NEWSWEEK columnist Robert Samuelson is 62 years old, so he might be one of least expected people on staff to write something like this: "Only if older Americans act on their rhetorical pledges of worrying about their children will the political climate change. If you—the young—don't stand up for yourselves, believe me, your elders and your politicians won't." That's near the end of a column he wrote earlier this week on how both political campaigns are forsaking the youngs, especially given the lobbying power of the American Association of Retired Persons.

I'm one of these under-35s that Samuelson, our financial columnist, is brilliantly riling up--so I was glad to see that lots of readers chimed in. (Yet, for the sake of full disclosure, a little disheartened that few who wrote in were part of my generation).

Anyway, many of the readers who did comment thought that Sam's piece was a "thinly veiled McCain endorsement," an attempt to dissuade young people from voting for Barack Obama--the candidate, after all, that many baby boomers presume the youngest generation supports. Regardless of Samuelson's political leanings, the debate of this article balanced between those who were distraught that the columnist would criticize his own generation and those that wanted to offer advice to my generation. Consider this comment: "I'm a baby boomer who seems to remember paying for my own Social Security all these years. That's what those deductions were on my paystubs, right? Where do you get off making today's younger people think that we are just going to be taking a free ride at their expense? What an insidious little lie from an insidious little man." Now, look at this: "As a 59-year-old soon to retire I cannot agree more with the writer. While any candidate can promise the world you must remember someone has to pay. I do not want my grandchildren paying enormous sums of taxes to support me. It's time for older Americans to take less and the AARP to stop lobbying for more."

Regardless of political preference, there was a continuing sense of acrimony to most of the response, which ricocheted between people who agreed and disagreed, all of whom--as Samuelson encouraged--were angry. But without younger people commenting on the story, the conversation remains unbalanced, even somewhat depressing: "I have repeatedly harangued my 20-something nieces, nephew and their friends to register to vote, only to be met with massive boredom & inertia," says one commenter. "They didn't aspire to college; they seek and stay in dead-end jobs; they wouldn't know a savings account if it bit them in the ass; yet two of them have already managed to spawn unplanned children. If the Baby Boom generation is the squeaky wheel getting the grease of social benefits, maybe it's because we deserve it!"

The passions of a whole generation aren't going to be changed by one comment board, nor will they be influenced by a sole NEWSWEEK column. But I'm glad that Samuelson's piece brought up my generation, if only so one person could offer advice like this: "Young voters: First, above all, VOTE. Second, you can "gloat" or "emote" based upon your candidate's results. Registering is a great first step, but young and not-so-young voters actually need to vote." That's one thing you can't argue with.