For me and thousands of other newly 18 year olds around the country, 2016 is the first year we will be able to vote. Lucky for me, my first opportunity will be to vote in a presidential election. Finally, I am free to voice my opinion and vote for the candidate I feel most strongly can run our country for the next four years. There is only one thing that is stifling my excitement for voting- my generation. I have heard more times than I can count: “I don’t like either of the presidential candidates, so I’m just not going to vote.” This mindset baffles me. I understand that there is tons, and I mean tons, of negative media coverage about Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton, the likely Republican and Democratic presidential nominees for 2016, but this is in no way an excuse not to vote. In fact, it is probably a reason why you should vote. By not voting, you are and helping no one. Silence is compliance, and I don’t care who you are or what you believe in, not voting at all is the single worst thing you could do.
My generation lives in a false bubble of invincibility. A lot of us feel as if responsibilities, worries and adulthood are far away. And the truth of the matter is, they are not. Sure, we may not recognize the direct implications of policies on our daily lives now, so it is common to think that who is elected this year doesn’t really effect us. But, it will, and sooner than we think. The president we elect in 2016 will be the head of state, the commander in chief, the “leader of the free world” for the next four to eight years.
They will influence the economic climate of this country as well as enforcing national workplace laws and taxes. Furthermore, important social issues and questions of privacy will be at the forefront of American politics. As such, our burgeoning young adulthood will be shaped by these formative presidential years. Not to mention that we, as a generation, need to start thinking about the country that our children will live in (scary, I know). This president has the potential to change laws about education, laws that your children might have to abide by. It’s scary to think that we hold the power to change our country, and even scarier to think that there are a lot of us who don’t care enough to vote. Adulthood is sooner than we think, people, start taking responsibility.
We are young, vulnerable, easily persuaded, and maybe not too informed. That may be true, but its not an excuse to not vote. And, you can change that. Become informed on the candidate’s policies and form your own opinions. With 18 comes independence, so why would you revert back to listening to what your parents say? What better gateway into adulthood, than to contribute positively to the country around you. Become a positive change in your country by educating yourself, voting, becoming politically active, and, oh yeah, did I mention voting?
