I've been reading DailyKos for about 6 months now - really ever since I got tired of the mainstream media and its real lack of quality reporting. It wasn't even until last week, after reading JamieG from Md's diary on the first incarnation of Youth Kos, and MattFromVermont's subsequent diary on Youth Kos 2.0 that I even decided to register an account to post content.
As a 19-year-old, sophomore college student, I really didn't see the point. I figured that not only would I never really be able to (or really have a chance) to post original content on various happenings in the world, but also that my youth would be a real, substantial deterrent in terms of attracting readers. I mean, the number of occurrences in my life where an adult other than my parents actually took time to consider my point of view, or consider that I was intelligent/knowledgeable enough to even have a point of view have been minimal. Sad as it is to say, I didn't think anyone here would care. The issues that are discussed here are often on a level far beyond my own, or what I could possibly contribute to.
The comments on those aforementioned two diaries drastically shifted my views on the subject. There is nothing more encouraging that seeing older adults (since I guess I am technically an adult now) say that my opinion matters, and that they'd like to see it in written form here. It really is impressive how much of an effect such a statement like that can have on somebody my age.
So I decided to make an account, and start posting diaries to see what kind of response I'd get. Hopefully this post is the first of many. I want to try and contribute my point of view (and the points of view of my peers) to the discussion - mostly because people my age are often left out completely.
To make a long story short, I've been waiting a long time to have a place where I could discuss my own views on topics and be listened to. I spent the vast majority of my childhood reading/watching the news daily, and closely watching my Dad's second career in local and state politics. I've never really had a forum outside of my family to discuss anything I saw or noticed. I feel like DailyKos presents one of the better opportunities to do so. I suppose it was really only a matter of time before I came out of the woodwork and tried to post something. Do I expect to attract a regular readership? No. Not by any means. Who knows if I'll even have the time and patience to post regularly. But I'd like to try. And try I will.
At any rate, I've already come up with a few topics that I feel like I could put a young adult spin on: (1) what is/are the primary policy topic(s) that young adults like me want the government to focus on, (2) the general state of education at the high school/collegiate level and how students at those levels feel about it, and (3) a discussion of the general "engagedness" in politics and policy among people my age.
Most likely, it will take me a while to get to each of those topics. College is busy right now, especially for a music major, and my time is limited and torn between many competing interests. But hopefully I can do so soon. Hopefully I'll see those diaries recommended and republished (now that I'm a contributor to Youth Kos 2.0). Who knows. Hopefully this doesn't turn out to be an exercise in futility.
Anyways, for those of you who took the time to read all of this - thank you. If there are any topics on which you are particularly interested in hearing the point of view of someone my age, please, let me know, and I'll do my best to get to them.
-Nick