Young Americans are breaking the stereotype of being disengaged with politics. Facing issues like high student loan debt and the mounting consequences of climate change, the rising generation is mobilized to incite change by speaking out and heading to the ballot box. During the 2018 midterms, 18- to 29-year-old voters had the highest turnout (31 percent) in decades.
This trend only seems to be increasing with youth activism on the rise. Teens are speaking out and reclaiming their voices in a political system that seems to make decisions that don’t reflect their best interests for the future. Collective disillusionment with government inaction has brought together millions of people across the world, in events like the Global Climate Strike.
But young people won’t stay engaged if they don’t think they can make a difference, which is why we need the foundation of the 28th Amendment to get big money out of politics. By ending the economic monopoly of power by special interests, we can create a culture of participation and transparency to reinvigorate citizens’ trust — and participation — in the political system.
Signing the #causeofourtime Statement of Principle is an opportunity for young people to send a message to the U.S. Congress that we the people want government to work for us, not just wealthy corporations and special interests. The American Promise mission to end the domination of big money in politics with the 28th Amendment can only be successful if we all take action—including the rising generation of Americans.
Read on for our recent articles about why young people are crucial to the movement to get big money out of politics, and how that will lead to change on an even larger scale.
International Business Times: Why The Youth Climate Movement Should Also Address Money In Politics
In this International Business Times op-ed, American Promise Outreach Manager Wambui Gatheru draws attention to how young people are fighting for progress on climate policy. Signing the #causeofourtime Statement of Principle is a way to fight donations from gas and oil industry lobbyists, which manipulate legislative action to support their agenda instead of public well-being.
Law and Crime: ‘We Need a Fundamental Change’: Advocates Renew Push for Overturning Citizens United Via 28th Amendment
Momentum is growing behind the grassroots movement for the 28th Amendment. This article explains how The Cause of Our Time campaign is helping unite citizens across the nation to fight the power of big money to reaffirm their own role in democracy. Learn how you can get involved, too, and the history of this issue since the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Citizens United v. FEC.
