The Importance of the Political Process

By Jason Vines

Young people have the worst voting record of any demographic group. Federal Election Commission statistics indicate that, in 1996, only 32 percent of citizens aged 18 through 24 exercised their right to vote, a right that thousands of Americans have died to grant and protect. We should be thankful that millions of people who don't keep up with the issues stayed home instead of influencing the machinery of government, but it's disgraceful that there are that many such individuals among us young people in the first place.

The students who don't give a toss about politics might ask, "Who is this jerk to say that I am a disgrace?" My reply is that I am someone who recognizes the monumental importance of the political process, and when I consider that importance, I cannot comprehend how any intelligent could ignore politics. Politics determine who makes and enforces our laws and controls the myriad federal and state bureaucracies. The political process decides who literally has the power of life and death over the American people. Apathy towards politics because it is supposedly boring and/or irrelevant bespeaks incredible ignorance.

Other students might say something like, "I realize that it's important to follow government affairs, but I'm not 18 yet. I don't need to worry about politics now." But there's not some magical "mature and responsible" switch that automatically flips itself to "on" at age 18. Those who don't work to thoroughly their viewpoints and information gathering techniques before their 18th birthday will be ill-equipped to make intelligent choices when the time comes to actually vote. This country doesn't need any more uninformed and deluded "sheeple" stumbling into the voting booths and casting stupid ballots, so they should do everyone else a favor and start keeping up with the issues now instead of later. The only thing worse than not casting a vote at all is casting one in naïveté.

As we head into the 21st century, it is my sincere hope that more Americans will become passionate and informed about the political process. An apathetic electorate only encourages stagnation and corruption in government. If young people become interested in politics, though, they would improve the United States by a magnitude not seen since the outraged Progressives busted the trusts and whipped the party bosses at the beginning of the last century. That's something worth fighting for.