For some odd reason, which the average American who enjoys (even just a little) living in this country does not understand, young voters have decided that voting is simply too unimportant for their agendas this year. While my generation has been designated as the lazy, entitled bunch, I have to say I am quite shocked at their ease to abandon their civic duties.
Many young adults find themselves saying that there are just no 'good' candidates this year- that they don't know who to vote for, so they simply won't. Which is a boring and simple small-minded excuse.
But since when has not knowing what to do become an excuse just not to do it at all? Our country is at a turning point. A very large, a very important, and potentially, a very scary turning point. Now, in reality, I'm not going to tell you to vote for Sanders,Cruz, Trump or Hillary, because frankly, I'm sick of people imposing their opinions on others, and on me.
But I'm also sick of young people choosing a candidate based off of who their parents base it on. I'm sick of young people choosing a candidate based solely off of social issues. I'm sick of Generation Y, my beloved fellow classmates, teammates, and soulmates, deciding that their future is just, by a stride, too unimportant for them to educate themselves, and to have an opinion. My generation is unique. We have all of the tools we need to build success. We have the guidance of the generations above us, and we have the chance to shape the generations to come. My generation is outspoken, they know no boundaries. They stand up for what is right and do their best to diminish what is wrong. They cross the line, many times over, and they do it with strong hearts and strong minds.
But for some reason, when it comes to our future, and our country, the results aren't there. According to the Government Census, only 38 percent of 18-24-year-olds voted in 2012. It has been a slippery, crashing slope. Just four years before that, in 2008, that number had been up by almost 8 percent.
There is no pinpoint on this issue that can help us make it right, or to help us understand why voting is becoming less frequent among millennials. But as citizens and as caring, compassionate, people we have a job to do. The economy, the government and the social world, is changing fast, in bad ways and in good ways, and we need someone who will do the least damage in that period of time.
So educate yourself. And then educate others. Be smart, and do your job. This country needs you, and you need this country. The next few years are so crucial to our lives and our Nation, that it is just a damn shame if you find yourself being one of the lazy, entitled, Generation Y, millennials. Sure, it wasn't our fault that we were born into the problems this nation faces, but it is our fault if we don't do anything about it.
