To the Youth of America:
This Tuesday you will have the oportunity to vote for the future President of the United States of America. A privilage not granted to alot of people around the world, and not some in your own country. The right to vote is something that wars have been waged over, even still today.
In 1999 only 12.2% of Americans between the ages of 18-25 voted in the US election. In 2004 20 Million young Americans voted, which was an increase on the 12 Million in 2000. Historically, only 54% of all those eligble to vote in the United States of America Vote in the US Presidential Election. Why am I reciting all these figures? In Australia it is compulsory to vote, and I am a staunch supporter of this. I believe you should have a say in how your country is run. Neither Australia nor the USA are Dictatorships, we elect the people we feel will represent us justly. Being that the case is in the US it is not compulsory to vote, the mojority of voters are 40-65 year old white males.
Do all those older white men know whats best for you? Do they know what issues affect you and your friends? Are they interested in support for young families, college students and young people struggling to cope in the current financial climate?
Get yourself as educated as you can in the next 24 hours on who you think represents you the best, sure you probably won’t agree with everything they stand for, hell, you may not even be able to relate to them, but you have a right to make sure the best person fills the job. Vote for the person who is going to have you, your kids and your grandkids best interests at heart.
I don’t propose to tell you who to vote for, I only implore you to be part of the process and vote on Tuesday. You may not think so but the choices your country makes affects the rest of the world, including (and quite majorly) Australia.
If you aren’t interested in the way your country is run, if you couldn’t care less if your President was an white guy or a black guy, even if you have something more important to do then helping decide who will be the leader of the free world, vote for us, the rest of us who give a damn. Vote for me, a 20 year old female living in Canberra, Australia, who cares about the state of the world. Vote for all the young people in Autralia who will now not be able to retire till they are 65+ because of the US Market crash, vote for my friends who can now not afford to buy a house because of the current economical crises. Vote for my dad, who is living in the middle east sorting out the mess over there. Vote for a Leader who is going to lead your country into better times.
Just go vote, its not that hard. Do it for us, the rest of the world. I implore you.
Jess
The only thing I have to say is if McCain gets in I think his health will suffer as it is an extremely stressful job. Besides being fairly old now just think how old he will be in four or 8 more years. Secondly if something happens to him do you really want his Vice President to take over as I do not think she will be able to handle it. She does not have the experience nor is she capable of handling this role.