Slackers Unite!

A new series of talks urges twentysomethings to take charge.

The time has come for the post-baby boom generation to grow up and take charge of leading this country into the 21st century, and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia wants to help with the transition.

In a series of four talks entitled "Council Contemporaries," the Council plans to feature young leaders in politics, business and arts taking a serious look at the "real world" — the "real world" that doesn't appear regularly on MTV.

This program might just be what the World Affairs Council needs to stimulate participation from a new generation. According to organizer Cricket Brosius, many of the Council's younger members are intimidated by the older crowd that attends the regular programs. These talks will not only give "young professionals" a chance to discuss politics, but also network within their peer group.

The first speaker in the Council Contemporaries series is Jon Cowan, co-founder of the advocacy organization Lead...Or Leave. Along with co-authoring the book Revolution X, he spent the last two years trying to inspire twentysomethings to get interested in politics.

"We are a blunt generation," says Cowan, speaking on the telephone from his office in Washington D.C. Pressing issues like the AIDS epidemic have forced us to be candid with one another, he explains. "If on the third date you can talk about safe sex, you can talk about fixing Social Security or breaking down the deficit."

The sentiment is admirable, but is it realistic? Two years ago, Lead...Or Leave and Bill Clinton were riding on a wave of excitement stirred up by the prospect of new blood in Washington. Today, the president's vision looks a little cloudy, the Republicans are the new kids in town, and Lead...Or Leave is on hiatus — looking for a new executive director and trying to raise funds.

Many of Lead...Or Leave's causes — cutting the deficit, reinventing Social Security, affordable health care — have either been championed by the Republicans or weakened by Clinton's bobbling. Cowan chooses to take the non-partisan route and blame both sides. He still supports Clinton and wouldn't mind seeing him re-elected in '96. However, the Democrats' fall from grace hasn't helped his advocacy group remain solvent. Since the Republican takeover at the Capitol, Cowan has found that businesses are less likely to donate to Lead...Or Leave.

"Democratic business leaders seem to be saying, 'Oh, my God, we better retrench behind the party,' and Republicans leaders said, 'Gee, we don't need so many outside groups anymore, we've got our guys fighting the deficit.'"

The baby-buster advocate promises that Lead...Or Leave will be back to full force for the '96 elections. At that time he'll work harder to build generational bridges between the baby boomers and busters. He figures the combined constituency will be the most important to foster change in the Social Security system. Until then, Cowan is working as a deputy assistant for long range planning at the federal department of Housing and Urban Development

Would Cowan ever run for office?

"If the climate were right," he says with a bit of hesitation. "But, I'm not sure if being a congressman or senator is the best way to effect change right now."

He brings up Bill Bradley's disgust with Congress as an example of the current mood of many Washington power brokers. Bradley wrote the introduction to Revolution X, and called for young people to get more involved in politics.

As for that Lead...or Leave ultimatum, did Bradley and Lead...Or Leave simply opt to... leave?

Cowan laughs at the question and says that Bradley may be leaving the Senate, but he isn't leaving the public sector. He insists that the "leave" part of Lead...Or Leave was never intended as a negative. The title meant that people should either be a part of the solution or get out of the way of those who are.

So, are you ready to be a part of the solution? Is there still a solution to be a part of? Is it time come up with new solutions?

Discuss these questions and more on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. when Cowan speaks at the Milkbar. It's $20 for Council non-members to see the program, with price including an open bar reception.

Upcoming speakers in the Council Contemporaries series include Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach For America — the corps who commit two years to teach in under-resourced urban and rural schools — and, possibly, George Stephanopoulos.

— Neil Gladstone