Is it possible to feel better, yet feel worse? I hope so. Because that’s how I feel. Now I’ll grumble under my breath some more about people that can’t keep their germs home.

Young people and voting. Studies have shown that young people do not go out and vote. Despite MTV’s “Rock the Vote” and other such campaigns, young people seem content to stay home and not vote. A couple of weeks ago, an editorial was published in my university paper by a student from the University of Virginia. She writes about Hilary Clinton, and what should be the #1 priority on the Senator’s agenda.

Know what she thinks? “Hillary doesn’t seem to want the American public to pay attention to the fact that she’s a woman.” This bright (ahem) aspiring journalist wants Hilary Clinton to pay serious attention to her LOOKS. This young woman herself says, ” I may be a somewhat superficial person who thinks that clothing matters.” Oh my GOD. Apparently it matters so much to this girl that she’s written a whole opinion piece on Hillary’s campaign without mentioning one. single. political. issue. Not the war, not national security, not social security, taxes, health care, education…nothing.

Here’s some select gems from the article that I found inspiring to be a sad commentary on what is important to this young voter:

“Hillary wears ugly clothes and gets bad haircuts to prove that she’s a “serious” politician who can make decisions about foreign policy and whatnot, and not a woman who’s going to skip a U.N. summit for Nordstrom’s semi-annual sale”

“If Hillary would let me make her more Jackie O and less Ellen DeGeneres in an awkward stage, I think she might just have a shot at this Democratic nomination thing.”

She also gives suggestions/fashion criticisms to “Senator Hil” (her term, not mine):

“Get a legitimate makeup artist and not a politically correct 15-year-old from the projects who knows how to wield a LipSmackers”

“The left half of your teeth are less white than the right half.”

“Your hair is ever so slightly reminiscent of Bon Jovi’s”

Finally, she finishes up her column with this sage advice to the first woman to ever try to run for president:

“You could be the first female president! So dress like a hottie and not Bartleby the Scrivener.”

Mother of God. If you want to read the entire article (translation: If you need to waste 5 minutes), find it here. Don’t get mad at me when you discover that it’s 5 minutes of your life you are never going to get back.

What really scares me is that these kids are learning what to value in the political elections from someone. Is it my failing (or school’s failings) as an educator? Parents failing to talk to their kids about national and global issues? The news media for spending a little too much time talking about Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, and not enough time on issues that impact us as a society? A combination of all of the above?

I try to encourage my students to vote. After reading that, if that’s the train of thought they are operating under…well…I’d rather they stay home until they can judge a candidate for something less superficial than their looks.