program, held at the renaissance hotel in washington dc. >> tell me your name, where you are from, and what his group is all about. >> my name is catherine and i am from the state of michigan. we are at the 2014 u.s. senate youth program.

students come together to experience leadership in this nation's capital. >> what did you want to add? >> it is sponsored by the hearst foundation. two delegates from each state are chosen to represent the states at the capital. over 5000 alumni are in this country and they have become law, politics. i am from maryland. >> what was the high point of the week for you? >> seeing the president of the united states yesterday. to see him as an individual and a person was an incredible experience and just being in the room with the president was surreal. >> what is the first thing you thought of that you did not know you are about to think of when you saw this man standing in front of you? >> i was telling myself to keep my composure and keep it cool. seeing him approach on the red carpet in the white house was so surreal and i started tearing up

. it was actually white embarrassing. just being able to experience something like that that so many youth across the country are not able to experience is so unique for us and we will take this experience for a lifetime. >> and your high point? >> definitely meeting justice scalia. i have always been interested in law. one of the most insightful things that he said was that courts should not be named after the chief justice of the time. they should be named after the president who made the last appointment. that really touched me because i believe that when a president makes an appointment, the whole dynamic of the core changes. court changes. another thing that he said was that justice is relative. his job is not to define justice , that is our representatives' jobs, and ultimately, our job.

that was my high point. >> we are going to get some more involved in this. one of the things about the media, and i am sure you have observed this, the media sets the agenda. you tune on your television, you watch television and watched the news cast and the media tells you what is the most important thing. this morning, we are going to turn it on you and i'm going to pick somebody and ask you to tell us what you want to hear from this group so you can set the agenda. somebody in the room that wants to set the agenda of this discussion, put your hand up. [laughter] i cannot believe that. you are all shy types. tell us where you are from. >> my name is sarah and i am from houston, texas. >> how did you get here? by sending in some rec letters.

>> what year are you? >> i am a senior. >> what about college, have you made your decision? >> i am not sure yet. i am waiting to hear back. >> what do you want to tell this group. >> his group is a great group. they have a lot of great questions. i want to hear a lot about our experiences. thank you. about you? tell us your favorite experience this week. >> yesterday, when we went to nasa. the math administrator spoke with us and we got to live chat with the international space station, which was quite an experience, talking to someone in space. that was crazy. >> what surprised you about being able to do that? >> the instant communication. they were able to hear our questions within a minute and respond right away. it is crazy that we have technology that can do that with

in this day and age. the first discussion is about your own experiences and what you are going to remember and what matters to you. which one of you is going to stand up and tell me your name is tamara name -- and tell me your name. >> i am from utah and my favorite experience here was the chance to meet my own senators. it was so relatable. my senators, the ones representing me right now, it was an amazing experience to hear from them and get to know how they feel and how personable they were and how much they really care about us as individuals. >> what are their names? senator mike and orrin hatch from utah. >> mike lee, the way he was able -- i told in the eye him where i was from. a really small town. he knew about it just like that.

just the way he cared about utah , no matter what kind of place i came from, that he made a connection with me. >> would you like to have his job? great. would be so i am a little guy right now, so i cannot say much, but he is an amazing guy. >> how old are you? >> i am 17 years old. >> so you only have 13 years. go, keep hanging in there, i guess. >> senator lee, you better get ready. your name, sir. >> i am john from alaska. >> why did you do this? -- igot involved in this am headed to the military service at the airport -- the air force academy next year and i want to learn what this country is about and what i will be fighting for. >> what surprised you -- what

did you learn that you did not expect? from a lieutenant general, i learned the three ideas behind the national guard, which i did not know before. which are, let me look at my notes -- vigilance, breach, and power. i did not expect that at all. take? many notes did you >> a good view. >> do you want to release that to us so we can find out what you are thinking? [laughter] you want a copy? i can send that over. >> what is in your head? >> whenever i am taking notes, i am trying to get down every node that important people say so i do not forget it over the years. >> so you go to the academy in the fall? >> yes, sir. >> good luck. i am going to walk back here so

we can get some people in the back. your name, sir? >> my name is patrick and i am from indiana. >> what is that like? >> it is a lot warmer than here. just finished, so that was fun. >> stick around. we have some more snow coming. >> oh, yay. [laughter] >> what did you enjoy the most this week? >> christine lagarde, the managing director of the imf. when she walks into the room, she had this scarf. it was not just the scarf. she stayed with us for a good while and answered so many questions. she has my vote for president. >> wendy you intend to cast that vote? >> never, but i will dare to dream. >> what else did you see this weekend? >> the pentagon the morrill was something -- memorial was something that made you stop and

