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Roach
SBR Belfry Bat
Joined: 20 Jan 2002
Posts: 3233
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| Editorial about youth voter apathy in the US *Bumped* |
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The Failing of Democracy’s Youth
Edit: (Written 7/30/04, the day after Kerry’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.)
The day after, Democrats hail Kerry’s speech a resounding triumph, no doubt today Republicans will call it a colossal failure, one Democratic speaker went so far as to call this upcoming election the most important vote of our lives, and yet... I can’t bring myself to care. I am one of the countless youths on the tail end of generation-X, or an elder of gen-Y, one of the many who are so apathetic and irresponsible as to not care enough about our government or our country to waste twenty minutes or an hour to bother voting. I am the face of our country’s failing youth, just another in a group of drugged up worthless kids. Or so I have been told, and I have been told more times then I would ever try to count.
Every so often someone in media will ask an important candidate why he, or she, doesn’t think that the ‘young people’ are voting. The candidate will predictably answer that they are taking steps to reach out to the ‘young people’ and trying to get them involved in the voting process. That canned response is quickly excepted and the topic moves on. To anyone not of a ‘young’ age who have not been so fortunate as to have been personally reached out to, allow me to translate what that statement really means. At some point if you happen to be standing in line to get into a club, or are hanging out outside of a collage, or anywhere else that we ‘young people’ tend to frequent, you may be approached by a campaign volunteer who will try to shove some paperwork into your hand and promise that their candidate cares about your issues and will then move on before you can even ask what those issues supposedly are. This should be very inspiring, but apparently we are too angst filled or jaded to feel the love that this candidate so obviously has for us. Now you, the reader, are probably asking yourself why you should care, or why don’t we just take steps to get more involved ourselves.
There is no reason for you to care, if we don’t then why should you? If we aren’t inspired by heroes like Bush and Kerry or Trent Lott or Bill and Hillary Clinton or Ted Kennedy, if people like Newt Gingrich and Al Gore and John Ashcroft and Dick Cheney don’t raise our hopes for the future then what hope is there for us really? The days of leaders likes FDR or JFK were gone years before I was born. Now, no matter who we pick it seems it will always just be some corrupt oily Republican or a weak bleeding-heart Democrat, after all, we’ve never known any different. So who are our leaders? Who are our political heroes?
If only the lack of inspiring candidates was the most relevant reason to not care, but unfortunately that is only the beginning. More importantly is not the perceived apathy you have of us, but rather the apathy we see in you, the apathy we see in our current two party system. Today there are only two accepted sets of beliefs, either the liberal ways or the conservative. Politically you must accept one, and dismiss the other. I personally am pro-choice, I would like to see us adopt socialized medicine, and I wish to see those convicted of drug use given more treatment options and less jail time. Therefore, I must be a Democrat. Right? However, I want to see tougher treatment of those convicted of violent crimes, I support the death penalty, I am against the legalization of marijuana, and I believe the strong have a responsibility to protect the weak especially when that means using military force to remove tyrants and warlords whether the rest of the world agrees or not. Now, suddenly I am a Republican, therefore I must disregard those beliefs I formerly stated! How can this be? How can it be that I agree and disagree with both parties. Why is it that I am not politically savvy enough to know that everything my chosen party believes in is right? After all, they are the ones who really have my best interest in mind. Why is it that I don’t cheer for every point that my candidate makes? Why? Because there is no more efficient way to anger a ‘young person’ that to tell them what they can and cannot believe. The two party system is, in our eyes, doing exactly that, trying to tell us what our entire set of beliefs are. I believe I speak for millions of ‘young people’ when I say that we are disgusted by it!
At this point some readers are likely thinking that perhaps I am one of the exceptions to the rule, that I do care because I can write an editorial, or participate in a protest, instead of simply ignoring the politics of this country. But I hold to the opinion that I am not.
