Election time, though perhaps a distant future entity for the majority of us, is actually hitting its peak right now.
The general election is important, but you won’t be taking part in it unless you start the registration process soon. In an era of prolonged campaigning, political fatigue is common, and for those of us that didn’t like politics in the first place, the thought of embarking on a quest for voter registration may be more than just daunting and boring. Don’t let this be your excuse. In spite of these perceived obstacles, make the effort — your right to vote, and the exercise of this power, is one of your most important duties in the national, and international, arenas.
Now more than ever, our age group needs to be heard. Recent studies show that we may be the first generation to inherit a political and social world less profitable than the one that preceded. We are facing a world of problems, many of which have thus far been unheard of. Being a global citizen isn’t all fun and games. With the Iraq war raging on, problems in Afghanistan persisting, the economy in a perpetual state of chaos and instability and domestic issues as all-encompassing as higher education reform, the time is here.
We applaud NYPIRG and the other student groups that have taken it upon themselves to engage the student population in this context (see Page 4). Their plans, though promising, depend upon our ability to rouse our classmates and ourselves, and work toward the change that everybody is talking about.
It isn’t OK to claim that politics “aren’t your thing,” that you think your vote doesn’t count, etc. It isn’t just about the numbers; it’s a matter of principle. You may not believe that you have a duty to your country, but at you can at least participate in an election that impacts the world at large. It isn’t about just us, and we aren’t the only ones who will feel the weight of our choices.