you felt every single person at every bench. that was special. you cannot get that anywhere else. motivatedde -- what you to get involved in this program in the first place and how did it work? >> i've found out about it the day before the deadline to apply. i was like, a long night, we have to do this quickly. there was not much thinking. you have one day, put it together, go. so i did and here i am. i have been excited ever since. stand and tell us your name and where you are from. >> i am from reno, nevada. >> why are you here? >> i am very interested in politics and international affairs and i wanted a chance to get to know 103 other delegates from all over the country. >> what touched you question mark >> i like meeting the

associate attorney general, tony west. to go to the department of justice and talk to him about his job in the department of justice and what he does on a daily basis. >> the attorney general was supposed to meet with you and he got called away. did that disappoint you? >> it did disappoint me, but as soon as tony west walked in, he was ridiculously charismatic. although i was disappointed that we didn't -- did not get to meet the attorney general itself, it was amazing to hear from tony west as well. what did he tell you that stuck with you? >> he was talking about the different departments within the department of justice and he mentioned the civil rights vision. i am really interested in civil rights and human rights, that sort of thing. it got me again about possibly doing an internship there, which i would love to do. >> what has motivated you? where have you gotten the

motivation to do what you're doing? guess the people from my hometown. it is a really close knit community in reno. seeing all of the struggles within my own community has motivated me to try to do something about it. metrichere a particular that you have? >> i did an internship at last bring at the progressive leadership alliance in nevada, which is a lobbying group. my internship mentor is definitely my role model. >> tell us who you are and where you are from. >> i am from colorado. > what about this week? >> it has been amazing. >> are you tired? >> i have had so many cups of coffee, i feel like i am on overload right now. [laughter] >> so what did you learn?

>> first of all, we have had amazing speakers. i have other delegates, learned so much from each and every one of these people, different experiences from the south. i have never been to the south. few years ago, my parents asked where i want to go on a family trip and i was like, let's go to the south. i have never been to the south. i found myself in south korea. [laughter] >> how did that happen? >> just completely -- i do not know. anyways, on saturday, i remember the first conversation i had with a group of people at that table. matternot -- it does not where you are from or what your school is like, it was about ukraine, politics, our belief in like, wow.i was

this week is going to be intense. it was cool to see the evolution of all of our friendships and all of our bonds, just talking about politics, our experiences, what we have learned, who we have met. this is an experience i will never forget. >> let me ask you about something you are never supposed to talk about at a dinner with friends and that is religion. or have been a few studies that that shows march that your age group is less religious than almost every other group as he gets older. why? that does not mean that you are, but why do you think that that is the way that people your age think? >> i think it goes along with our independence. as a generation, we have learned that independent thought is the most important thing. when you lack freedom of belief, freedom of thought, deviation is going to happen. the person next to me is not going to believe exactly what i believe because he is forced to, but because he chooses to.

he may also choose to believe something else. that is the beauty of our generation. i think it is going to continue and we will continue to contribute to our society. >> who do we have here? stand up, please. >> i am joe from wyoming. >> what got you into all this? >> i was nominated by my counselor and i really wanted to fly to the program. my brother was an alumnus from 2009. >> what did he take away? >> he thought it was an amazing experience, just like chinmay said. you learn that the -- the viewpoints from everyone. much everyone under the sun is here. >> what even matter to you? >> i enjoyed dinner at the national archive. we looked at all of the documents that fit into the founding of this great nation.

we saw the magna carta. i did not even know that was in our country. it was amazing. it was great to witness that kind of history. we actually a dinner right outside of the room where our constitution was. >> where and why did you get interested in all of this? >> i got interested after my brother did this. he said it was a great opportunity and i think we are all here just because we are passionate about something. that may be human rights or business or politics in general, but we all care. that is what is great about all of this. we are making a difference for our society. >> what office do you plan to run for? >> i plan to stay local, but i have not made a declaration yet. >> your name?

>> i am from the golden state of california. orange county. >> what is your story? >> i started getting in politics are visiting some family. i was there when the protests were happening in the 2009 revolution. it was astounding that people had to protest for their fundamental rights. love for social studies and government in general. >> how did your family get here from iran? justnestly, i think they wanted a better future. we are not political dissidents or anything. [laughter] >> if you want to be a dissident, here is your chance. what is the difference between what you saw in iran and the way this country operates? >> in the united states, just general freedom, enteral individuality is promoted so much more than anywhere else in the world. who identifiest,

