Iconoclastic

Time magazine is calling this year the “Year of the Youth” in terms of voter turn out for the Presidential election – but I don’t know. My generation is apathetic when it comes to the political process. We have been taught that it’s not polite to talk politics, it may make others uncomfortable. So we stay deliberately uninformed to the agenda of the politicians, so if someone asks our opinion we can truthfully say, “I don’t know.” And if we vote, which pbs.org says voter turnout among 18-24 year-olds was only about one out of four young citizens in the last presidential election – we tend to base our vote on hairstyle, general appearance, and - dare I say it - sex appeal.

I had a male friend of mine tell me just last week that he was going to vote for McCain because he thinks VP candidate Palin is “HOT!”

A female acquaintance admitted she thought Obama was very sexy and he dressed well, but she didn’t know anything about his political campaign – but she was going to vote for him.

It is embarrassing to my generation, and to our country, that we have lead our citizens to believe that these are acceptable reasons to vote for a candidate. Or that it is alright to not take an interest in the running of our country, what our leaders stand for, and the problems we face as a nation. Republican or Democrat, we should be educated.

About.com’s Mike Hardcastle wrote an article called Top 5 Reasons YOUth Should Vote, where he says, “the sad reality is that election year after election year the percentage of eligible youth who actually register and vote is small when compared with other demographics. This doesn’t mean the youth market isn’t a force, just that it isn’t a main motivator in the drafting of campaign platforms and pre-election advertising. So, like any self-respecting rebellious young person the natural thing to do is go against the grain and do the unexpected. Keep them on their toes, shock them into the 21st century and get out and vote!”

The US Census Bureau says,
The voting rate was highter among the older citizen population than the younger citizen population. The rate for citizens 55 and older was 72 percent in the 2004 presidential election, compared with 47 percent among 18-to 24-year-old citizens.

The key differenc between these age groups was registration. While 79 percent of citizens 55 years and older were registered to vote in 2004, 58 percent of the younger citizens were.

http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p20-556.pdf

Statistically, voters aged 55 and older are deciding what is important to our country. And I’m not saying that their views are irrelevant! But what concerns my grandparents may not be the same concerns that I’m facing. Right now, my grandparents are worried about Social Security, Medicare, rising Health Care Costs, and Gun Laws. My concerns are more centered around protecting Civil Rights, Education, the Environment, and the tried and true protecting a woman’s right to choose. Are either one of our viewpoints wrong? No. Are either one of them immaterial? No. But they are different, and unfortunately it is the concerns of my grandparents that are being heard by our politicians because the concerns of my generation have no voice.

I would like to challenge everyone who reads this. Do something – anything – to get yourself involved.

If you’re not registered to vote, go and do it. It takes less than 5 minutes and a stamp. https://voteforchange.com is a great resource where you can find out if you are registered, find your polling location, and register to vote.

If you are registered, get a friend to register. It’s important! In California, to be eligible for the November 4th Election your registration must be postmarked by October 20th – that’s not far away!

If you don’t know about our two presidential candidates go to their websites and read about their viewpoints on the things that matter to you. And please, even if you have your mind made up; check out your candidate’s opponent – because by knowing your opposition, you strengthen your own argument.

Talk to your friends and family, have a discussion – not an argument – about what you think and why. And remember, if you have younger people in your life include them in your political discussions, that way when they are old enough to vote, they will understand how important it is to exercise their right.

As Hardcastle says, “Voting is a tremendous gift. Believe it or not, young people just like you in other countries actually fight and even die for this right; a right that so many youth in democratic nations take for granted. You should vote because you can, if you don’t’ you may one day wake up in a country where you can’t. It can (and has) happened. Enough said!”

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Polly Ticks: a snarky look at the happenings in the world today entangled in female perception, appears right here at iconoclastic

Have a great blog idea, or just want to chat with me about something I’ve said? Feel free to e-mail me: meagandixon@yahoo.com