or post a giant message on facebook. I have an array of opertunites about how to spread my message to my desired target.

Print Sources- Kernall and Jacobson. "Logic of American Politics". Washington DC: CQ Press, 2006.

Woll, Peter. "American Government" Washington DC; Pierson Longman, 2006.

Eisner, Jane. "Taking Back the Vote: Getting American Youth Involved in Our Democracy" Boston: Beason Press, 2004.

Malanga, Steven. "The New New Left: How American Politics Works Today" Chicago: Ivan Dee Publishing, 2005.

Halstead, Ted. "The Radical Center: The Future of American Politics" New York: First Anchor Books, 2001.

Online Resources-

Google- a massive search engine which can lead me to original and unique sources "www.google.com"

Close Up- a non profit organization which provides trip for high schoolers and college students to the nation's capital to educate them on politics. (I went participated in the Close-Up program junior year) "http://www.closeup.org/youth.htm"

anc- a web site that discusses the power of youth involvment internationally. This site will help me compare andcontrast american youth in politics to the international world "http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/pubs/umrabulo/umrabulo23/youth-politics.html"

american poltics- a site which explains american government and how vital participation is to it "http://www.politics1.com/"

wikipedia- gives statistics of voting in the US for the last fifty years "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States"

vote smart- discusses the different political parties in the US in the last 200 years and what each one is about. "http://www.vote-smart.org/resource_political_resources.php?category=Political%20Parties"