as a christian, has to participate in these islamic traditions against her will. yes being able to do what you want is unique to our society. >> what has pressed you the most? >> i would say the fellow democrat -- the fellow democrats -- the fellow delegates. back-to-school, i am like the nerd. here, people will listen to me and i listened to them and it is just great. >> on a day-to-day basis, what -- what is the number one thing you rant the most about? >> i rant a lot. one of the issues i am most -- theate about is number one issue i am definitely most passionate about is gay rights. that is something that is very thee to me and close to

ideals of this nation and that is why i am very passionate about it. >> when did you get interested in it? >> in 2008, california voted on proposition8, the to overturn same-sex marriage. my hometown is extremely conservative. everyone was super pro-prop 8. i was getting fired up because they were trying to take away many people's rights to marry. i got so excited on the other side. i thought -- i felt the passion behind politics and it was just amazing. >> your age group is way up here for gay marriage, gay rights, and all of that. else want to add to this? let's get somebody over here. stand up and tell us who you are. >> my name is daniel carter from missouri.

>> so what about this week? >> this week has been amazing. my principal came to me and she said, would you be interested in this? i know you like politics and public service. go ahead and apply. i had the interview and when i found out i was selected, i was sitting in the cafeteria and she ran out of the office and gave me a hug. i was like, what is going on? she was like, you got it! i hugged her back. it was exciting. [laughter] today?hat allowed >> it absolutely is and it was so great. it was a very emotional time. i was really interested and wanted to do it. >> where did you get your interest? >> my father has taught me to be a free thinker and to always be thinking analytically. with that comes a desire for

politics because you think about oplees that the other 103 pe in this room think about, but not everyone does. i think it is important to think about those things and that is why i do. this weeky moment where you said, i did not know that? >> yes. many. let me try to give you a specific. hearing assistant west speak about the ways in which the government litigates was really interesting. i was not familiar with the ins and outs of that. that was very insightful. onhear justice scalia speak his interpretation of the constitution was really interesting. the fact that there are other justices in the court that see it completely differently really

speaks to the unique nature of this nation. >> based on what you are seeing, when you go back home, might you get involved in something you did not expect to? >> i might not get involved in anything, but when you expose yourself to people of different viewpoints, i think that you naturally kind of center out. you have seen both sides of every issue. i think that is really good. i hope that the whole nation has a chance to center out. and learn to make some compromises. >> many of you have talked about your fellow delegates. i am going to switch not right this second, but in a few minutes, i want to start asking you, if you want to talk about another delegate and what has impressed you about somebody that you came here with. i want you to name them. i'm going to do it now. are you ready? why don't we do it now? your name? >> my name is sam.

>> turnaround so the camera can see you. >> i am from the state of rhode island. north of providence. >> who has impressed you? >> i would say my roommate, johnny. at the beginning of the program, one of the first things i asked him was, what do you want to do when you get older? and where his interest lied. he was not into the whole idea of public service with regards to an elected position. thateally being engaged in regard. he wanted to be a teacher, it is a noble profession. he never really considered the other side of things. at the end of the week, last night, we were having a very sincere conversation and he told me that, for the first time, he was actually inspired to go out and want to run for office and served his community. i thought that was very inspiring to hear. >> where is he sitting? over here.

i think we ought to introduce the world to john. i wonder if he has anything to say about you. >> my name is jonathan and i am from arizona. >> what did you think about what your roommate said? >> i really appreciate it. it was a really great experience. we do not always agree on a lot doissues, but i am glad i not have a roommate who is just a bobblehead. nodding at everything. we had a lot of great discussions on a lot of issues. a lot of issues that he made me think about and look at in a different way. >> how many bobbleheads do you think we have in the audience this morning? one over here. [laughter] whatat did you think about he said about you not being interested in public service? >> i have always been really cynical about it, thinking i could never go that far in politics and it is such a caustic environment. i slowly listen to different speakers and people i have met

and i have chipped away at that. it has been so ingrained in my head and thought maybe i do want to make a difference and run for and stateto -- local local within my community. like president obama told us the other day, do not get cynical. a nation does not need any more cynical people. it is not going to help us. help anyone by being cynical, i can try to be optimistic and make a difference. >> why do you think people become cynical? it is a tough, sometimes modeled system. -- muddled system. to a senator who said you can see and identify a problem and they can take years to pass a bill to address that problem because the legislative ross s is so-so -- process is so slow. we do not want people going through congress so fast and changing the nation drastically.

