The other day I was discussing with someone about those who are just now coming into the age to where they are legally able to vote. It got me thinking about how many of these people who are now eligible to vote in this 2008 presidential election are really involved in finding out what each political party stands for and creating a stance on what they want in the coming years to help determine their vote. As well, I was curious about whether any of the up and coming potential voters, were even going to vote at all.
Are people today, especially our nation’s youth voters, really informed about McCain and Obama and their stance on issues we face here in America? Personally, I believe that people today, especially young voters, have great knowledge on what each party stands for thanks to our technological advances in these past years. With the web, people can now log onto different news channels, government sites, and political party sites in order to gain information. Young voters are able to get online and exchange information with one another about politics with blogs and discussion boards and gain opinions on issues which we are faced in today’s world.
Now does this mean that people who are eligible to vote are going to? I don’t know, but either way, we young voters should vote because it’s a right that we have gained by reaching the age of 18 and many of the biggest issues in the presidential election greatly affect us now and our future.
Sarah Roberts
POS 1601 - T 6pm
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8 comments:
I completely disagree with you in regards as to how informed the nation’s youth is. Just because the technology is out there, does not mean that people use it. In my opinion most people are ignorant of the stances of each party. Sadly enough most people in this election are voting in terms of black and white and more predominantly in terms of gender. The number of women who are literally diving at McCain just because of Sarah Palin is incredible. The other portion of the voters vote based on their parents beliefs or something influential that one of the candidates said.
Damien Needham
POS 2041
I agree with you in the sense that there are a lot of people who tend to do that. That is vote more based on what views their parents posess, because Palin is a woman, and there are people who are ignorant to what each candidates views are on the issues facing us today.
I see where you are coming from, and there are times where I feel the same view as you about voters today. Yet just because there are those people out there today doesn't mean they are the majority of people who are going to be voting this election, including the younger voters who I mentioned in my post. Now when I speak of young voters I think I need to mention that I'm not just talking about 18 year olds. I'm also including those who are in their early twenties, some of who weren't old enough to vote in the last presidential election because at the time they weren't of legal age. I know many who are in that category who are very knowledgable about the candidates and the issues that have risen in this election with a lot of help from the use of technology.
Many of those young voters who weren't able to vote in the last election I feel have learned what an impact their vote can make in electing the next president. Especially with everything that has happened these past years and that is currently happening in our economy in the U.S. today.
Sarah Roberts
POS 1601 - T 6pm
I agree, thanks to advancement in technology, we have vital information available to us. However, I don't believe many of us avail ourselves to this information. I feel the attraction concerning this presidential election is not concerning the candidates' stance on issues but, race and gender issues. Lets face it, many blacks are going to vote for Obama because he is black. Many whites are going to vote against Obama because of the color of his skin. McCain will gain many votes because of his military experience. In addtion, people will vote for McCain becuase, they know and feel that this country should be lead by white males. Lastly, women are going stand behind Sara, because they have always felt they were just as equal as any male. Our focus shouldn't be on the race and gender issues. This country is facing bigger issues then these two factors.
Ewanya Tate
POS1601-T 6p.m.
While the "young voters" of modern society do have the refrences available to be well informed about the opposing paties' viewpoints, it does not neccesarily mean that they all take advantage of them. Yes, nearly every college student has a tv located somewhere in their dorm or apartment, but that doesn't mean that they all tune into the televised debates! And while the internet is a great tool for reading up on the presidential candidates stances on different issues, students do not utilize it enough.
On that note, I think that in some ways the television and radio are causing extreme bias. Popular stations, such as MTV, are constantly advocating for Obama, making many young adults support him, not because they agree with his platform (many do not even know what it is) but because their favorite celebrities endorse him.
Kaitlin Harris
CPO2001 T/TH 11:35-12:50
I agree in the stance that we are technologically advanced and that all the information is out there for us to have, however as being part of the young generation I don’t think we take advantage of it at all. Our society as a whole is lazy and not as interested in watching debates and looking up information online and such. In talking about the debate with people, most people know nothing on what each person stands for; only voting based on race, gender, or even looks. The information is out there, but it is not used…
Jospeh Otte
Pos 1601 Foudations of the United States Constution
Tuesday 6p.m.
I don't believe that the majority of young voters really take the time that is necessary in order to get all the facts to vote. The extent of their information comes from MTV, Saturday Night Live and late night tv. Most people, not only young voters, are busy with their everyday lives. At this young age, I don't think most of them realize how important their vote is. Sadly, when it comes down to it, they are voting more on race and looks.
Robert Rozycki
POS1601
Tuesday, 6 P.M.
While this election did have record breaking amounts of voters than seen in a long time, alot of young voters still didnt vote. Yes alot of young voters did vote for the first time but alot of people my age that I know still didnt take the time to register or attempt to find there voting polls. These same people however did have very strong opinions on the canidate that they felt was right for the job and on many issues but, yet still didnt feel it was necessary to vote. They simply said that they felt their vote wouldnt sway the outcome one way or the other. This is sad because are a nation that prides ourselves on its rights and allows to choose the leader of our country.
Caitlin Carr
Pos 1601
Tuesday 6pm
I think the youth is still just as uninformed as they used to be. It's just that this election has been more publicized and more popular so young people are more exposed to it.
April Pingol
CPO2001
TR1135
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