WE WERE ALL YOUNG ONCE...

Four years ago a candidate sparked a wildfire among young people to get involve. This single candidate got them to participate in our civic duty and go out and actually try and make a difference. This candidate was Barack Obama who became President due to a large help by all the young people he inspired and gave hope.

Now, four years later, another candidate is doing the same thing, and even more. That candidate is Ron Paul.

As a young person, most of my friends are young as well. Politics is usually the last thing on their mind. They are more worried about college or finding a job or their relationship or the latest "reality" tv show, but now, in the year 2012, it is changing. I find that more and more young people are getting involved, paying attention, and being educated on the vast amount of candidates and issues of today. And it really gives me hope.

We all know that Barack Obama inspired millions of usually quiet, apolitical people to let their voice heard and get involved. He had that ability to give young people--and people of all backgrounds and all areas--hope. Hope that the system had not failed; hope for a better tomorrow; hope that even young people have a future that will be as a good and prosperous as their parents had, and their parents before them.

Well Barack Obama was elected and here we are now, almost four years later. We are going through a time where the word "recession" is a everyday occurrence and common to hear. A time where millions are looking for a decent job. A time where dark and gloomy days seem to be the norm. And all the hope and inspiration that Barack Obama gave to so many young people faded and eventually disappeared.

It is a dark and gloomy time in America.

For many years I have been very involved in politics. Keeping up on all the candidates, debates, issues, views, philosophies, and anything that related to politics. So as it is prime Presidential election season, I was excited to see what my friends thought about the crop of candidates we have now.

Of course I had some status quo Democratic friends who couldn't phantom the idea of not voting for Obama, and I had some status quo Republican friends who couldn't phantom the idea of not voting for a establish Republican, like Mitt Romney. But what really got my attention was the large amount of my friends -- from all political beliefs, liberal and conservative, Republican and Democrat -- who support Ron Paul. Even people who at first, like so many others, call Ron Paul a "crazy old uncle" eventually did research on Paul and closely looked at his views and then came to support him as well.

Ron Paul is giving hope to young people.

It amazes me how much potential my generation has if they just get on the right track. And Ron Paul is truly pushing so many on the right track. He is giving so many hope and pride. By his running for President, so many more are getting educated on the issues and events of today, and this is beneficial for everyone. Not just for Paul's campaign, but for everyone, because a informed electorate can only benefit us.

But what concerns me is what is going to happen when Ron Paul leaves? Will all this momentum and stride in the right direction going to end like what happened with all the young people who supported Obama after his election who went back to their status quo? I am afraid so. What I don't want happening is all this progress of young people getting involved to die, because if it does, we will loose so much.

Young people (ages from 18-30) make up around 17% of the electorate. That is a huge portion of voters, almost one out of every five voters is a young person. It is larger then black voters (12%), Hispanics (8%), and many other groups that every politician in the world tries to get. Think about it. Politicians make special ads and campaigns and focus groups to capture thosee voters, but no candidate does anything for young people. Even though young people make up a larger electorate then blacks, Hispanics, and many others, politicians don't care about them. But why should they? Young people don't care about voting or politics or being educated on the issues, so if they don't care about them, why would they care about you?

In 2008, only about 1/5 of all young people said that it was very important to get involved in politics, stay educated on the issues, and vote. And remember, that was in a election year that got even more young people then years past.

Due to our--young people's--ignorance, we are getting the shit end of the stick. When politicians go into office they should remember that they have to represent our views and needs, just as much as seniors or any other electorate. But they don't, because who is there to hold their feet to the fire if they don't work to improve our lives? No one. Because, remember, we don't care, we don't pay attention, and we don't get involved.

What we need in America is a well educated, informed young electorate that is consistent in every election. Maybe then, will our politicians care about us.

Ron Paul is helping so many get involved and he is someone who truly cares about the young people. But I hope that when he leaves from the political scene, young people don't.

It is vital that young people stay involved and informed. Go out there and make your voice heard.

Get involved and spread the message of real hope and liberty here Ron Paul 2012