As of 2003, 2.1 million people were of high school age (14-17) in California alone, according to the Census Bureau.  That was three years ago, and the population of the state, as well as that of the nation, has continued to increase, so it is not hard to imagine similar numbers today.  This translates to how many 18 year old voters this these coming elections?  How about in 2008?  Alot.  That's a pretty enourmous force to recon with, but who, or which party, will be getting the votes?  Obviously no one party will 'own' the youthful generation, but it is disturbing to realize exactly which party, or more appropriately, which ideology, will have the greatest draw on the political newbies. 
    The leftists, with their easy, no-moral-obligations-lifestlye draw in the youth like flys to honey.  Live and let live, the policy of the Leftists, and, amazingly, the lifestyle of many an emerging citizen, seems to be the ticket to an easy, rich, workless future.  In other words, the 'I don't care generation' is coming of age, and the Leftists are offering a handsome dowry.  However, just because this generation hasn't yet emerged from the cocoon of high school doesn't mean they haven't been , or are not capable of, being reached already by the ideals, absense of values, etc. which define the great majority of the current Democratic Party.
    Indeed, many a fellow student harbor dangerous ideas about the issues facing us today, and facing us two, six, ten years down the road.  Issues like gay marraige, "Why should we care what they do?  It's their life, and we have no right to interfere with it!"  (Sound familiar?), immigration, "They are just trying to escape a horrible life.  They're no different than our anscestors.  They do jobs no white person will do", etc.  Issues like defense stir up the usual sturm and drung of "It's the next Vietnam, etc. etc. Quagmire etc. etc." and this coming from a generation that, by and large, couldn't find either Iraq or Vietnam on a map.  
    I trust my point has been made: the youth of the nation are, as they have throughout American history, leaning more and more to the left.  The only difference is, the youth and the power they soon will wield are no longer safe to  be allowed to  'ferment' and wisen with passing time.  The next time they have their say, it might end as a nuke in Washington or VX in Seattle as a result of policy instated by their inexperience and unthinking commitment to the easy wrong rather than the hard right.
    So, the situation is grim indeed.  What can be done?  It all starts with youth outreach.  Schools, high schools, must be brought out of the intellectual morass they find themselves in today.  Textbooks need to be brought back up to standard, published neutrally and presented to the student with a "make your own decision" rather than a "let's analyze the writer's viewpoint."  Junior Political programs need to be instated, they need to be directed fairly, not unbias-ly.  Basically, both sides of the political spectrum need to be presented, because side by side, the difference is obvious; the insanity so blatant, that, to the thinking student, there will be no decision to make.  We must, in effect, distrust the youth enough to be prudent, but trust them enough to take the reigns with a little guidance.