The presidential election Nov. 4, 2008, will begin another chapter in the continuing tome of American politics.
This election will affect women’s rights, immigration, gay marriage, health care policies and social security.
College students, just as all other citizens, have a stake in these issues. Young people are the future of this country and they need to voice how they want the government run.
For two decades, from 1982 to 2002, voter turnout from the under-30 demographic was in decline. But in the last two midterm elections, 2002 and 2006, the numbers began to creep back up.
People under the age of 30 accounted for 10.8 million of the votes cast in the 2006 midterm elections, according to the University of Maryland’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), up from an estimated 2 million from 2002.
Now the candidates realize this age group is essential to a successful campaign. The Internet culture of today’s society could account for the increased participation. Young people now have an unprecedented amount of information at their finger tips, including instantaneous news updates and student-run forums like Scoop08.com.
Candidates today are vying for young people’s votes with websites boasting blogs, videos and links to Facebook and YouTube. People aged 18 to 29 will account for about 25 percent of the 2008 electorate, according to CIRCLE, and campaigns won’t succeed without the support of America’s youth.
But the campaign is not solely about what college students can do for the candidates. It’s about what they offer young people.
American citizens have the opportunity to shop around and choose the candidate with the best overall package.
It’s important for young voters to remember that policies stemming from the next administration will shape America for many years because laws aren’t stricken from presidency to presidency.
The next president will likely have the opportunity to nominate a Supreme Court Justice who will hear a case that challenges Roe v Wade. The right for women to choose could be negated. Recent rulings have already chipped away at it.
The campaigns that candidates are selling include issues like health care plans and gay marriage.
Young adults may not worry about the intricacies of health insurance today, but in the future, comprehensive plans that cover spouses, partners and children could be a source of concern. College students need to reflect seriously on the proposals floating around the election debate and vote for the person with the plan that makes the most sense.
The 2008 election is an opportunity for young people to voice their opinions about gay marriage. A portion of society is not offered the same benefits as heterosexual couples and this election could be the turning point. Should gay marriage be legalized or should the Constitution be amended to ban gay marriage?
The answer is really up to you.
Candidates talk about what America will be like when they move into the White House but the reality is that American life won’t undergo a radical change the moment U-Hauls pull up to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Current policies will still be in place in 2009. Troops will still be in Iraq. The No Child Left Behind Act will still govern the education system.
Don’t support the person who you want to watch on television for the next four years or the most popular person or the underdog.
Vote with an eye toward the future, for the person with the plan that lays out the right course for America to take.
On January 21, 2009, the day after inauguration, either a Democrat or Republican will be in office ready to lead America for the next four years. Make sure you know who that person is and what they stand for.
This is your country: decide which issues matter most to you and vote for the person who will be the best voice for it.
– Holly Fletcher can be reached at [email protected]
