Zen College Life

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This presidential election will be my first time to vote.  I’m 23, and while I missed my first chance to vote for my president, I will not do so this election.  I feel very passionately about the issues that affect USA today, and though this isn’t the place for me to tell you who to vote for, I do feel that it is necessary for everyone of age to vote.  Here are the reasons why (and a link to register to vote).

1. It’s your right! Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. The power and responsibility of governing lies upon every citizen. Your vote is your power.
2. You represent a combination of interests unique to only you. When you register to vote, you become part of multiple networks that share your concerns and interests. For example, you may become part of voting blocks interested in preserving your community; interested in expanding the power and opportunities for your gender and/or your race; interested in immigration issues; and/or concerned about health care.
3. The youth vote is sadly underestimated by party analysts. the sad reality is that election year after election year the percentage of eligible youth who actually register and vote is small when compared with other demographics. This doesn’t mean the youth market isn’t a force, just that it isn’t a main motivator in the drafting of campaign platforms and pre-election advertising. So, like any self-respecting rebellious young person the natural thing to do is go against the grain and do the unexpected. Keep them on their toes, shock them into the 21st century and get out and vote!
4. It’ll be good practice for the court-ordered recount election (if you live in Florida)
5. Because if you don’t vote you really have no right to complain about government decisions you don’t like (no matter how terrible they may be).
6. The biggest election issues often directly effect the youth of the nation. The war in Iraq, education funding both public school and post-secondary, employment and job training programs, and reproductive rights issues are just a few of the current hot topics that directly effect the quality of your life RIGHT NOW.
7. To keep tuition from rising! Politicians want to be reelected, so they represent the people that are registered to vote. If college students are not registered to vote they will feel no responsibility to fund higher education and financial aid programs!
8. To relive those test taking days in college when you just filled in the circles randomly hoping to get some right.
9. Because it’s a gift. Voting is a tremendous gift. Believe it or not, young people just like you in other countries actually fight and even die for this right; a right that so many youth in democratic nations take for granted. You should vote because you can, if you don’t you may one day wake up in a country where you can’t.

And the biggest and best reason to vote is…

Because if you don’t vote, the terrorists win!!! (Do you want America to be victorious?)

Register To Vote Here

(any ad on this page that relates to the election does not represent Zen College Life’s political opinions of any sort.)

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