Free food for hungry, opinionated teenagers

A lot more is at stake in this fall's election than Senate seats, smoking bans and slot machines.

A Chipotle burrito, for one thing, or a grande caramel macchiato.

Those are the incentives -- let's not call them bribes -- that I'm offering to a select group of adolescents willing to share their take on the elections with me.

Not only am I extremely interested in your views on candidates and issues, I'm curious about your willingness to vote in the future -- and, perhaps, even run for office.

Have we adults bored you with empty rhetoric, disgusted you with slimy campaign ads or engaged you in one of the great privileges of growing up in a democracy -- the right to take part in a free election?

Right now, you may fall under the radar screen of the political parties, but they'll be courting you in years to come. We on the Enquirer Editorial Board think that's too late. We want to engage you in the election process right now.

So please, share your thoughts and comments on this blog -- tell us how up-to-snuff you are on this election, if you discuss it at home and in class, and why it matters or doesn't matter to you.

Then, if you'd like to meet me and a small group of your peers at a Chipotle or Starbucks to further discuss the elections, send me an email at kramsey@enquirer.com. I'll choose a group of you -- some highly interested, some entirely turned off -- and treat you to free food or caffeine in exchange for a lively discussion.

Here's your chance to be heard -- and fed.