Vote or Lie
I’ve received a few emails asking what I think about recent polls showing Obama and McCain in a tight election race. My answer – What race? The 2008 Presidential race hasn’t yet started in earnest. Neither side has announced their Vice Presidential pick (each is probably waiting for the other to blink first), there are no scheduled debates until September, and the 110th Congress is on vacation. That pretty much leaves only the hardcore political junkies to follow the candidates and, unfortunately, our numbers are few and don’t have much of an impact on elections anyway. This begs the question of which groups DO impact elections. The answer is older voters, men, women, immigrants, labor and special interest groups etc. – basically, any group other than the historically unreliable “youth vote.”
Even though the youth vote was up slightly in 2004 and looks like it might-just-perhaps-possibly-could be up again in 2008, it’s still a pretty safe bet that America’s youth won’t make much of an impact in spite of their huge potential. Amazingly, our youngest eligible voters (18-24 year olds) are less than half as likely to vote as older Americans. Personally, this has never surprised me and, quite frankly, it doesn’t bother me much either. Why not? Because young people are very often less informed (at best), or misinformed (even worse) than older potential voters. They are also more likely to vote based on one issue than older folks, or was I the only one who to notice how many stoners mobilized and sent money to Ron Paul?
I was listening to local Boston talk radio over the internet recently when they reported on an Obama rally dominated by enthusiastic youths. When asked why she supported Obama, a young lady replied because of the “apathy” he’s shown throughout his career to the needy. This is a person who should not vote. Others would include Madonna, who recorded a Public Service Announcements on the importance of voting while she herself wasn’t even registered, and Ben Affleck, who traveled the U.S. campaigning for Gore in 2000 (presumably to appeal to young people and fans of bad movies) but didn’t vote or even bother to register to vote until 2003. This does not bother me. On the contrary, I wish more young people and celebrities would follow suit.
Voting for the sake of voting is not something to be commended. “Just vote, exercise your right” is not good advice. Chances are that anybody bullied to the polls by such pleas will do little more than vote for whomever the bully does with little thought. Wouldn’t a better message be to first find out what the issues are and where the candidates stand on them?
Let me be clear lest anyone is confused by my rambling today – please do not vote unless you personally want to and are aware of the candidates’ positions on things you consider important. Don’t vote because a hypocritical celebrity asked you to and you think it’s cool. Voting isn’t cool. It’s a solemn and sacred act. If you’re up for it – great. If not, please go back to your bongs and game consoles or to acting in bad movies. You can’t do as much harm there.
About the Author: Randall H. Miller is an American college educator/blogger. He is also a former U.S. Army officer (82nd Airborne) with a M.A. in Diplomacy (focusing on International Terrorism) and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Use the form on the right to sign up and receive notifications of new content. The words and ideas expressed here are 100% his own and not those of his employers or affiliated organizations.
Charles | Aug 7, 2008 | Reply
Being in the youngest eligible voters category myself (23), this is very near what I tell people when politics comes up; which happens quite a bit, even around people that I don’t regularly associate with, so that may show that this round of young voters are a bit more serious than the last.
I haven’t necessarily told people not to vote, but I definitely make an earnest attempt at making sure that they are informed and actually care about something important during the discussion.
You gave a great example in the one girl finding Obama’s “apathy” towards the poor commendable. While I don’t hear things quite that bad, I do hear plenty of ideas thrown around that are not only ridiculous, but are contrary to much of the greatness that our nation was founded upon and represents.
Those are the people that I worry about voting.
Daniel | Aug 11, 2008 | Reply
I do agree with everything your saying RHM. I don’t think people should vote if they are not sure who or what the candidates stand for. They (being the youth we are speaking about) should at least figure out one thing that is important to them and how it affects their life. Then determine which candidate supports that idea.
But I was also thinking that if someone in the 18-24 year old age bracket, took the time to register to vote(which can be a hassle for some), actually figured out when and where to vote(Every adult on my block always asks where /when they need to go vote when that day comes), is actually in their home town where they registered the day of the vote, drives to the polls, stands in line and pulls the “arm” on the machine(even thought they are all tough screen now) might actually know at least one issue that their candidate stands for that effects their life. And if they did an absentee ballot, I bet they probably were aware of at least 2 issues their candidate stood for….
I do think that it is kind of funny that celebrities tell young people to vote when they are note even registered. But maybe those adds got a few young people to start the process of learning about voting and the candidates at hand. I am not worried about the “slackers” or the misinformed voting at any age because voting isn’t as easy as registering your email address at your favorite political website(thecandidacy.com).
One last thing. Like many life responsibilities the school system has no time for(and I am not saying they should at all). I think that this issue falls on the parent. Voting is something that can be taught at an early age. The wife and I have taken our children to the polls since they were born. We don’t make it to serious for them. We just wanted them to see that voting is important and “cool”. Hopefully those voting experiences growing up will give them enough knowledge to avoid the “slacker” brand given by RHM!
D