Those who are political science or government majors in college, and are of legal voting age, should actively volunteer for a politician of their choice and receive academic credit for their efforts.
Returned to Texas last week for the first time since moving to California last year, to campaign for Obama. Did it all: called strangers, knocked on their doors, talked to those who didn't slam their doors in my face about the strange "Texas Two Step" process to determine delegate representation, attended a meeting with Michelle Obama, held rally signs by the highway outside a polling station, and observed my first caucus.
While I was of course disappointed with the actual primary results at the state level, the caucus results - which are still being counted - seem to indicate that Obama might actually end up with more delegates from Texas than Clinton.
(At least in the precint that I actively worked, there were 52 delegates at stake to the county convention, and they went 30 for Obama, 22 for Clinton.)
More important than the actual results, however, was the experience. To be this passionately involved in a process that so many Americans either take for granted or approach with such cynicsm was, simply, awesome. You can read all of the newspapers, listen to the Sunday morning television analysts, and opine by the water cooler ... there is nothing quite like engaging with actual voters, who cut across every imaginable socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious line, to make one appreciate just how powerful the democratic voting process can be. Which is why I now seriously believe that college students who are majoring in government or political science should receive academic credit for actively volunteering with a campaign ... my four days in Texas taught me far more about American politics than any other experience I can think of.
Technorati Tags: primary election, politics, campaign volunteering
