Project Youthanize hosted an interactive panel discussion at Memorial Union Wednesday night to address the issues of youth voting and involvement in politics.
Panel members, including U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Democratic superdelegate Jason Rae and independent filmmaker David Burnstein, discussed election issues such as the economic crisis.
UW-Madison history professor John Sharpless, UW-Madison political science professor David Canon and UW-Madison student Paris Glazer were also on the panel.
The event was hosted to address important election issues and keep up the momentum of the election,"" said Charlie Berens, a Project Youthanize member and host of the event.
Project Youthanize is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to youth engagement in social issues.
""It could very well be a realigning election, and I think young people could play a major role in that realignment,"" Sharpless said.
The discussion focused on the economic crisis, health care and foreign policy issues. Baldwin expressed her views on the bailout bill and her concern for the interests of American taxpayers.
""I felt the responsibility to act. I didn't think inaction was acceptable ... I think it was the right vote to take for the constituents that I represented,"" Baldwin said in response to criticism of her vote for last week's bailout bill.
Cannon said confidence needed to be restored and Congress was not willing to sign President Bush's ""blank check"" when it rejected the bill initially.
During the panel discussion, students from the International Socialist Organization, Campus Antiwar Network and Students for Nader pressed panel members for answers about the economic crisis.
Students were given the opportunity to ask questions at the conclusion of the panel discussion.
""I wonder why we are talking about maybe, possibly renegotiating mortgages in the future instead of actually putting a freeze on all foreclosures,"" said UW-Madison graduate student Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, a member of the International Socialist Organization.
Panel members responded to questions about the economic bailout and addressed the need for students to get out and become involved in politics.
""We have a huge amount of power as a generation ... If we come together and say, 'Look, this is something we care about, this is something we need,' ... [politicians] hear it,"" Rae said.
Sharpless urged students to develop a lifelong habit of civic participation.
""This election is just the beginning of a life of commitment to make this democracy work ... Please start now, and don't quit until you die,"" Sharpless said.