When I was seventeen my father and would talk to each other for about a hour every day after he came home from work. We would talk about any number of subjects but politics and sports were always my favorites. Both my father and I are about as stubborn and bullheaded as any two people can be, so naturally any discussion of politics would turn into an argument. So day after day we would argue and we would yell and we would quote obscure facts because neither of us would ever except defeat. And after a while a funny thing happened, the more we argued the more I came to care about each issue that we argued about. Now I follow politics almost religiously, but still I maintain that I am no exception. I am merely a ‘young person’ who was engaged into the political system by a stubborn father that always had to argue. If you think that we in gen-x or gen-y do not care about politics, then perhaps you should try to engage in discussion with one of us. You may find that while we are disgusted with politics, we care far more about the individual issues than you ever would have guessed.
There is a famous quotation attributed to Winston Churchill that says “If you are under 30 and are not a [liberal] then you have no heart; if you are over thirty and are not a conservative then you have no brain.” Perhaps it should be added that if you cannot come to your own opinions instead of having them told to you, then you have no spirit.
Kenneth Anderson, Fort Worth, Texas - age 22
Last edited by Roach on Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:11 am; edited 2 times in total |
Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:41 pm |
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Korplem
Swashbuckler
Joined: 23 Dec 2002
Posts: 853
Location: Pearl Harbor, HI |
I'd say he's mostly right about most of that.
Personally, I don't think I'll vote because I don't like either candidate.
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If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.
-The Prince of Nothing |
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Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:57 pm |
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Cm
Sentinel of Light
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 5209
Location: Missouri USA |
I think the analysis of the apathy problem is pretty well stated. But I also think it is a lot more wide spread than just the youth. You can find plenty of people in all age groups who feel the same way.
It is a choice of two evils, and no one seem to want to take the best of both parties and put them together to have a candidate that might appeal to us. Sad, in a country this size you would think someone out there could figure out what the average person wants and try to help us.
Very good editorial by the way.
_________________
=Member of the Nonflamers Guild=
=Member of Worshippers of the Written Word=
A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.
Mark Twain
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Fri Jul 30, 2004 9:30 pm |
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Hexy
High Emperor
Joined: 28 Jun 2002
Posts: 621
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I really don't understand the problem. I think both candidates and parties are basically the same anyway.
But, thanks to Homeland Security, there's a big chance the elections will be suspended. So youth won't have to bother with the voting anyway. |
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Fri Jul 30, 2004 9:31 pm |
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xSamhainx
Paws of Doom
Joined: 11 Sep 2002
Posts: 2192
Location: San Diego |
Doing what may not be the popular thing at the time is not being politically stupid, it's called leadership. It's called being honest about who you are, and that gets votes more than research-polling and focus-grouping. So why dont Democrats put up a "non-military" type candidate who is enthusiastic and well-liked? Two major wars were fought and won under the direction of presidents (Woodrow Wilson,Franklin D. Roosevelt) who had never served a day in the armed forces.
Give our bored Tiefling friend a reason to get excited! Show us some leadership for once, put up someone who isnt military. Let him have a few great military people in his cabinet or something, but go with what you think is right. For once! Not the results of a poll or some survey, or some one-issue special interest group's counsel. Some empty suit that has been calculated to maybe win because he's a vet. Kerry is at best a Secretary of Defense or a Foreign Policy Advisor or something, but putting this guy in the race is part of the reason for Roach's apathy. This historic race is boring as hell, because we've got half of a 2-party system that doesnt want to play ball.
By all rights, this really should be the most exciting political campaign there ever was right now. Think about everything that's going on, these are historic times. You just know Dean would be polling way better than Kerry is, even if he wasnt winning. It would be a heck of alot more interesting, and anything can happen between now and November. I'd personally love it if Dean was in there, we'd have a real horserace then between some truly competing views for once. Or even Edwards, Lieberman, or (gasp!) someone new. Cant do that now, might actually have to be honest about who they are. Instead now they are going to all pretend they just *love* the hated Vietnam war, but hate the Iraq war, while calling it the new Vietnam. Is that convoluted or what?