we need checks and balances to keep everything in check. >> where are the ladies in this group? they are so passive this morning. >> i am from the state of ohio. >> do you want to talk about somebody in this room that you have met that motivated you? gina, is from, south dakota and she has really motivated me. she introduced the secretary to the senate the other day. that is a position i did not know existed. just getting to know her and her experiences and what she has been through -- i have never had a roommate like gina before. i definitely got to know the people you're better than i have anywhere else and these people are so motivated and their experiences and opinions and everything, it is just amazing. >> for those watching at home, how do you get involved in this? how do you get chosen? >> i found out about it through

rural state. -- girl state3. -- state. it is different for each state. the examate, we did and they picked two delegates from ohio. >> what even from this week will you always remember? >> yesterday was cool. we got to chat with the astronaut at the international space station and just hearing mr. bolden talk, he said domething specifically, " all that you can with what you have in the place that you are." i have taken in everything that i can and it has just been great. gina, is that right? where are you from? dakota, hot south springs. >> what is your roommate like? >> she is fantastic. future democrat

-- not a democrat, a model future politician. [laughter] she is going to make big changes someday. >> the polls say you folks are not as aligned as -- with a party, but you vote democratic. is that right? are you going to vote democratic? like we havest talked about religion, our generation has become so much more opinionated. we have different viewpoints and we are very passionate about what we have to say. i could see not following certain party ideals because of all -- all of us would rather pick and choose what we want to support. >> white -- where do you think that comes from? why haven't other groups in this country -- why are you more independent?

>> one of the things that gets brought up in our generation is our social media. we are able to express our opinions very easily. we can send a tweet about what we think. i think that starts the conversation and we like to talk a lot, so there is conversation, social media, and we like to get our opinions out there. >> why did you get involved in this? who is your mentor? >> my government teacher. suggested that i would be interested in this. at going intong politics. i want to do environmental engineering, but i think that, to get anything accomplished, you should be versed in politics and public service because it is an essential part of life and it affects everybody. >> why environmental engineering? >> i am from a ranch in south dakota and i have seen how the land supports us as a nation and

how important it is to conserve that ability. because once we do not have the land to feed us, we are going to have to look for some drastic changes. it is something that needs to be conservative. >> thank you. who else wants to talk about their roommate? >> my name is benjamin from new york. >> you are from long island. there is a difference. who do you want to talk about? roommate is from texas and hass definitely -- he definitely made me think in ways i have not thought before in terms of politics and life in general. >> give me an example. >> yesterday, we were talking about economic policy. i had always been kind of -- i had not had strong opinions. conservative on some issues and liberal on some others. we just talked and talked.

last night, we stayed up until 3:00 a.m. is talking about economics. that is why i am so tired and i kept drinking coffee. so somebody who has the passion to change things was an incredible experience for me. >> what do you expect when you go back home and tell your friends you come to a week like this and they look at you with glazed eyes and say who cares? >> to be perfectly honest i had a bunch of friends text me, did you meet the president yet? that's pretty much the only thing anybody back home cares about. but i think it's still important for me to have the experiences moving forward, going to college and connecting with other people who care about the same issues i care about. just because somebody else doesn't care about politics doesn't mean they're not an important person. everybody has their own passion. just because one person's politics, another person's engineering, doesn't make them any less valuable. >> what would you tell somebody

who's never met a president it's like? what is it like? any chemistry change in your body when the president of the united states walks into a room? >> it's surreal. you see this person on tv all the time. he's talked about by all of the political pundits. kind of becomes this figure that's not even human. having this person walk in and have a conversation and use words that we use, it's just kind of -- it's an incredible experience. seeing the human aspect of this person who's been made kind of into an image. >> do we make too much of a president or not enough? >> it really depends on the person. i always thought the president was just another person but definitely kind of seeing him yesterday kind of took it out of me, this person i see on tv all the time is now in front of me talking about issues that i care about. but i don't think that necessarily would make too much or too little of the president. i think he's another citizen but

one of our most important and passionate people. >> you better go home and get some rest. stop drinking the coffee. get some sleep, and this adrenaline's going too fast. stand up and tell us about your roommate. >> yes, ben's great. we have some interesting conversations. since we met on saturday, it was great. we have not stopped talking and debating. he's opened my eyes in a more practical sense about issues. i have always been more philosophical, theory based and he's shown me realism and how really impossible those issues and theories can be in our society. >> what's the name of your high school and town? >> i go to byron nelson high school in trophy club, texas. >> is there a mentor in your life/ >> i would say my dad. he has shown me a lot about the world and what it's really like. he's an unspurration to me as immigrant from india. he's showed me being happy and

