The reasons why many Americans in the United States are not active in political elections are many and are complex. A good portion of young Americans are disillusioned with the false promises and lack of ethics of most of today’s politicians and that turns them off altogether about politics. Politicians are salespersons. Most salespersons are required to stretch the truth about their product, if they want to make a sale it is true that in our everyday lives and in different degrees we are all required to use salesmanship skills. We all have something that we want to sell. We want to sell our boss on our talents or skills. We want to sell our neighbors on our friendliness and reliability. We want to sell our Saturday evening date on our charisma and, if we should get a chance, on our lover skills. Almost everything that we do the style of clothes we wear, the model of car we own, our mannerisms and behavior is all carefully selected to sell ourselves, to attract the opposite sex, to increase our income or just to be more popular. It is also true that these are part of the survival skills one needs to live in a world where only the fittest survive. Having said that, we need to pause and examine the salesmanship with the degree of lying and misrepresentation in which today’s average politician engages. It’s almost as if politicians were a different species—one that thrives in cheating and conniving as a way of life—the only way of life they know. This may be a cynic’s view of the world, but it is a view which I, as a young American, share with others of my generation. In addition to not trusting politicians, many young Americans don’t vote because they can’t relate as well to others who have a big age difference. Age difference determines, in great part, the way you view life. For example, politicians are given to making plans about the future, while younger Americans live in the present and don’t necessary think about the future. It all boils down to young Americans asking: what can you do for me today. Young Americans have grown up in a world of instant gratification. We’ve grown up with the Internet and the wisdom of Google and Wikipedia at our fingertips; we have virtual reality to run to if reality sucks; we are interconnected and plugged in 24/7--we want everything instantly. We don’t use the Yellow Pages, we don’t spread out a map; we don’t go hunting for a public phone; we don’t have to buy records or CD’s to hear our favorite tunes. With a click of a button we get all the answers and entertainment we want and feel self-sufficient. Most politicians cannot relate to this new way of life which technology has brought about. They do not share youth’s enthusiasm for these gadgets nor do they understand the inborn impatience in youth which has come about from living in this fast age of technology. Finally, I think there is a third important reason why young Americans don’t vote: peer-induced apathy--when someone in a group voices the opinion that their vote doesn’t really count. This works like a fast-spreading epidemic because all that is needed for it to spread is to voice the opinion in a small gathering of people. I recall my first year in college when I would hear my peers say: “it is only one vote; it doesn’t make a difference at all.” I happen to think that this is a mistake. Power still comes from numbers in this country and young adults, like any other group, have the potential to influence the outcome of elections. It is important to understand that by not voting one is giving away one’s power to someone else. And since, more often than not, in politics decisions are made that impact your life and also the lives of your loved ones, it is extremely important to have your say.
To resolve the issue of young American not voting it would be imperative to impress on young Americans first, the value of their individual vote and, second, their responsibility to their nation. It wouldn’t hurt if politicians cleaned up their act, worked diligently and honestly for the people, and made a serious attempt to connect with the younger generations. If politicians are to be trusted, they need to stop peddling lies and selling false hope and truly get on with the business of leading us and forging our nation ahead. Also, young Americans need to do their part. They have to be more open minded and more engaged with the issues we have in our country. They need to put an end to apathy and not fall prey to cynics in their mist. After all, young Americans are the future leaders of our country.
I agree that many young Americans cannot relate to the older generation of politicians. This, in part, is due to the age gap that caused us to be raised with a different mentality. We are more technology oriented and have a hard time relating to those who aren’t. I also think that we cannot relate to the older generation of politicians because most young people think differently than older people. In general, we do expect instant results and are disappointed when we do not get them. Perhaps this is something that will change as our generation ages or it may stay because of the technology that we have been raised with.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of the quirks of our generation, we must overcome our feelings of politicians and participate in the political process. Many people believe that one vote does not count, but we both agree that this is not true. If young Americans feel like their voices are not being heard, the answer is not to remove one’s self from the political process. The answer is to get more involved until one feels as if his or her voice is heard. Young Americans must get involved in politics at some point because, as you said, we are the future leaders. We must get involved so that our voices can be heard and so we can make the changes in politics that we would like to see. I make sure that my voice is heard not only by voting, but also by engaging other youth in political discussion to raise political awareness.