If you are under 35 and you don't vote, you're a "Moran"

[SoCalDem]

So...maybe you think that your "one little teensy vote" doesn't even matter.. But, what if it DOES??

The quicksand that we all occupy now, may just be a result of about 600 people who thought that same thing. We have all heard the excuses: I don't have time...My babysitter cancelled... I couldn't get away from the office...Traffic was too bad...The lines were too long... I "forgot" to register...The candidates were all "icky"...I don't want jury duty...

This has GOT to STOP..

Voting is the ONLY "safe" thing that one can do to make our government accountable to US.. The fact that incumbents usually sail through elections with little or no opposition is shameful. They can do this because they know that not very many people will actually do the work and research their records to find out if they have been a good representative or senator.

Younger people DO have busy lives, but, is it really asking too much of a citizen to expect them to "show up" a few times every couple of years? It's too easy to sit back and believe that the people we send to Washington will have our best interests at heart when they legislate..

Recent history tells us a different story. The congress and administration are made up of very rich people of all different parties and afilliations. They are lobbyed (see also bribery/extortion) relentlessly to enact laws that usually do NOT favor the very people who sent them there..That would be US..

Voting and holding these people accountable is the most important thing that a citizen can do..

"Why doesn't somebody DO something about <insert ANY issue here>"? is heard all the time..
The answer?? Because THEY don't care what YOU think.

Congress (and or the president) ulitmately decide(s):

your future earning capability..(unions are disappearing)
your retirement status, or if you will ever be able to afford TO retire
whether your kids will be able to afford college
whether or not you will be able to afford health insurance
whether or not you will be able to afford medicine
whether or not your granny or granddad will be able to afford to stay in their own home, or will they end up in YOURS??
whether your job will be here or overseas
whether your kids will get cancer from the food they eat,the water they drink, the air they breathe, or the ground they play on
whether your physician will clue your employer in on your ailments
whether you will be able to afford to buy a house
whether you will be able to afford electricity, gas, phone service
whether or not you could afford doctor's care or hospitalization
whether or not you will be able to sue for damages if you or a loved one is injured
whether YOUR children will be "sacrificed" in a war of pique
what you hear on the radio
what you see on television
what you read in the newspapers

[quinnox]

1. I agree

And I have to admit I missed voting in a few elections before, out of apathy. But I will for sure vote in 2004.

[DemoTex]

2. ANYONE who can and does not vote is a maroon!

For all the same good reasons SoCalDem gave.

REMEMBER THE "ELECTIONS" OF 2000!

[messiah]

3. BullShit

I'm 23 and I voted in the last election but I still strongly disagree with you. If you want young people to vote then dont give them stiff corptech bodies like Gore.

[mjb4]

4. some times NO VOTE is a good thing

check out what the DLC is doing to the black vote. They say stay on the sidelines we will take care of you. they win and ignore you because they did not campaign on any of your issues. TRIANGULATION = STRANGULATION! Send them packing....