Remarks of Eric Bauman Chair, LA County Democratic Party, at the 2007 California Young Democrats Convention I'm not going to give you the traditional "you're so important” speech. I'm not going to give you the "you are the leaders of tomorrow” speech. I'm not going to give you the "next year's election depends on you” speech. And I'm not going to give you the "you are the future” speech either. I'm going to give the “tomorrow is today” speech. Your tomorrow is today because the geniuses of my generation have already usurped your tomorrow, they have mortgaged your future, and set us on a path of global warfare and on a course of declining hope and prosperity. They have limited your opportunities. They have wiped out the low hanging fruit, taken the path of least resistance, been corrupt, inept and selfcentered. They have even made deals with the devil to keep their wacko ideologues happy…All the while undermining your tomorrow. From ignoring the effects of global climate change to off shoring high paying professional, scientific and technical careers, to limiting educational opportunities, they have blunted your future. By obliterating the budget surplus and the sense of hope for the future, that bridge to the 21st century that, Bill Clinton left us, they have dug the deepest fiscal hole in the history of humankind; they have shut you out of much of your tomorrow. Your tomorrow is now today. Take it from an old hand like me, you can only get your tomorrow back, if you: Demand your government invest in your future. Demand your government look like you, sound like you, think like you and act like you. Demand your government start saving the health of this planet and the health of every person on it. Demand your government provide a high quality education for every child and ensure there is a decent paying job with real benefits for every person who wants one. Demand equality and social justice for every American, for every person. Most of all, you must demand your government stop mortgaging your future, with tax schemes designed to make the rich richer and a war that is costing so many billions of dollars that your great grandchildren will still be paying for it when they are your age. Those in power need to understand that their futures depend on your future and your future is today. I believe it's not too late to save your tomorrow, to regain your future, to build the kind of world you'd like to see. But to do it you have to stand up today! You have to speak out today! You have to commit today! Last year two million young people awoke, went to the polls and began changing the course of America. How many of you have emailed or called a legislator or member of congress to tell them your opinion on the war, the budget, healthcare, climate change, education or the use of torture by our spies and military operatives? How many of you are sick at heart and sick to your stomachs about the direction of our world, our nation and our state? How many of you are committed to the challenge of turning the White House into a blue house next year? If you are ready to create the America of your dreams…the America that is the beacon of hope to all people on earth.... the America that is one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all… then you will stand up today!

Mr. Bauman may have directed this speech to younger Democrats, but I think it still applies to the rest of us.