Shawn RiceAn abysmal 36 percent of eligible 18-24 year-olds punched their ticket at the polls in the last presidential election. Since getting the voting age lowered to 18 in 1972, young people have been increasingly less interested in voting on Election Day.
Why?
This election is essential to the future of our generation, as current President George W. Bush indisputably made vital financial blunders. Since Sept. 30, 2003 the national debt has continued to increase an average of $1.69 billion a day. Consequently whether you vote or not in this election you will be paying for it for the rest of your life. Not your grandparents and parents who routinely vote every election but you.
Why does our age-group refuse to utilize our voting rights? If young people (18-24 year-olds) can increase their voter turnout from 18 million in the 2000 presidential election to 20 million in November, the elected presidents and subsequent candidates will cater to the needs of you and your college friends rather than appeasing your grandparents.
Do you want to vote now?
If you’re still questioning whether or not it is worth your time to vote maybe an issue that impinges on your wallet will convince you to vote. As current college students or recent college graduates you should be informed that the average post graduation debt has soared to nearly $19,000 and 25 percent of graduates will use credit cards to help finance their education. Will you vote for a candidate who will agree to scale up college grants for low and middle-income families? Your vote would help more students reap the economic benefits of higher education and will keep your post-graduation debt from increasing.
Do you want to vote now?
A growing number of 18-24 year-old citizens are financially stressed and unemployed. Unfortunately, many students will be graduating in May and will be struggling to find an entry level position and piles of student loan debt, high rent, and lack of health insurance will burden their post graduation years. The former may seem discouraging, but the reality is your vote may change the fate of your post-graduation career.
Do you want to vote now?
More than 2,700 young people lose their health insurance each day due to the family plan gap, school gap, cost gap, and work gap. Will you choose a candidate that promises to reform the health care system? Your vote will prove to the presidential candidates that young people are standing up to the health care system. With increasing numbers of young people voting, the candidates will be compelled to settle the issues of post-college debt and unemployment and reformation of the health care system.
Do you want to vote now?
As a member of The Loquitur staff, free expression is vital and is surely important to all of you regardless of whether you are pursuing a career in radio, public relations, education or business management. Our free expression has been imposed upon and is nearly nonexistent as young men, many of whom have been killed, fight for freedom in Iraq. What freedom are they fighting for?
Free expression has become a precarious proposition as television shows have been canceled for inappropriate language or nudity and radio shows have been fined. Fines for repeated inappropriate scenes or words have reached $500,000! Is this free expression? The president has taken advantage of willing young people and has kept them in Iraq to fight for freedom when within the borders of the United States freedom of expression is already dead. Will you vote for a candidate who will give our speech and art the freedom they once had?
What are you waiting for?
Pennsylvania’s registration deadline is Oct. 4, 2004. If driving home to register is your excuse not to vote, think again. You are legally allowed to vote wherever you are living. If you consider Radnor, Pennsylvania to be your home, you can register to vote in the state of Pennsylvania.
You are as important to presidential elections as your parents and grandparents; you just have not proven it yet. This election is a chance for your voice to be heard; not just heard but loud and clear.
What are you waiting for?
Get out and vote on Election Day. Your vote does make a difference.
Posted to the web by Convergence Boy
