10/29/98
Akron

Dear Youth of America,

When I was asked to write this "open letter", I was asked to address it to "one of the major participants" in the scandal. However, I feel, we are ALL major participants...even you. Whereas many of the adults have walked into this scandal with open eyes, the young people of this country have been dragged into it.

My generation, when we were young, had the same thing happen to us. It was called Watergate. I especially wanted this "open letter" addressed to you because I remember how Watergate affected me and my peers. I need to pass on to you what I needed to hear then.

Something that many people would love to have is the ability to vote those bad people out of power. We have that ability and yet only half of the people in this country bother to vote. They have many different reasons: they are too busy; "all politicians are crooks"; their vote doesn't mean anything or they even believe they will have to sit on a jury if they register to vote (ask your teacher to explain that one}.

I'm part of a very unique generation. I believe we were the last generation where we really believed our government would be honest with us--that they were on our side, working for us.

If that's no longer true it is because we have failed to keep our part of the bargain--as citizens. It is our responsibility to keep our politicians honest and working for us. Everyone in America has an opinion about politicians, but only half of them take an active role in choosing the people who will act in our name.

The decisions made by politicians effect you--daily. Councilmen, mayors, state senators, governors, Congress, the President, all make decisions that effect your life. But it's you--you the voter, who decides who those people will be. If you hold them to a higher standard, they will rise to it, or cease to be politicians.

Study how your government works. Visit the city council when it's in session. Start small and work up. Many of your representatives have websites. Read about them. E-mail them. Ask your teachers to ask them to come and speak at your school.

Scandals occur because the American people aren't taking charge of their government. If we all work together, perhaps we can make it so that the "Clinton Scandal" will be known as "America's last scandal".

It's up to us.

It's up to you.