tangent4ronpaul
05-26-2009, 12:46 AM
32
STATE LEGISLATURES MAY 2007
T O O L S O F T H E T R A D E
bY REbECCA SUNSHINE
As a legislator you may receive many
invitations to talk to high school and
college-aged constituents about the
legislative process. These opportu-
nities can be more than a civics lesson for
a bunch of teenagers. They can be a civics
lesson for you, as well. Teenagers are always
trying to figure out what is going to be the
next big thing, whether it is a policy issue or
just a really cool thing you can plug into an
iPod. Remember that Facebook.com wasn’t
invented in Silicon Valley, but was a class
assignment for a college student. Teens aren’t
all that scary. We can be pretty nice and help-
ful people when we are treated like adults.
Here are some tips on how to talk to teens.
-1-
Don’t talk down to us. Remember how
grown-up you felt when you were a teen-
ager? We don’t like being treated like babies.
Don’t try to water it down for us. Tell us the
facts. If we really know what is going on in
our government then we are more likely to
take a stand than to sit down and watch as
policy passes us by.
-2-
Talk about issues that we care about.
Many of us are either approaching or are
already in the years when we have to figure
out what comes next. We have finished high
school, but not all of us are going to college.
And those who are going to college have to
figure out how to pay for it. Tell us what
you’re doing to make our transition into real-
ity an easier one. Education is a big issue for
all of us, but we also care about other national
issues. When you talk to us include many of
the topics you would when talking to adults
at a town meeting. We might not think that
Medicare and Social Security are important
to us now, but we do know that actions you
take today will affect our future.
-3-
Ask us our opinions. We have questions
for you. We’re constantly wondering. This is
mostly because at this age we begin to ques-
tion why government is the way it is—a big
bureaucracy seemingly filled with scandals.
It is important you answer our questions
honestly, but along with that, please ask us
questions as well. Everyone, no matter their
age, likes to feel important. Asking us for our
own thoughts on issues will make us under-
stand that you are listening to us and not just
to our parents.
-4-
Be yourself. If you have a ridiculous story
of something you did when you were in high
school or college, find a way to include it in
your speech. It makes us feel like we are on
the same level, so we will be comfortable
getting in contact with you and letting you
know what issues our age group is facing.
-5-
Make sure we understand. It is important
that we know you care about the needs of all
of your constituents, regardless of their age or
interests. Make it clear to us that even though
you may not be a member of the political
party that we belong to, you still represent
us and are taking into account everyone’s
viewpoints before making a policy decision.
Make it clear that it is crucial to our democ-
racy that citizens write to their representa-
tives and senators. Finally, when we do write
to you, make sure you write back. We don’t
want to see a formatted letter that you send
to everyone, we want to see proof that you
actually heard what we said. Whenever you
go to speak with teenagers make sure to bring
business cards so we know where to send our
comments.
-6-
Get online, now! You would be surprised
how many times a day teenagers check their
e-mail, mySpace.com and Facebook.com.
Both Facebook.com and mySpace.com are
easy to use, but if you need help ask the
interns around your office. They are almost
guaranteed to have a profile on at least one
of the sites. By using these sources you will
have a direct connection to youth and what
is important to them. Facebook.com has a
section in each profile where you can enter
the political issues that are important to you.
By getting yourself a profile and “friending”
younger people, you will be able to get the
word out on policy to this portion of your
constituency.
-7-
Go back to school. Particularly around
election time, teens are interested in what is
going on in their government. Go to a local
high school and hold a legislative simulation.
Civic education teaches us all about what
happens in government, but few of us actu-
ally get to see it work. Before elections, go
to college campuses and hold town meetings
with some of your legislative friends from
both sides of the aisle. Give the students an
opportunity to learn more about you and the
issues that they will be voting on within the
next few weeks.
All these tips are opportunities for you to get
your name out to an often overlooked popula-
tion and an opportunity to find out what this
constituency of yours deems important.