successful is possible in life and making a real difference like he has in my life is truly possible. >> what does he do? >> he's a businessman. >> what are you going to do? >> i am going to pursue the professorship route. i want to teach. >> is that why you're wearing a bow tie? >> yes, you can say that. >> all you need is a bow tie and you're in. >> i hope so. >> so let's change the subject for a while. you determined for us what want the rest of this group to talk about. what issue would you like to hear your fellow delegates discuss? >> i would like them to talk about what basically why people are so stagnant about issues of the world today, why is it that people aren't -- i feel like from where i come from, people don't talk about certain oirks like ukraine or gay rights as much as i would like them to. i want them to talk about why, why is it like that? >> stagnant. let's find out. who wants to tell us what they

think about why people today probably are not as interested and stagnant. what is your name? >> sophia and i'm from florida. >> what do you think? >> i think that today because our generation is so social media network based and it really taught us to live in a bubble. obviously, it hasn't affected this group because they have such a deep insight but the rest of the people, a lot of people go to our school and in our community, they live in our bubble. they live and only focus what goes on in their school. i'm focusing on now, what i will do this weekend. but that's why this group is so special. they know that you have to get outside of that bubble. you have to go and pursue something in politics or pursue something for public service. that's really why. >> why are you motivated to do that? >> just because i have seen a lot of issues back in my community and in my home state that really, that had really affected me on a personal level

and also i just see it happening in the world. so i just like the thought of giving back and i have done public service projects too that really opened my eyes and i love that feeling so i want to do it as much as i can. >> where do you think you got that, the idea? >> last summer i traveled to india to volunteer in the himalayas and i kind of just wanted go because i think the indian culture is amazing. this is really cool. but i went in it trying to go with no expectations and i came out of it realizing that working with those kids and working on issues of education and getting out of that bubble and realizing how many world issues that we actually have a chance we can actually do something about it made me realize that i do -- i am really motivated to give back and i love it so much. i really want to do as much as i can. >> who else wants to talk about -- excuse me -- about why mr.

gupta said everybody is kind of stagnant and not interested? >> i think it's because we have this innate desire to want to fit in and for people to accept us and we really don't like conflict as humans. so a lot of people think that politics naturally leads to conflict and controversy. >> what's your name? where are you from? >> i'm asya and i'm from kentucky. >> where? >> louisville, kentucky. >> how did you get interested, and why are you interested? >> in kentucky we have a lot of problems in eastern kentucky with the environment because of the coal that is there in the mountains and a lot of people don't really like to talk about it because economically it really helps kentucky. once i found out about that i wanted to change that so i have been working to try to make kentucky more environmentally friendly. >> when i was your age, we had to dial the telephone. we couldn't even punch the buttons.

and now you carry it in your pocket all the time. what impact do you think the difference is on life because you can be in touch with a social media? >> i think it's a lot easier to access people. so i was able to interview people in eastern kentucky from louisville, for example. and call them and talk to them about how -- how the problems there have been impacting them. i think it's a lot easier. you have much greater access to people and resources and you can just call up someone in chicago who knows a lot about mountain renewal problems and talk to them. so it's that easy access that helps you progress and hopefully observe kate more for what you want. >> who else stagnant? this man here, justin, from lebanon, indiana? >> yes. >> going to purdue. >> my name is justin girard and i'm from lebanon, indiana. as mr. lane mentioned, i'm hoping to purdue university.

i'm only a junior though. >> great school, by the way. >> he's in. >> that why i said that. >> plugged. >> what about stagnant, younger people? i don't know the word stagnant so much as uninvolved? >> it's interesting we were actually -- we have actually been talking about this in my english class so maybe i will get some bonus points. hook me up. but i think the biggest problem we have we kind of get into a mob mentality in society. we see so many other people conforming to just regulations that other people in society have upheld. and we don't really bother to think freely for ourselves. i think that's the biggest problem we kind of just blindly accept what media and what other people feed to us instead of seeking knowledge on our own. >> how important is social media to what you really know about is going on the -- on in the world?

>> actually, i would say things like twitter -- especially twitter kind of help informing citizens because in reality you only have 140 characters to get your spiel across so there's not a lot of fluff or you can't really take a position either way. you kind of just have to get the facts out in 140 characters. kind of takes away the liberal or conservative view points. >> yes, sir, tell us who you are. >> hi, i'm esahon kumar. >> what high school? >> munster high school. >> why is everybody in your generation not interested in politics? >> i believe politically epithetics in culture media and lack of civic education in our country today and these are two huge problems that will create problems in the future. media often oversensationalizes legislation, government bad --

what governments didn't do right. a great quote, i will probably butcher it. if a dog bites a man, it's not news but if a man bites a dog, it will be in the anies, something like that. so basically explaining how the media is ultimately a business and it wants to attract people and they won't do it by saying oh, government did this and is really happy. but instead they focus on what the government didn't do and that's why it creates such a low political efficacy in our society today which is extremely bad because people don't care. but there's a great french philosopher who says the american people get the government they deserve. so i think that that's a huge part of why people are just so uninvolved in politics. >> why are you more interested than a lot of your schoolmates, i assume? >> it all goes back to a class i

