Excerpts from: Let’s ‘Spread Democracy’ Here at Home  
By Rep. David Trahan (Waldoboro, ME)

More American teenagers can name each of the Three Stooges than can name the three branches of government. Less than 20 percent of eligible 18- to 25-year-olds voted in the 2004 presidential election. Only 25 percent of secondary school students are considered proficient in civics and government.

These are findings from a survey by the Washington-based Congressional Conference on Civic Education. I can’t say I’m shocked. Lately, I’ve noticed disturbing signs that young people, especially kids in high school and middle school, have little or no knowledge of American democracy.

With civics now an afterthought in public schools, we’re in danger of losing the “institutional memory” of the next generation of voters regarding our history and our political culture. That’s not a healthy development for a system of government that depends on informed citizens making intelligent decisions about public policy.

Another warning sign of democracy in danger appeared in a publication from the National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL). It was a simple statement – “The public generally views politicians as corrupt.”

This is an ominous development. If most people view politicians as sleazy, they would rightly grow cynical. A government of the people, by the people and for the people, may not “long endure,” in the words of Abraham Lincoln, if the public believes that elected officials are crooks.

Some of this public mistrust and contempt is earned, but in my experience – after three terms in the state Legislature –most of it is just a misunderstanding of the legislative process and simple stereotyping. In the heat of our daily political battles we can forget that civic participation and education is one of the most fundamental elements of a healthy democracy. (May 4, 2005)