100,000 Voters Strong

In 2004 much was made about first time voters flocking to political concerts hosted by mega rockers. Post election tabulations showed that college age people wanted to head bang  with John but not chad punch for his cause. Twenty something have a long history of not showing up on election day.

 

Amazingly, in this election cycle something different has already happened. Almost 100,000 under 30 voters shattered turn out records in Iowa. In New Hampshire Hilary's come from behind victory suppressed the story of record turnout but they to saw a wave of twenty somethings actually voting. In South Carolina a record one in five voters where under 30. The AP is reporting that the number of young voter register in California for the primary is already greater then the total for the 2004 presidential election. In short, Obama my have be able to do what Springsteen and Kerry could not. He may be able to ignite a generation. So, what if this generation does more than rock?

 

If it happens however, it will not be a hippie movement. Instead of LSD trips expanding minds we will see RSS trips mobilizing people. Instead of "turn on and tune out" as a message we'll hear "iTune in and YouTube on" to get the message. What this revolution lacks in flowers and beads it will make up for in blazing technological and it will make the hippy movement appear like a blip on the green monochrome screen of history.

Let me be clear. I am not commenting on a candidate or a political cause or a issue. Whatever you personally feel about Obama, this is about more than liberal vs. conservative.  It is about the what, why and how of capturing the hearts of a generation.

And not just any generation. A group that may be the most talented and confident cohort to come along in 100 years. Whether it is the predictions of noted generational experts like Neil Howe and William Strauss, the trends reported in the UCLA freshmen study, the hard data of rising SAT scores or a simple observation of their internet savvy, make not mistake, this group has game.