took last year. it's called we the people. it's a government competition that has like a district, state and national level to it and you learn about the background of the constitution. it's a team and so you split up into units and each unit focuses on one aspect of the constitution. one is philosophy, unit six modern democracy. was unit four and learned about all of the government or constitutional mechanisms within government and check and balance separation of power, three branches so this really opened my eyes in how civic education is so necessary to make a positive difference, especially in america where it is government by the people and for the people. so it's really necessary. >> thank you very much. i'm going to get a glass of water. i keep coughing. offensive to people watching. yes, let's go right here. >> my name is rachel and i'm from provo, utah. >> so why is your generation

supposedly uninterested? >> i think the biggest problem we have is apathy. and i think it's most dangerous emotion because it is no emotion. and we are afraid of pain and afraid of bad things and we -- it makes us even afraid of goodness a lot of time. so we close ourselves off to feeling things in order to protect ourselves. apathy is something that doesn't motivate you and doesn't create any energy or any action. and so when we allow ourselves to feel, it makes us motivated to make a change. and so apathy is something we use to protect ourselves and ends up becoming our ultimate destruction. >> where do you get your news on a day-to-day basis? >> my news? i don't know, i use something called flipboard, which pulls a lot of news from different sources so i try not to become biased towards one. i will just look at the story and not awhere the source is coming from so i can be getting different perspectives.

>> what's wrong being biased in one direction? >> you can form your own opinion and form your own opinion is ultimately a good thing but when you have only been fed one opinion from one person, it narrows you into a way of thinking that doesn't allow you to expand or to become your true self. or to focus your energies in a way that you feel like you can be doing the best that you could. >> thank you. now, be right back. going to stop here at this table. go around the table quickly and i want each of you to think of one word when i ask you who you are and where you're from, but think of one word to describe this week. one word. i will step back here because this lady has not been heard from. >> hi, i'm tina and i'm from delaware. >> what's the word? >> incredible. >> thank you very much. >> where are you from? >> hi, i'm from new mexico. my name is bella. one word to describe this week is accelerating. >> yes, ma'am. your name?

>> hi, i'm liberty from ohio. my word would probably be unequaled. >> yes, ma'am. >> hi, i'm rachel schuyler from montana. i think my word would be -- >> stand up here so they can see you. >> i think my word would be mind-blowing. >> that's two words. >> there's a hyphen. hyphen. >> smarter than i am. >> this young lady is in the military and before we ask a couple other people here, i want to 0 ask you what your job has been and what's your name yn are you here? >> yes, sir. good morning, my name is lieutenant chapman and i'm originally from north carolina. i'm one of 17 military mentors selected from the department of defense to mentor and lead and help experience with the 104 delegates. >> what has the week been like for you?s0 >> it's been both challenging, exhilarating and also inspirational. it's really great to see the next generation of leaders in every facet of our three

branches of government. >> i didn't get beyond lieutenant junior grade so i will salute you. thank you very much. >> thank you. >> tell us the word. what's your name, where are you from? >> my anymore is kirian murphy from salisbury, maryland. the word i would use to describe this week is hope. >> you want to give me a word? >> yeah, so rachel from utah. i would say humbling. >> why don't we go right over here to get people who have not talked today. yes, sir -- yes, ma'am, excuse me. >> i'm from elmhurst, illinois and my word to describe this week is awe-inspiring. >> yes, sir. >> rachel stole my word. so i would say -- >> awe-inspiring is two words so just use one or the other. >> i will say with a hyphen, eye-opening. >> you guys and your hyphens. yes, ma'am? >> my name is caroline and i'm from north carolina.

i guess i would use the word idealistic but not with the negative connotation that it sometimes has. >> you're only supposed to use one word. >> yes, sir? >> i'm ryan chapman. i'm from the state of oklahoma and i would say my word is definitely inspiring. >> let me ask you why. >> it's incredible to see people from all different branches of government that have different political leanings, left, right, more moderate, speaking about how we're trying to get back to working together to solve the problems facing the nation, no matter who is on wa spectrum, the problems that need to be solved are trying to get done here. >> who wants to set the agenda for the last part of our discussion here? yes, sir, your name, where are you from? why are you here? >> i'm gabriel from kansas city, missouri. right across from my good friend in st. louis. >> are you going to be a professor? you have that good looking bow tie on? >> no, i'm going into politics. i just want to stand out when i go on the floor to speak so

