America.
This country was founded when different people came together to unite under one idea—the idea that each person has certain unalienable rights to liberty. America was formed with the thought that it is not the King or government who gives the people limited liberties and rights, but rather it is the people who give the government consent to govern them. The people give the government limited rights to help protect the country and oversee the continuation of liberty. Men, women, and children died to protect this freedom, and there are still those to this day who continue to lay down their lives to protect our rights, one of which being the right to vote.
What really irks me is when there are complaints about the state of our country, but those who are complaining did not vote in the last election or have never voted at all— even though they are eligible to vote! Why are you complaining?! You chose not to use your voice. You gave up part of your liberty to the government by not speaking.
Our age group is dropping the ball when it comes to voting: "21.5 percent of young people, ages 18-29, voted in the 2014 midterm elections, according to our exclusive preliminary estimates."
"Why Youth Voting Matters
- Voting is habit-forming: when young people learn the voting process and vote, they are more likely to do so when they are older. If individuals have been motivated to get to the polls once, they are more likely to return. So, getting young people to vote early could be key to raising a new generation of voters.
- Young people are a major subset of the electorate and their voices matter:
- Forty-six million young people ages 18-29 years old are eligible to vote, while 39 million seniors are eligible to vote
- Young people (18-29) make up 21 percent of the voting eligible population in the U.S.
- Young people’s participation can influence election results.
- Involving young people in election-related learning, activities, and discussion can have an impact on the young person’s household, increasing the likelihood that others in the household will vote. In immigrant communities, young voters may be easier to reach, are more likely to speak English (cutting down translation costs), and may be the most effective messengers within their communities."
Andrew Jackson said "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
We as a country have not done our job. The government is beginning to regulate more and more parts of American life, and if we do not step up and speak our minds they shall continue to do so. Our founding fathers thought that the best form of government was one that was as small as it could be. They wanted the government to be a small part of the American life instead of sticking its nose into every inch. To them, liberty was the most important thing a human possessed, and they understood that where the government expands liberty shrinks. They set a check-and-balance system to keep the government in its place, and today there are debates that if the president wishes to ignore the checks and balances to do something "important," that's okay. You know where that takes us? One step closer to having an unchecked leader who may decide that the voices of the people don't matter anymore. That road eventually leads to a dictatorship style government.
The solution? Educate yourself. Research the candidates instead of just watching the advertisements and listening to what you hear on the news. Make sure you watch more than one news channel if that is how you are getting your information (biases do exist across the news platforms). Listen to debates. Read interviews. Decide on a candidate whom you agree with most (hint: you probably won't agree with any of them 100 percent). Look at how the candidates have acted in the past or what legislation they have passed (if coming from a government position already). Vote in every election. Vote in person or by mail-in ballot. Vote, even if you are away at school. Vote locally! Our local governments do have an impact on our federal governments. Vote at the town, city, and county level—just because you may think they are small and unimportant does not mean you should ignore them. Speak your mind on the issues if you want to, but please, pretty please, research the topic for yourself before you form an opinion based on one-sided storytelling and what others on your social media are saying. I guess the main thing that I am saying is to respect the fact that you were born in a country where you do have the right to voice your opinion. Respect the fact that if you see something in government that you don't like, you have the power to change it. Don't let your voice be silenced, but rather, shout it from the rooftops.
The next presidential election is going to be held Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Let's get out there and vote! We millennials have the potential to have the biggest voices during any given election—let's use them!
- *Quick voting facts