STATE LEGISLATURES MAY 2007
T O O L S O F T H E T R A D E
bY REbECCA SUNSHINE
As a legislator you may receive many
invitations to talk to high school and
college-aged constituents about the
legislative process. These opportu-
nities can be more than a civics lesson for
a bunch of teenagers. They can be a civics
lesson for you, as well. Teenagers are always
trying to figure out what is going to be the
next big thing, whether it is a policy issue or
just a really cool thing you can plug into an
iPod. Remember that Facebook.com wasn’t
invented in Silicon Valley, but was a class
assignment for a college student. Teens aren’t
all that scary. We can be pretty nice and help-
ful people when we are treated like adults.
Here are some tips on how to talk to teens.
-1-
Don’t talk down to us. Remember how
grown-up you felt when you were a teen-
ager? We don’t like being treated like babies.
Don’t try to water it down for us. Tell us the
facts. If we really know what is going on in
our government then we are more likely to
take a stand than to sit down and watch as
policy passes us by.
-2-
Talk about issues that we care about.
Many of us are either approaching or are
already in the years when we have to figure
out what comes next. We have finished high
school, but not all of us are going to college.
And those who are going to college have to
figure out how to pay for it. Tell us what
you’re doing to make our transition into real-
ity an easier one. Education is a big issue for
all of us, but we also care about other national
issues. When you talk to us include many of
the topics you would when talking to adults
at a town meeting. We might not think that
Medicare and Social Security are important
to us now, but we do know that actions you
take today will affect our future.
-3-
Ask us our opinions. We have questions
for you. We’re constantly wondering. This is
mostly because at this age we begin to ques-
tion why government is the way it is—a big
bureaucracy seemingly filled with scandals.
It is important you answer our questions
honestly, but along with that, please ask us
questions as well. Everyone, no matter their
age, likes to feel important. Asking us for our
own thoughts on issues will make us under-
stand that you are listening to us and not just
to our parents.
-4-
Be yourself. If you have a ridiculous story
of something you did when you were in high
school or college, find a way to include it in
your speech. It makes us feel like we are on
the same level, so we will be comfortable
getting in contact with you and letting you
know what issues our age group is facing.
-5-
Make sure we understand. It is important
that we know you care about the needs of all
of your constituents, regardless of their age or
interests. Make it clear to us that even though
you may not be a member of the political
party that we belong to, you still represent
us and are taking into account everyone’s
viewpoints before making a policy decision.
Make it clear that it is crucial to our democ-
racy that citizens write to their representa-
tives and senators. Finally, when we do write
to you, make sure you write back. We don’t
want to see a formatted letter that you send
to everyone, we want to see proof that you
actually heard what we said. Whenever you
go to speak with teenagers make sure to bring
business cards so we know where to send our
comments.
-6-
Get online, now! You would be surprised
how many times a day teenagers check their
e-mail, mySpace.com and Facebook.com.
Both Facebook.com and mySpace.com are
easy to use, but if you need help ask the
interns around your office. They are almost
guaranteed to have a profile on at least one
of the sites. By using these sources you will
have a direct connection to youth and what
is important to them. Facebook.com has a
section in each profile where you can enter
the political issues that are important to you.
By getting yourself a profile and “friending”
younger people, you will be able to get the
word out on policy to this portion of your
constituency.
-7-
Go back to school. Particularly around
election time, teens are interested in what is
going on in their government. Go to a local
high school and hold a legislative simulation.
Civic education teaches us all about what
happens in government, but few of us actu-
ally get to see it work. Before elections, go
to college campuses and hold town meetings
with some of your legislative friends from
both sides of the aisle. Give the students an
opportunity to learn more about you and the
issues that they will be voting on within the
next few weeks.
All these tips are opportunities for you to get
your name out to an often overlooked popula-
tion and an opportunity to find out what this
constituency of yours deems important.