Truth be told, Kerry's plan on Iraq isnt a whole lot different than Dubya's. And this billionaire is up there railing against the rich? This is too good to be true.Not to mention his loudmouth wife is not ready for prime time. This is the result of no leadership at the present time guiding these people, just a quest to get their treasured power back.
And it's certainly not going to rile up the "youth vote", that's for sure.
edit- deleted long-winded blah blah post to compressed sane version ='.'=
_________________
“Then away out in the woods I heard that kind of a sound that a ghost makes when it wants to tell about something that's on its mind and can't make itself understood, and so can't rest easy in its grave, and has to go about that way every night grieving.”-Mark Twain
Last edited by xSamhainx on Sat Jul 31, 2004 5:02 am; edited 3 times in total |
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Sat Jul 31, 2004 12:19 am |
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Remus
Overgrown Cat
Joined: 03 Jul 2002
Posts: 1657
Location: Fish bowl |
quote:
Originally posted by Kenneth Anderson
... the apathy we see in our current two party system. Today there are only two accepted sets of beliefs, either the liberal ways or the conservative. Politically you must accept one, and dismiss the other.
I have read this similar argument in a scholarly works few years ago, an interesting political nature in America. I have no doubt some peoples admire the bipartisanism and it own advandtages, or it historical root, but another group questioning why there should always be two party, particularly in a country that promoting democracy?. Why we can't have more choice?.
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Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:15 am |
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Jung
Most Exalted Highlord
Joined: 19 Jun 2002
Posts: 411
Location: Texas |
The biggest stumbling block is the voting system which makes casting a vote for a thrird party a vote wasted. I read an article in Discover about the mathematics of this. If you vote for Ralph Nader, you are wasting your vote, worse yet taking vote a away from the candidate who is your next preference. A better system would be to have a list of candidates that you could rank in preference, or have more than one vote to distribute between candidates. This would make for a more democratic system, I think. This will not change because it keeps the people in power in power, and they are the ones who have the power to change things.
Instead of a variety of candidates from which you can pick one who best represents you own views, we have two political parties who put up two charicatures who represent really very few.
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"You two are a regular ol' Three Musketeers." |
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Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:54 am |
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Everclearules20
Head Merchant
Joined: 21 Feb 2004
Posts: 58
Location: Texas |
I agree Jung, that is the reason I won't vote. I disagree with both parties on numerous subjects, so any vote for one of the 'lesser evils' is a vote against what I believe in. A better system would be nice, but as you said, "This will not change because it keeps the people in power in power, and they are the ones who have the power to change things." |
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Sat Jul 31, 2004 5:36 am |
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Jung
Most Exalted Highlord
Joined: 19 Jun 2002
Posts: 411
Location: Texas |
It's too bad that the founding fathers didn't envision such a broken system and provide us with a way to overrule it.
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"You two are a regular ol' Three Musketeers." |
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Sat Jul 31, 2004 6:12 am |
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Ugly_Prayer
Eager Tradesman
Joined: 03 Jul 2004
Posts: 38
Location: Sinking Fast |
quote:
Originally posted by Jung
It's too bad that the founding fathers didn't envision such a broken system and provide us with a way to overrule it.
But they did. It is called the U.S. Constitution. However, it requires time and the consent of "We the People..."
Have you had a chat with the average Mr. and Mrs. "We the People" lately? Dear God! I am shocked things are going as good as they are. "They" like to watch tv. Lots and lots of tv. Or spend their time playing computer and video games... Wait a minute! That's me, so strike that.  Guess I'm just one of "We the People" too.
"Democracy is based upon the assumption that a million men are wiser than one man. How's that again? I missed something. -Robert Heinlein "Time Enough For Love.
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What I am I am, and say not. Being is the great explainer.
-Thoreau |
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Sat Jul 31, 2004 8:30 am |
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cfmdobbie
High Emperor
Joined: 01 Jul 2002
Posts: 1859
Location: London, England |
Regarding "a vote for Nader is a vote wasted" - nonsense. Please, vote for the other guy! Even if they don't get anywhere in the race it gives the main parties a better idea of how their people think.
