Can we make a difference? If we come out and vote for our next president, will the one we want get the job? The "we" I am referring are those included in the 18-26 age group who are also eligible to vote. The article that I read for this blog post discussed the role of the youth in Obama's election to the Democratic candidate for the presidential election. The other potential article that could have been the focus of my post was the one written on Obama's use of a Bill Clinton quote to take a jab at Hillary. That seemed trivial and fed into the "soap drama esqe" concept of the lection that I discussed in last week's post. The article's headline said that Obama figured that he needed to depend on the vote of the youth to get him into the white house, and I agree. I really think that he appeals strongly to the youth, but I am not sure if his appeal is strong enough to get all those youth to come out of their cubby holes and register to vote. The most interesting part if the article (this is also the reason why I like online newswebsites) is the reader's comment part where they actively discussed the youth of this nation. Do we just vote for a "pretty face"? Or do we dig deep and closely follow the candidate's campaign? Do we just go with what seems popular? Or do we read the news, listen to the candidates and then form our opinions? I think that the youth have their on special spectrum when it comes to political activism. There are extremes, and there those who don't give a darn about the politics. The question for this election is which side will make the difference?
The link to my article:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/09/28/385582.aspx
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2 comments:
I'm not sure if our vote can make or break the next election. Perhaps if a candidate or even all of the candidates appeal to us and somehow get us out of our dorm rooms and out into the scary outside world for an hour, perhaps then, and only then, will we make a difference in the election.
They've always been saying that 18-26 year olds can make or break elections. Remember the "Get out the vote" campaigns in 2004? The crazy t-shirts that celebs wore that read "vote or die?" All in the name of appealing to the younger generation.
And in the election aftermath, we found out that all those campaigns really didn't help all that much. Despite all of the celebrity endorsements, and tv spots, and cool tshirts, more young voters did not go to the polls.
Maybe Barack does appeal to us. But you're right-is it because he is closer to age or because of his policies that we tend to stray towards him?
NBC Nightly News did a profile piece about a Republican running for presidential election by getting through the internet, especially YouTube. He wants to abolish Social Security and income tax, among other things. I can't remember his name, that's how memorable he was. I'd never even heard of him before the special, but apparently he was interviewed in some guy's dorm room.
So candidates ARE trying to connect with us. Somehow. Anyway they can.
And maybe someday some candidate will be able to explain to me in coherent, simple language what healthcare plan they'd like to adopt, and what bills they want Congress to pass. And I'd also like a simple explanation of the tax law too. When that candidate comes along, I'll listen. And I bet a lot of confused college kids would too.
I totally agree with you about youth either showing an extreme amount of attention to the election or none at all. You don't really find many people our age that are in the middle.
Those t-shirts in 2004 were so obnoxious. And they did basically nothing. They just became trendy, and ironic (if I remember correctly, Paris was wearing them in public...but then said she never voted).
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