A FORUM FOR COMMUNITY ISSUES : Youth / OPINION : Politicians ignore issues that concern the young because most 18- to 21-year-olds don’t vote.

More than a century ago, President Abraham Lincoln said, “We are a government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Today, however, Lincoln would lament that “we are a government of half the people, by half the people, affecting all of the people,” because barely half of all eligible Americans vote. Even worse, in the 1988 election, less than 30% of my own age group exercised their voting rights.

The 18 to 21 age group is the only major segment of the voting public that failed to increase its participation after being enfranchised. African-Americans have raised their voting levels to within 7.5% of whites and females now consistently outvote males. But for youth, after a peak of 48% in 1972, the year we gained suffrage, our rate has continually fallen (although some believe it may rise this year).

Why do we fail to take advantage of our greatest right? Red tape involved in registering is often cited. Some states require a month-long waiting period, and others require a lengthy trip to the nearest county office. In many states, it is easier to buy a gun than to register to vote.

Another factor is our disdain for the Establishment. There has been no leader to inspire the youth of my generation, as Kennedy did for our parents and Franklin Roosevelt for our grandparents. My generation has grown up with an unprecedentedly high national debt and huge cuts in education as normal. We have been witness to scandals involving elected and appointed officials. Who do we have to look up to? Neither Clinton nor Bush nor Perot excites my generation. Why should we care, when recession and lack of employment opportunities cloud our future?

As my generation sets a non-voting example for the next generation, we are sacrificing the democratic ideals. So, solving this national malaise is vital.

One solution is to improve registration methods. Motor-voter laws in some states allow potential voters to enroll whenever they renew their license. Twenty-three other states, including California, allow hassle-free mail-in registration.

The political education of my peers is another cure for this ailment. For example, Arizona recently passed a bill allowing students age 12 to 18 to take part in a mock election with publicized results, thus fostering a political interest at an early age.

The participation of the media and large firms can also make a difference. MTV and local radio stations sponsor “Rock the Vote,” a program to raise voter awareness through a mix of politics and music. Firms like Esprit clothing and Xerox are pouring in heavy funds to raise voter consciousness. Hopefully, these solutions may form the spark that reignites our democracy.

John Adams warned: “When annual elections end, slavery begins.” For my age group, slavery has begun, but it is a self-inflicted bondage. By failing to speak out, we have hurt ourselves. Politicians cater to voters, and so they ignore us. When budget-trimming time comes, education and job training are cut, hurting my group more than others. But Social Security and Medicare are increased, because senior citizens understand the importance of the ballot. Unless my generation begins to understand the significance of our franchise, we shall continue to be ignored.

There is a path to give us a voice and remove our shackles. The path begins at the ballot box.