PEACE CORPS IN THE 21 ST CENTURY: A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

20Political DisengagementOne of the major principles upon which Putnam argues for a declining civicsociety is that younger generations do not participate in voting at the same rate as oldergenerations. Putnam suggests that “electoral abstention is even more important as a signof deeper trouble in the body politic than as a malady itself.” 60The suggestion here isthat political engagement is an indicator of larger, more systemic social problems.However, voting and political knowledge are rather individualistic forms of participationthat do not necessarily indicate whether a person votes or participates in civicengagement.Younger generations are not involved in politics for three reasons: they do notbelieve their vote or opinion makes a difference, their participation does not make themfeel satisfied, and they generally do not trust the political process or their government.Zukin, et al., note that today’s citizens are often not engaged in traditional politicsbecause they do not believe “that citizenship entails traditional obligations such as voting,paying attention to government decisions or contacting a public official.” 61Part of thereason for this sentiment is shown in a 1998 study published by the National Associationof Secretaries of State: “Sixty-one percent of 18- to 24-year-olds believe that today’spolitical leaders have failed them. Only one in four young Americans ages 15 to 24 thinkgovernment or elected officials have a major impact on their day-to-day life. Youngadults are significantly less likely than older adults to think their participation in politicswould make a difference.” 62This general belief that engagement in the political processwill have no effect leads directly to the disengagement from politics.The second reason that citizens are not participating in political activity has to do