Open the door for decision 2004
Michael A. Knipp | 6/30/2004 The milestone of waking up eighteen is unforgettable. I was bursting with eagerness to enjoy the forbidden fruits of maturity to which the rest of the adult world had access. I bought a pack of cigarettes and a scratch-off lottery ticket on the way to my last days of high school on that sunny May morning.
I sent my obligatory, postage-paid Selective Service card to the United States government with a smile. Well, half a smile. I stayed out past midnight, the state curfew for underagers in Maryland, on that sticky May evening. And I registered to vote - the single most important constitutional right to exercise as an American citizen and legal adult.
Yep, even better than admittance into the strip club. Hard to believe, huh?
Although I’ve been a registered voter since 1999, I haven’t often had the chance. Going to school out-of-state put me in an awkward predicament; it was more of a hassle to proxy vote than it was to not vote at all. Besides, the issues of that term didn’t personally affect me, so who cared, right? I mean, my one vote couldn’t make that remarkable of a difference, could it?
Surprisingly, it could. Picture this: If every university student had the same mentality-that their choice isn’t relevant in the grand scheme-there would potentially be 20 million fewer votes. That’s not a drop in the bucket. That’s enough votes to increase or decrease a margin by many percentage points. Something to consider? You bet!
This election year has already established itself as a controversial one. With topics on the table that include what some consider an over-stayed presence in the Middle East, gay marriage, and the securing of environmental sanctity, 2004 is poised to make legislative history.
What we learn about these issues come from every media source available. CNN, MSNBC, Fox, MTV - everyone has their own take on what the candidates are saying to sell themselves. And they are selling themselves. While the issues are the selling point, President Bush and Senator Kerry want to convince the general public that their thoughts on certain issues are the future of America. Therefore, electing them to term can shape the next four years of our nation.
So for whom do you vote? Whittling down opponents is difficult. Who’s right? Who has the best plan for improvement? This year the race has become an all-or-nothing fight to the finish. With such fervor and constant press about constitutional amendments and prison abuse scandals, it’s a confusing conundrum to choose the most responsible leader.
I think that’s what turns most people off from politics in the first place. Uncertainty about the validity of policy and planned change keeps voters away from the polls. Being responsible for the next commander-in-chief is an onerous burden. If you vote for a candidate that doesn’t do the job that he said he would, who do you blame?
In a game of hit or miss, nobody is to blame. Being informed is the only way to make the most intelligent choice. Still though, nobody is perfect. Especially the leader of the most pungent empire on the planet. The president, while dealing with his own people, must juggle the rest of the world at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking.
Our democracy doesn’t operate on what-ifs. Even though there is tension between parties, the voting can’t be put off; someone must be in office. Like it or not, this process is what keeps us a free culture. Americans need to familiarize themselves with legislation to ensure that their thoughts and beliefs are transformed into legal documents.
Come November, our country will enter into a new era. It will welcome a society of stricter conservatism with a possible constitutional amendment or it could usher in a new epoch of acceptance. Which way the scale slants is entirely up to you.
Making your voice heard is all that counts. No matter who you elect, their term isn’t going to be spotless. There will always be a faction, on one side of the political fence or the other, which disagrees with decisions of the current White House administration. Republicans can’t seem to concur with democrats and democrats often resent the opinions of republicans. But bickering doesn’t solve problems, so they agree to disagree and try to work together.
The next few months will be a critical time in the campaign for the opponents to seal the deal with their audience. More mud-slinging, heavier media hype and overall criticism can be expected. You can also expect to be persuaded and pursued by savoir-faire politicians that want their name at the top of the chain. Affairs of state are a dog-eat-dog industry and as an au fait follower, you must be prepared to decipher the fluff from the matter-at-hand.
At the end of the day, the decision is yours. Don’t be deterred from issues that don’t directly affect you, because in the long run they will. Faithfully monitor what each candidate has to offer and decide what the best benefits are. Keep in mind that the fate and future of your friends and family and the progressiveness of our population is at stake. A big burden to deliberate, but it’s one that we’ve overcome since the election of George Washington in 1789.
2005 will be a landmark year in United States history that will define the state of our civilization. Voting for officials whose campaign focuses on your personal ideals, morals, and values is the only way to guarantee a decision with which you can be satisfied.
Casting your ballot can and will make a difference. Your chance to take advantage of your constitutionally-given opportunity is speedily impending.
Don’t miss the boat. As they say, “Rock the Vote!”
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