people listen to me. >> are you going to be member of the house or senate? >> we will find out maybe one day. >> what does it mean if you have a flag in your lapple? >> a lot have flags in our lapple and i say because i can safely say a lot of us love our country a lot more than we probably love anything else in life. which is very remarkable thing. >> what do you want this group to talk about as we close this down? >> my question to the 104 delegates is if washington, d.c. and the d.o.d. had two senators and this was the u.s. senate, what bill could we work together to pass that would change this country? >> you start it. >> ok. i would say that we would work to pass an education bill, something that both the states and the federal government could agree on. if anything it should just be a framework for the states to establish an education system that both challenges the interlech chull student and

prepares them for a career. >> what's wrong with education now? >> it's all about making widgets instead of making a thinker. so the education system right now is about creating someone who goes to college and goes into the workplace. but real education is about challenging the student and getting the student to think about new ideas and think for themselves. >> all right. who else has an idea for -- [applause] -- a piece of legislation you want this group to pass? >> good afternoon. my name is malachi bird. i'm the delegate from the district of columbia. i think the bill that i would propose is to establish more programs like this. i think allows a lot of problems in america right now come from a lack of exposure to different ideas and different perspectives and this program has opened my eyes so much i can appreciate other opinions without compromising my own. so i think we will all establish more programs like this. >> have you changed your mind on anything this week? >> i have been offered different

perspectives. i think i have been a little bit more -- i have held back on aggression by saying d.c. should be a state. i have heard a lot of opposition. it's good being the minority opinion. but it's been good because i have been forced it think outside of myself and it's only created my stance to be stronger. >> how many votes do you think can you get in this room for statehood for d.c.? >> 12. [laughter] >> who else? let's go back here. people have been -- yes, ma'am. >> hi, i'm caroline from maine and i think this group would renew the violence against women act, amend it so it applied to american-native community or immigrants who are not yet citizens. i think many people in our generation can agree women's rights against domestic violence are really human rights and no woman in this country should be isolate from that because of her ethnic identity. so i think we're pretty liberal group and i think it just makes

sense. it's senseless that it doesn't apply to these groups now. >> how many votes you could get in this room? >> i hope i could got 104. realistically i'm sure we could gather a majority. >> let's find out. how many in this room are for this bill now? you just won. >> excellent. >> congratulations. >> anybody at this table here? >> yes, sir. >> i'm from wisconsin. >> hold on. wisconsin. where are you from? >> north of madison. >> you hear that accent, wisconsin accent? >> personally, i don't think but i had a lot of people tell me. >> you got one. >> thank you, i hope. >> it's good. >> one bill that i think we can definitely get down is an education loan reform. lowering the federal loan rate for students in college as well as increasing access to pell grants. >> isn't that a little serve serving? >> it is but the majority of people in this country go to college so even though we're on

the cusp of entering higher education, it would benefit next generations to come. >> you know only about 28% of the people have a college degree. >> but if we want to increase that number, we have to make it more affordable. >> let's see how many votes you can get. how many want to make it more affordable to go to college? what a surprise. everybody. thank you, yes, ma'am. stand up, please. what's your name and where are you from? >> i'm michelle and i'm from alaska. >> where in alaska? >> the yukon delta. >> you like it up there? >> absolutely. >> tell us what bill you want passed. >> you picked a shy person. goodness. >> you can't be shy. >> i would probably pick a bill to increase our energy diversity. i would choose to go down a path for this country of renewable

resources. >> but you live in a state where they give you the check every year for all of the oil. >> yes, i do. >> you don't like that? going to give it up? >> i would probably give it up for the future of this country and the generations to come, yes. >> why do we need renewable energy? >> well, let's face it, the oil companies, the coal, everything it's running out. it's going to run out soon and we need to diversify. there's nothing wrong with diversity. >> all right. let's see how many are going to vote for that. how many are going to vote for that bill in here? boy, you guys are easy! not everybody. you have one, you have a bill? >> yes, sir. >> what's your name? >> i'm madelyne roche and one of the department of defense overseas delegates. >> where are you based? >> kazakhstan and germany.

>> what do you think of germany? >> i like it. i have been there nine years and longest i lived anywhere. i consider germany my home in a weird way. and it's definitely a mind-opening experience for me and it's changed my perspective on a national level for the country and also on our international level as well. >> what's your favorite german word? >> oh, that's a good one. robably bergermeister. >> and the bill you want passed. >> i would go along the lines with everyone else, it seems an education bill. living in a military community i have seen the effects transferring through multiple school systems has on students and how the lack of standardization and common goals for education have on students and their futures. >> let's go back in the back here. people we have not been able to talk to. yes, sir. >> my name is daniel rose and i'm the delegate from tennessee. >> where in tennessee? >> memphis.

