By Rule Johnstone,
contest finalist
Many observers are calling the current election the most important that American citizens have ever voted in. Although this claim might seem melodramatic, it is true that there simply couldn't be more at stake. Regardless of your political leanings, both parties believe that something has gone awry in Washington, and our nation's reputation, economy and image have suffered tremendously.
For some, the seriousness of these crises is obvious, and these people will vote. However, it is unfortunate that the number of young people who vote is so much lower than other demographics.
Granted, youth voting has always trailed behind other age groups, but we are entering a new era, where our generation is the first to grow up with computers, the Internet, cell phones, etc. This means that we are the first to see the world differently in this new electronic age. Just as the baby boomers were markedly unique from previous generations due to their progressivism, our generation is set to bring monumental changes to the world. The only way we can bring our country out of the abyss we are now falling into is to exercise all the power that we have. Voting is part of that power.
It is necessary to address the problems we currently face in getting young people to vote. First and foremost, a large number of students simply don't care about politics. This indifference stems from several popular notions among our generation. For one, many politicians don't seem trustworthy. This is exacerbated by the fact that we are so used to technology to a degree no other generation is. Therefore, old, white-haired politicians can seem even more out of touch than they usually would in past eras.
In addition to our degree of technological proficiency, we are considered the most media savvy generation ever to exist on this planet. Websites like YouTube allow us access to video clips of politicians, which allow us to scrutinize endlessly. Every misstep or Freudian slip a politician makes will be looked at under a microscope. It is true that politicians can be sneaky. But this is not an excuse to be overly cynical and sacrifice your vote. The Internet can just as easily misinform as it can inform. There is simply so much information available that it is easy to slide into the comfort of dogmatism.
In response to this problem, we must remember that politicians have never been a completely trustworthy group of people. Dating back to the Roman Empire, trust for silver-tongued statesmen has always been at arm's length. This lack of trust is fully understandable, since politicians by nature rely on rhetoric, appeasement and charm. This is simply the nature of politics, and this crafty demeanor is necessary to succeed in the highest levels of the political world. Therefore, we must take the good with the bad.
Just as no person is perfect, neither is
any politician. We must choose the lesser of several evils. Empty cynicism is not going to solve any of the problems we face today. We must have constructive cynicism. We must recognize the problems our country faces, decide for ourselves what the best solution is, and vote. Otherwise, you disenfranchise yourself and become just another voiceless face in the crowd.
Although some students are indifferent to politics, others simply aren't informed. According to the popular adage, ignorance is bliss. Unfortunately, this is a luxury we currently do not have. The fate of our country hangs in the balance, and that is no dramatization.
From here, we can either go the way of the Romans, or prove that America really is a city on a hill,"" distinct and superior to any nation that preceded us. This election is a critical turning point. The direction we take will shape the U.S. and the whole world for centuries to come. This is not a time to sit idly. It is not valid to say you won't vote because ""one vote won't make a difference."" If everyone in the country said that, democracy wouldn't work. We are the offspring of the greatest generation our country has yet spawned, the baby boomers. In many ways we are improved versions of our parents, and all of their hopes rest on us. This country needs us. They need us to inform and empower ourselves, and set our nation on a straight course again. It is pointless to feign ignorance. Most of us will be paying income taxes to the winner of this year's election, so it is no excuse to claim that we are not affected by politics.
Getting young people to vote is not about persuasion, but rather making them understand the influence they have. The only way we are going to politically empower ourselves is by becoming informed and voting. There is only one way to empowerment, and that is by acquiring knowledge.
There are no shortcuts to becoming knowledgable, though. We must pick ourselves up by the bootstraps. Instead of thinking of voting as futile, and that politics is a topic to be avoided, we need to view these as means of empowerment. We must address the difficult issues in this country; hesitation will only leave us powerless and vulnerable. There are unpleasant realities in the world that are easily ignored while in college, but we can no longer afford such indifference. Our nation's place in the world hangs in the balance; our fate is not yet decided, and it is up to our generation to steer the course.
When one asks how to get young people motivated to vote, it is a misnomer, because it is not a matter of persuading or brainwashing; the individual must ultimately decide for themselves. My message to my peers is this: erase your doubts and cynicisms, do not think of voting as an obligation or tedious chore. Think of it as self-empowerment. Educate yourselves on all the issues and decide which candidate is the most qualified to serve you. Then act on it by voting. The stakes are too high for a gamble.
- Rule Johnstone
UW-Madison junior
history major
