same thing goes for american kids why are we apathetic?

A NUMBER of political parties would like to claim generation Y - Australians born in the early 1980s, now in their late teens and early 20s - as their own. But discussion about the political outlook of gen Y rarely reaches beyond conclusions of "apathy" and "conservatism".
There are some basic truths about generation Y's attitude to politics: they are turned off, annoyed by and distrustful of political parties, politicians and increasingly the media that is supposed to keep them honest. Few see mainstream politics as a useful vehicle for changing the world. But they do care about political issues.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/politics-a-turnoff-for-gen-y/2006/03/21/1142703349746.html