>> the bill i would pass is definitely an immigration reform bill. just looking around the room and being able to talk to every single one of these delegates has been just an aspiration of mine to see how the diversity is in the room. i have talked to people in india, from hispanic countries and here from the united states and it's just great diversity will attribute greatly to this nation. >> if someone is in this country not legally, should they be able to stay? >> i think that in other countries it's easier to become naturalized. and in this country it's quite difficult. i'm not saying if they do come over here illegally, they should immediately become legalized but it should be an easier process because everyone has something to offer. and considering that america is trying to be a diverse country in itself when the founding fathers came here because they were immigrants as well, i think it just should be an easier

process. >> what's the best thing about living in memphis? >> barbecue. >> what about the music? >> oh, the blues is definitely a great thing as well. you just can't get into some of the clubs my age. >> it won't be long. hang in there. we only have a couple minutes lft. yes, sir. >> hello, sir, i'm from the department of defense schools overseas. >> where? >> in germany right now. middle of nowhere. >> what bill do you want? >> i want to pass a -- i would not pass a bill but constitutional amendment. there are fundamental problems with the federal system that need to be fixed. >> give us an example. >> i would do away with the electoral college. >> why? >> anything that dilutes the power of a single person's vote is un-american and it does not support the idea of majority rules. >> we have two -- [applause] this head was shaking yes. what's your name? and where are you from? >> i'm katherine from idaho. >> why were you shaking your head in agreement?

>> because i think that was a good statement. the electoral college can bring a lot of good in terms of representation for states, we have cases like bush v. gore, for example, which caused a lot of upset and proves it's not always the most efficient way to elect a president. >> if you stay in eye hoe, you would lose power. >> that's true but i don't think i would stay in idaho. but also i think that we are a state -- or a country of representation so we need to more equally distribute that. >> if you're not going to stay in idaho, tell your parents right now where you're going to go. >> i love d.c. but i'm also a really big fan of chicago. so we will see. >> i need one last person to kind of sum up what this is all about. this is the hersch foundation supported senate youth program. tell us what it's about for those people watching you all discuss issues.

>> hi, i'm jared hunter from alabama. and i think this whole week has been about learning. i come from a small town called wetumpka where it's politically homogenic and there's not much chance for people who don't think the same to get their opinions out without being ridiculed and being here with the other delegates has really given me an opportunity to learn other view points and also get my ideas out without the fear of being shunned for thinking differently. >> how did you get selected? >> my counselor, who is also my government teacher, told me about the program. he was actually a participant and he encouraged me to apply and i did. i made it to the semifinals round and i got chosen. >> what did you have to do in your application? >> we had to take an objective person that talks about not only current politics and current heads of our government but also past history. i had to write an esok and during the semifinalist round i

had an interview. >> we have so little time yet. but this is the most i have ever interviewed people wearing bow ties. i just -- this is not a serious issue but i need to figure, is this a change with younger people wearing bow ties? >> i think so. bow ties are classy. i like them. >> thank you very much. >> thank you. >> and thank you all very much for participating in the senate youth program. it happens every year. you come here for a whole week. you meet important people, including the president and justice scalia and others and senators and meet your senators sometimes and get your picture taken with them and then you talk to us and we love it. thank you so much for joining us as a group. [applause] >> for free transcripts or give us your comments about this program, visit us at "q&a."org. "q&a" programs are also available at c-span podcasts.

>> coming up next -- a panel discussion held by "the washington post" titled behind the headlines, n.s.a. surveillance and ongoing revelations. pammists including pulitzer prize winning reporter martin gilman. after that another chance to see "q&a" with high school students discussing their participation in the week-long senate youth program. on the next "washington journal," a reporter's round table on the week ahead in congress with reuters corespondent jeff mason and national journal correspondent shane goldmatcher and frank buckley, author of "the once and future king, rise and fall of crown government" discusses the growth and power in american government.

as always we will take your calls and can you join the conversation on facebook and twitter. "washington journal" live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> when you are living in a world where you do not have monopolies anymore and you have multiple companies competing for options on tv, for example, that does not work when the laws were written for a monopoly negotiation. that is one of the reasons why consumers do not have as many options as they could have and why the prices are still going up for your television video services when they should be going down. >> there is a whole lot of competition between completely different kinds of companies. when you are watching tv, it used to be you watched tv or had a cable provider. now there is everything from cell phone companies offering cable services to satellite companies to just doing it over your internet with things like .