I’m a politics nerd; I’ll admit it. I’m not sure how or when it happened, but somewhere between being the only person in my high school history class who thought Gore won the 2000 election and listing “really hating Ann Coulter” as one of my Facebook interests, politics became an inherent part of who I am.
So when I was looking at colleges, I was looking for a campus that would hold vast amounts of political rallies and where 90 percent of the student body was registered to vote (preferably registered Democrat). I’m still not entirely sure how I ended up at Fairfield.
So maybe I’m in the minority on campus when I say I’m actually excited about voting on Nov. 7,, and maybe I’m not. But the truth of the matter is that 18-24 year olds make up 37 percent of the population and only seven percent of the electoral vote, and those numbers just don’t add up.
Students argue that politics doesn’t affect them and that politicians don’t care about issues that are most pertinent to young people. But if you wonder why politicians spend more time on Medicare than student loans, consider this: People over 65 will show up to the polls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, while people our age will argue over whether to watch Gilmore Girls or Friday Night Lights.
I’m not saying college isn’t a time to drink too much and worry too little – it is, and I do. However, we only exist in this bubble for four years, and when we graduate. We are going to be faced with real life issues.
So you think elections don’t affect you? Do you want a job after college? The economy is often influenced by those in office. Do you have health insurance? About 40 percent of Americans – many of those in their early 20’s – don’t have it.
Do you want to carry the burden of the baby boomers’ retirement when politicians are arguing to compromise the very system that would guarantee your own? That might very well happen.
Politics affect us just as much – if not more – as it affects our parents. It is our generation that will face the remains of the war in Iraq and the national debt that will follow.
It is our generation that will deal with soaring interest rates (which yes, by the way, will affect your credit card statements) and soaring real estate prices. That house you always wanted? Might not be affordable. That job you always wanted? Might be outsourced.
Yes, I’m a registered Democrat. And yes, if you asked me, voting Democrat is the right way. But that matters far less than making our voices heard. I could argue with you at the top of my lungs while you yelled at me at the top of yours and it wouldn’t matter if we disagreed. It would only matter that we made a statement, because only then would we be heard.
Politicians will only care about us when we begin to care about them, so if you are registered to vote on November 7 – do it. It won’t hurt and it will only work to raise a message that our generation needs to be addressed.
If we don’t make a statement, we will only fall through the cracks, so make one – no matter how much I, or anyone else, may disagree with it.
To quote my favorite fictional president, Josiah Bartlett: “Decisions are made by those who show up.”
Take part in the decision-making process, make your voice heard and vote.
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