newsworthy: election commentary
With the recent primary elections held in South Carolina last weekend, and the North Carolina primaries coming up in a few weeks, it’s nearly impossible to escape the overwhelming presence of politics. From TV ads to candidates speaking at local rallies and debates held between friends regarding the varying policies, the growing excitement (and in many cases, fear) surrounding the upcoming elections is unavoidable.
As an 18-year-old getting ready to vote for the first time, I am about to make one of the most important decisions in my life. I am deciding the fate of our nation, a decision that should not be taken lightly. Casting a vote is a solemn and imperative task, yet is often taken for granted.
In the 2012 presidential election, only 38 percent of citizens 18 to 24 years old participated in the election, according to the U.S. Census. As the generation who will bear the brunt of the reforms, new policies, and overseas engagements that the future president will decide, we are the ones who need to speak up and let our voices be heard.
Election commentators have called the upcoming election unprecedented. The multitude of candidates and the unpredictability surrounding who will ultimately receive each party’s nomination gives our role an even greater weight. But to me, the sheer differences in the policies and talking points of the candidates are exacerbating the divisions developing between party lines, within the government, and within groups of my friends.
We are bombarded by the media and the opinions of others, which constantly shape our views. Candidates such as Trump and Sanders are dominating discussions with their more radical beliefs, and many people are jumping on a candidate’s bandwagon because of their popularity, or the fact that their parents or friends like them, without actually knowing the differences in policy between the options.
Our generation has been stereotyped as lazy, as uninformed about the world, and not willing to educate ourselves to become involved. This is our chance to prove them wrong, and to fully comprehend what each candidate stands for and the potential consequences of each before we make a decision. In a political landscape where bi-partisan legislation seems to be a thing of the past and parties are increasingly polarized, now is the time to focus on understanding. Open discussions need to be had, followed hand-in-hand with open-mindedness and tolerance of differing perspectives.
The future of our nation is too important to bypass the opportunity of making an educated choice and being part of democracy in action. We can’t become complacent in our views, or take the easy way out by picking our “favorite” without a legitimate reason. On March 15, we need to take a stand, one vote at a time.
As an 18-year-old getting ready to vote for the first time, I am about to make one of the most important decisions in my life. I am deciding the fate of our nation, a decision that should not be taken lightly. Casting a vote is a solemn and imperative task, yet is often taken for granted.
In the 2012 presidential election, only 38 percent of citizens 18 to 24 years old participated in the election, according to the U.S. Census. As the generation who will bear the brunt of the reforms, new policies, and overseas engagements that the future president will decide, we are the ones who need to speak up and let our voices be heard.
Election commentators have called the upcoming election unprecedented. The multitude of candidates and the unpredictability surrounding who will ultimately receive each party’s nomination gives our role an even greater weight. But to me, the sheer differences in the policies and talking points of the candidates are exacerbating the divisions developing between party lines, within the government, and within groups of my friends.
We are bombarded by the media and the opinions of others, which constantly shape our views. Candidates such as Trump and Sanders are dominating discussions with their more radical beliefs, and many people are jumping on a candidate’s bandwagon because of their popularity, or the fact that their parents or friends like them, without actually knowing the differences in policy between the options.
Our generation has been stereotyped as lazy, as uninformed about the world, and not willing to educate ourselves to become involved. This is our chance to prove them wrong, and to fully comprehend what each candidate stands for and the potential consequences of each before we make a decision. In a political landscape where bi-partisan legislation seems to be a thing of the past and parties are increasingly polarized, now is the time to focus on understanding. Open discussions need to be had, followed hand-in-hand with open-mindedness and tolerance of differing perspectives.
The future of our nation is too important to bypass the opportunity of making an educated choice and being part of democracy in action. We can’t become complacent in our views, or take the easy way out by picking our “favorite” without a legitimate reason. On March 15, we need to take a stand, one vote at a time.