In the UK we basically have a two-party system (more like a two-and-a-half actually), but not voting for one of the big parties isn't considered a wasted vote at all. In the recent elections to the European Parliament, lots of people voted for the UK Independence and the British Nationalist parties. The former have a strong anti-European viewpoint, and the latter have a strong anti-asylum seeker viewpoint, and because people voted for them, these issues are being addressed by the main parties and will likely be the battleground for the next general election.
Politicians are canny bastards, and pay very close attention to votes as well as results. For every person who votes for the other guy there will be many more sheep who don't because they think their vote would be wasted.
And as for "we the people", a wise man once told me, "Remember, the average British citizen reads The Sun". The Sun is a sensationalist tabloid, the message therefore being that in any population more people will fit the term "the great unwashed" than you'd probably otherwise realise.
In the words of John Lithgow from 3rd Rock from the Sun, "What's the point of having a democracy, if everybody's going to vote wrong?"
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Charlie Dobbie
=Member of The Nonflamers' Guild=
=Moderator of the Morrowind/Oblivion Forums= |
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Sat Jul 31, 2004 12:48 pm |
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xSamhainx
Paws of Doom
Joined: 11 Sep 2002
Posts: 2192
Location: San Diego |
3rd parties for the most part are a running joke. 3rd party candidates here simply do not win, so ultimately their vote is cast in vain if you ask me. You dont get some kind of consolation prize or anything if you lose, that's it, you lose. And often times, they just end up screwing up who is closest to them in the major parties, putting people in power they really disagree with. The Dems are hating Nader right now, and they have good reason to. Same reason Republicans hated that clown Ross Perot.
3rd parties are kept on the sidelines because of their unrealistic stances. Libertarians have just an insane "anything goes" policy on drugs that will never fly in this country, and their policy in immigration, which is pretty much "no policy" is just as baffling. They also want to literally get rid of welfare, and I'm pretty sure they are in favor of the same kind of policy on personal weapons as drugs, which is "anything goes". This is a viable party?
The Green party's platform is actually pretty much the same on drugs and immigration, but way to the Left of the Libertarians on things like welfare. Forget abolishing welfare, it's "welfare for all!". They want the state in charge of just about every aspect of citizen's lives, and personal businesses. They want slavery reperations for any blacks, 30 hour work week max as law, and govt centralized banking. They want to abolish the House of Representatives. And I dont even have to go into all the unrealistic environmental policy that would utterly destroy industry. Im sorry, this is not a viable platform either.
If a 3rd party candidate wants to bring about change in his direction, the only reasonable solution is to join one of the major parties, and try to bring about change from within, as many have an are. Otherwise, they are just a running joke, a nuisance, and they dont win anything.
_________________
“Then away out in the woods I heard that kind of a sound that a ghost makes when it wants to tell about something that's on its mind and can't make itself understood, and so can't rest easy in its grave, and has to go about that way every night grieving.”-Mark Twain |
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Sat Jul 31, 2004 7:17 pm |
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RPG Frog
Blade Runner
Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Posts: 748
Location: the Matrix |
Even though it seems like a waste of time...I'll still vote because I have the freedom to do so.
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Between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities…there was an Age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world like blue mantles beneath the stars…Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand…to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet. - Robert E. Howard |
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Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:04 pm |
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Roach
SBR Belfry Bat
Joined: 20 Jan 2002
Posts: 3233
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*Bumping because of the vote tomarrow. |
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Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:09 am |
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Secret Agent Lawanda
The last thing you see...
Joined: 23 Oct 2003
Posts: 1041
Location: World of Darkness (LA) |
Well I didn't let apathy prevent me from voting. And from the large turnouts, it doesn't seem to have affected as many other people. I chatted with one of the poll judges for a bit and she said that's she's never seen it this busy.
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-=Professional Secret Agent=-
Moderator of The Anime and Manga Fan Club |
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Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:10 am |
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