It’s no secret that young people are cynical when it comes to the political process and government institutions. This cynicism manifests itself in the abysmally low turnout statistics for young voters. One main cause of this pessimism is government scandal.

Whether it’s Senator Larry Craig allegedly involved in a would-be gay tryst in an airport bathroom stall or Jack Abramoff and Republican members of Congress lining their own pockets with various schemes, there are plenty of examples of corruption and scandals in government. Scandals involving patronage, sex, money, fraud, and other similar activities serve to undermine the public’s trust in government and elected officials. This is especially true for young people who are less likely to tolerate hypocrisy from their leaders.

There is a pervasive climate of corruption that tends to plague a number of large organizations and institutions. From a global health fund not providing adequate oversight of its grant money to a journalist allegedly hacking the voicemail of the rich and powerful in Britain, there are many examples of how people in positions of power and trust have let down the public.

Rebuilding public trust is a difficult matter. Certainly, young voters are known for being idealistic. In other words, they want to believe the best about people and they are looking for someone to inspire them. When scandal does hit government, it helps to reestablish trust if those who were involved in the wrongdoing resign, don’t seek re-election or lose their next election. This process gives voters of all ages the impression that there is a fresh start. In the wake of a scandal, newly elected politicians talk about the need to tighten ethics rules or campaign disclosure laws to ensure such scandals don’t happen again. However, these efforts can get bogged down as lawmakers hash out the details. Once again, this creates room for young people to be cynical as they see politicians squabbling over ethics legislation.