Election Day is less than two weeks away, and the number of young voters has dropped in recent elections to an all-time low. Tom Rice, head of political science at the University of Northern Iowa, says the lack of turnout by 18-to-24-year-olds is a symptom of a larger problem. He says young people nationwide aren’t involved civically like they used to be. He says they don’t volunteer their time, they don’t go to church, they don’t trust each other, and they’re not involved in their communities. They’re withdrawing from society in what Rice calls “the erosion of social capital.” He says social capital is engaging in your community, and a general trust in those around you. Rice says T-V is partly to blame for this societal breakdown, as he says we sit in front of the screen and don’t talk to each other.He says something must be done to recharge young people with excitement about the civic community, or our troubles will continue to worsen.
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