It was more than 105 degrees when I walked the streets of a neighborhood in South East Los Angeles with volunteers canvassing for the Obama campaign. Big bulldogs barked at us ferociously protecting small bungalows and two-story apartment buildings with steel bars in front of doors and windows. Most of those doors stayed shut while the volunteers delivered their message: Register to vote! Vote! Volunteer and Vote for Obama!

The answers they received illustrated the much lamented voter apathy perfectly: “I am tired of politicians talking. Show me something!” “Too many broken promises!” “I am too busy keeping my own life on track to bother about elections and candidates”  “We are undocumented and have no right to vote.” “Whoever has the most money wins. My vote will not make a difference.”

In 2008 58 percent of the U.S. population old enough to vote went to the polls. This year it might be even less. In my home country these numbers would cause a public outcry. In the federal elections of Germany 2009 72 percent of the electorate cast their vote. It was a new record low and considered to be a very alarming sign of voter fatigue harmful to the political process and to the stability of our society.

Among the volunteers whom I followed in Los Angeles on their quest to mobilize voters soft spoken and enthusiastic Albert Vitela caught my eye. The art student and single dad of two teenage boys is dedicated to the cause and not easily discouraged. He comes to the Obama office on South East L.A. Saturdays, Sundays and every evening during the week. Albert will work for the campaign until the polls close. He is working the phones, walking the neighborhood and giving money from the little amount he has to the campaign. “I want to invest in America,” he told me with a big smile. “I do not just say that. I mean it. I trust Obama and believe in his vision.”

I experienced totally different attitudes in a barber shop across the street from the campaign headquarter. The owner considers politicians in the U.S. equally corrupt as in his parents’ homeland Mexico. His client was more worried about his Dad in the hospital than about anything going on with the elections. He agreed with another customer who is convinced that neither one of the candidates is interested in making his life any easier. Only the youngest barber in the shop was excited about the elections. 18 year old Terry plans to make a career as rapping hairstylist with his own salon. He just registered to vote and tries to convince the other guys in the shop to do the same. “You gotta vote to change things! We are on the broke side here in the ghetto. We need all the help we can get. Get me?” he asked while swiftly moving a razor along his client’s neck.  

The others seemed to be amused rather than infected by Terry’s youthful enthusiasm. 

Albert needs to pay this barber shop a visit!