YOUNG POLITICAL ACTIVIST: WESTON, CONN.

By Katie Bolinger, 17

David Burstein, 19, from Weston, Conn.

When David Burstein was in high school, it never occurred to him that politics might be irrelevant to his life. He grew up watching CNN and accompanying his parents in voting booths. Frustrated by the outcome of the 2004 election, he became passionate about showing young people the importance of voting and political involvement.

Now, four years later, David is a student at Haverford University in Pennsylvania
and has appeared on various media outlets, including CSPAN and ABC World News
Tonight, to talk about 18 in ’08, his short documentary about youth involvement in
politics. The film is aimed at 17- to 24-year-olds and attempts to show them that their
vote can make a big difference in the 2008 election. It features a variety of politicians—
Sens. John Kerry and Joe Lieberman among them—as well as other political activists and
college students.

The film has its own Web site, www.181in08.com, and has spawned a nonprofit
organization that shares its goals. This summer, David hopes to sponsor a presidential
debate, embark on a university tour, and even launch a fashion campaign complete with
T-shirts and bracelets in hopes of persuading young people that their votes matter.

How did you come up with the idea to make this movie?

It was sort of a response to the 2004 election, sitting around the next day after the returns
came in, saying, you know, “Why are there so few young people that turn out? What
could be done to really inspire and motivate people to participate in the process?”

What do you hope young people will get out of your film?

I hope they will be inspired, encouraged and want to participate. But it’s not just about
registering to vote; it’s about long-term engagement in the political process.

If you could talk with the candidates about any issue, what would it be?

Jobs—I think that’s something that’s really important, especially with what’s going on
right now with the economy. Fiscal responsibility also. In general, people have no idea
what kind of debt we are racking up in this country, that when we are 30, 35, 40—no
matter how successful we are—we’re going to have to suffer to pay it off. … It’s not
going to hurt our parents, but it’s going to hurt us.

 

Copyright 2008 Y-Press