I didn't know what to write about for my first blog, so I chose one of the topic of the week questions, the one concering the youth vote in the 2008 election.
I believe that the youth vote in this year's election will be more important than ever before. Personally, I feel that Barack Obama has gained the attention of so many college-aged people because he is feeding on what the young people of America want, and that is change. The youth is aware that they are the future and it feels like many of them are ready to step up and help try and change the way things are now, and they are finally realizing that one way to get involved is to vote in the elections that determine future leaders. All of the issues are important, but the ones that stick out the most, to me at least, are the ones involving personal rights (women's rights, civil unions, etc.) and the future lives of people and their families, like healthcare, education, taxes, and social security.
Young people are being encouraged to vote by many of the candidates but also by their peers, teachers, and families. I think my generation has started caring so much about the election and the candidates because the election and the issue of getting people to vote has been so highly publicized for years now, and technology throws it in people's faces even more. The parents that are teaching their kids about the election I think are doing the future a favor, because they are growing up knowing what is going on and will be able to be more proactive when they can make a difference.
On the topic of the voting age, I feel like it is completely appropriate right now and that it should not change. 18 is a milestone in the American society; it marks the beginning of adulthood and the time in one's life that they are fully responsible for themselves. I think that this is the perfect time for a person to be able to vote because if they are supposed to be responsible for themselves, they should be able to make their own decisions, including who to vote for.
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