Have you ever noticed that life is a lot like a newspaper? Life is always familiar, but never the same, just like a daily paper. Think about it; the name of the newspaper is always in the same gothic lettering, but the headlines, stories, and pictures change every single day. By participating in the NRECA Youth Tour, I was thrown into the epicenter of change for America: Washington, DC. While there, I saw how the changes our country faces are creating challenges that our leaders of today and tomorrow will rise to meet. Youth Tour allowed me to rediscover the ideals America was founded on, and why those ideals matter today; to meet my peers, the ones who will be guiding America through these changing times; and to learn how to meet the challenges we face as a nation.

            The founding principle of America was democracy. In a time when most countries were ruled by monarchies, and a constitution was unheard of, our Founding Fathers boldly turned government over to the people. Americans have always had to work and fight to maintain our government. Freedom is not free, and thousands of our soldiers have given their lives to preserve liberty for us.

            When we traveled to Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Youth Tour, I saw first hand their sacrifice. The white grave markers over the rolling hills reminded me of the poem “In Flanders Fields.” The final stanza of the poem is a charge to future generations: “Take up our quarrel with the foe/To you, from failing hands, we throw the Torch/ Be yours to hold it high/If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep/Though poppies blow in Flanders Fields.” It is our duty to take the torch and keep faith with the brave men and women who went before us and preserve democracy.

To this end, the cooperative form of business embraces the idea of democracy. One of the basic principles of cooperatives is Democratic Member Control. The members of a co-op own and control the business by voting on policies and electing representatives that are accountable to the members. In this manner, the cooperative is much like our government. Everyone has an opinion on how the business should operate and can decide on policy through a vote.

            This freedom to have and exercise an opinion is invaluable to me. I’ve worked around newspapers all my life. My mother is the editor of a tri-weekly paper and I write feature stories. I’m an opinionated person, and I’ll usually let you know it. (Aside w/ gesture: Maybe that’s why they only let me on the editorial page...)

            Newspapers model democracy by being showcases of differing opinion. When was the last time you saw a headline where a few members of Congress agreed on something? No, headlines seem to be made when people disagree. The best part about America is that disagreeing is okay.

            Many of you here have heard the statement, “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll gladly fight to defend your right to say it.” This attitude is vital to the very heart of America. We may not always have the same opinions and ideas, but we are all Americans.

            While at Youth Tour, I met several people that I didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye with. However, sharing a common life-altering experience with them was a learning experience for me. The only way for us to come together and cooperate to solve the problems America is facing will be to embrace our differences.

often lately. In our interview, I learned two things. First, he was undecided on whether he would vote for or against Cap and Trade. Our delegation tried to persuade him to go against it, but he ultimately voted in favor of the bill. Second, energy reform is not happening nearly as rapidly as it needs to in America.

            The coming energy crisis is one of the primary problems we must cast aside our differences and work together to solve. While at the Capitol, I learned that the energy crisis is far more of a threat to the existing American electricity infrastructure than I ever imagined. Luckily, Youth Tour also taught me about an initiative sponsored by NRECA designed to raise awareness of, and respond to, this threat: The “Our Energy, Our Future” campaign.

            “Our Energy, Our Future” is designed to open conversations between electric cooperative members and elected officials about keeping electricity affordable. Youth Tour introduced me to the campaign’s ideas and goals for energy reform and made me a better representative of rural cooperatives. For the needed energy reforms to take place, however, Americans must come together with our collective future in mind.

            Luckily, America has a proud history of coming together in times of need. I had the opportunity while at Youth Tour to visit the Newseum, where many of these times are documented. I mentioned that I worked at a newspaper. Once I saw that the Newseum was on the itinerary for the Tour, I knew it would be one of my favorite experiences. While there, I saw the 9/11 exhibit. It was by far the most moving part of any museum I’ve ever been in.

            The attacks of September 11^th caused Americans to unite in common injury. To be attacked on our own soil was like a slap in the face to all who are proud to live in these United States. 9/11 is the defining moment of my generation. But preserved alongside it in the Newseum were other critical moments in our nation’s history: the JFK assassination, the Colombia Disaster, Pearl Harbor, all rallying cries for one generation of Americans or another. All of these events were poignant tragedies that still bring to the surface wounds not yet healed.

            The energy crisis we face will not have the same emotional impact as these events, but it will have a far greater physical consequence. We have the ability and the technology to fix our energy problems.

            Thanks to NRECA, The Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland Association of Electric Cooperatives, and my cooperative, Mecklenburg Electric, I was able to have the Youth Tour experience alongside so many other like-minded students, now better prepared to solve the energy question.

            Youth Tour reminded me that our country was founded on the democratic principles that cooperatives employ to guarantee the voice each member-owner is heard. As Americans, we have a proud history of coming together despite our differences. If we come together as a nation now to revamp our energy policy, then we will meet the energy crisis with a minimum of discomfort.

            We have the power to make the needed changes. So, what will tomorrow’s headline be? “America Crippled by Energy Exhaustion?” Or “Energy Capacity Exceeds Expectations, Careful Policy Decisions Cited?” It’s up to us, so let’s give the newspapers some good news for a change.