PR-CANADA.net - California's Youth Give Vote of 'No Confidence' to Government and Politicians

PR-CANADA.net - California's Youth Give Vote of 'No Confidence' to Government and Politicians:

"CALIFORNIA'S YOUTH GIVE VOTE OF 'NO CONFIDENCE' TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICIANS"

osted by mincho2008

Saturday, 03 April 2010

An overwhelming number of California's youth believe that their state is moving in the wrong direction and that politicians cannot be trusted to deliver on their promises, according to a new statewide poll of California students. The California Youth Poll reached 630 politically engaged California students(1), representing three statewide Youth Leadership Development organizations. EMC Research conducted the poll, commissioned by the Endowment for California Leadership, Junior State of America, California YMCA Youth and Government and the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP). A worrying discovery of the poll is that even among the highest achieving students in California, alienation from and distrust of their state government is alarmingly high. Still, the negative political climate in California has not hindered the students' engagement in local and statewide civic activities and conversely has led them to espouse a more pragmatic and collaborative approach to politics, eschewing old party lines and ideological arguments. "These poll results are distressing in their evidence of the distrust and disillusionment California's young people feel about the future of their state and lack of confidence in their political leaders, their lack of trust in the key government institutions definitely mirrors what their parents and other older adults are saying," said Gary Hart, former Chair of the California Senate Education Committee and former California Secretary of Education. "But what is heartening to know is that the students' alienation and distrust is not tempering their continued desire to rise to the call of leadership and get involved in local and state government and politics." Poll respondents were asked to reply to a mix of questions regarding their political attitudes, affiliations, and priorities for 2010. Highlights: Many California youth are engaged in the political process: -- 50% of the students polled have worked on a political campaign and