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Teen
Spirit: Kenton Ngo
Kenton Ngo is one of Virginia's youngest – and widely regarded as one of its best – political bloggers. Describing his
750 Volts blog as the "Best, Worst and Utterly Shocking of Life and Virginia politics," Ngo mixes political commentary and analysis with occasional snippets about his adventures as a student. An active Democrat, Ngo is known for his dexterity at using mapping technology to highlight political trends in the Commonwealth.
Q:
Currently, you are a 15 year-old high school freshman in Fairfax. You started blogging in November 2004. What motivated you to take up political
blogging?
KN:
A combination of post-election boredom and a desire to do something politically once the campaign was over.
Q. "750 Volts" is the name of your
blog. Can you give us insight into why you chose that name?
KN:
I rode the Metro down to [John] Kerry [presidential campaign] headquarters in downtown
D.C., and noticed one day the "Danger: 750 Volts" sticker on the third rail covers. I figured it was unique enough to name a blog after.
Q. Given your relative youth, you are well-respected by the grayer heads in the
blogosphere. What has been the key to your gaining this success? Have there been any major downsides to your age in terms of being taken seriously?
KN:
I'm not actually sure. I just sat down, blogged, and let it fly. I'm sure that people think twice because I'm only 15 and I don't blame them for that. I'm not as well qualified as many bloggers are, but blogging is a medium that's designed for practically anyone.
Q. Has blogging enhanced your academic performance or other areas of your life? Do your teachers see the value in what you're doing?
KN:
I haven't won any extra credit points for this. Some of my teachers like the idea, some don't know. It's not something I push often in school.
Q. Younger generations of Americans are blessed with a variety of online outlets for personal expression (blogs,
myspace.com, etc.) to a much higher degree than those generations before them. What effect do you think this will have on the evolution of American society as they grow into adulthood and eventually positions of leadership?
KN:
I think it will have much of the same effect every new communications innovation brought--the telephone, the radio, the television. The internet will probably become a dominant, if not the dominant, source for news, entertainment, and communication. Campaigns ignore blogs at their peril nowadays.
Q. You are also one of the more
technologically savvy bloggers in Virginia politics, particularly with your GIS and related data projects. What is your take on the role that these technologies play in politics at the local and state level?
KN:
We're seeing the computerization of the world, and politics is no exception. Voter databases and software are essentials nowadays to any campaign--some pinned the 2004 election's outcome on the fact Republicans had superior technology. Campaigns that can't pull up information efficiently are doomed to lose.
Q. Have any bloggers in particular helped foster the development of your work?
KN:
Oh, that's a tough one, singling people out. I started out on my own, not really seeing any other Virginia Democratic
bloggers, and watched the blogosphere blossom.
Q. In the long run, how
do you think that having younger folks such as yourself, Ben
Kyber, and Vince Harris
as significant players in the Virginia blogosphere will impact this community?
KN:
Eventually we'll be tomorrow's old fogies and a new generation will come in. There will always be a farm team in everything, politics included. Tomorrow's leaders are bred today, of course.
Q. What does the future hold for Kenton Ngo? Do you have a political career in mind?
KN: can't imagine ever leaving politics. We'll see.
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June 12, 2006
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