Spring Break
Exercise Your Right To Choose
Cat Potter
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: Opinion
At 22 years old, I have had the opportunity to vote in one major presidential election. This November I will have the opportunity to vote, yet again, for president of the United States. The difference is that I will be four years older, a bit wiser (by my own standards), much more educated and this time, I might actually vote. Keyword: MIGHT. I haven't yet decided.
I can hear the gasps now. As a freshman at Appalachian State I was swept up in the middle of the "political crazies", as I referred to them-the students that spent much of their day outside of my dorm or central campus trying to convince other students to vote in the 2004 election between George W. Bush and John Kerry.
For days prior to the election I repeatedly heard phrases like "exercise your right to vote!" or "vote for Kerry/Bush!" all over campus by very enthusiastic students.
Many of these avid campaigners were some of my best friends. When they learned that I was abstaining from the voting process, they were much less avid and slightly livid.
All I heard for days after the election were things like, "You have no right to a political opinion because you didn't even vote," or "If Bush wins you have no right to complain about anything that happens." Anything I said pertaining to the election or politics was completely negated because of my decision not to vote.
My decision not to vote wasn't because I didn't care. My decision was made after limited research on both candidates. I didn't personally feel that either one would be much better than the other at running the country. I suppose one of my biggest problems is politicians in general. I simply don't trust them. I have never learned of one politician that I felt was completely honest and had the well being of the country at heart. Because of this, I felt that setting out to vote for a candidate that I did not fully support, or voting for a candidate solely to oppose the reinstatement of another, was not in my best interest, or in the best interest of the country.
I can hear the gasps now. As a freshman at Appalachian State I was swept up in the middle of the "political crazies", as I referred to them-the students that spent much of their day outside of my dorm or central campus trying to convince other students to vote in the 2004 election between George W. Bush and John Kerry.
For days prior to the election I repeatedly heard phrases like "exercise your right to vote!" or "vote for Kerry/Bush!" all over campus by very enthusiastic students.
Many of these avid campaigners were some of my best friends. When they learned that I was abstaining from the voting process, they were much less avid and slightly livid.
All I heard for days after the election were things like, "You have no right to a political opinion because you didn't even vote," or "If Bush wins you have no right to complain about anything that happens." Anything I said pertaining to the election or politics was completely negated because of my decision not to vote.
My decision not to vote wasn't because I didn't care. My decision was made after limited research on both candidates. I didn't personally feel that either one would be much better than the other at running the country. I suppose one of my biggest problems is politicians in general. I simply don't trust them. I have never learned of one politician that I felt was completely honest and had the well being of the country at heart. Because of this, I felt that setting out to vote for a candidate that I did not fully support, or voting for a candidate solely to oppose the reinstatement of another, was not in my best interest, or in the best interest of the country.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 16
Charlie
posted 9/11/08 @ 1:40 AM EST
You make some good points here and I do not think you are alone. In fact, it is more refreshing to hear a reason why you decided not to vote then to hear I voted for Candidate A because my parents are voting for them or I voted for Candidate B because they look better on camera. (Continued…)
Nicci
posted 9/11/08 @ 4:09 PM EST
I truly agree with the article. It's funny though because last night I had an Obama support call my house asking me who I was going to vote for. When I explained that I was uncertain, and that I did not feel as though I had adequately researched the candidates, she just said, "OK, bye". (Continued…)
Meredith
posted 9/11/08 @ 5:51 PM EST
One of the greatest things about our country is the freedom we have. Our vote, small as it may seem, is our only true voice in the process to keep that freedom. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 9/11/08 @ 9:34 PM EST
While I agree with a lot of the points you make in an article I have to agree with the sentiment your friends had, that it's pretty dumb to complain about Bush if you didn't do anything about him not getting re-elected. (Continued…)
Hah
posted 9/11/08 @ 10:35 PM EST
Yes, please don't vote. Don't get any respect. Don't get any change. Don't get a country you want to live in. Oh, and don't call yourself a citizen - citizens recognize their right to vote was paid for in blood and history; every great political philosopher in history since Locke has recognized it as the single best way for members of a republican society (because that's where we live, folks, in a republic, not a democracy) to influence and interact with their society and government. (Continued…)
Sun-tzu
posted 9/12/08 @ 12:01 AM EST
40 million people made a difference in the 2004 election--they didn't vote.
Joel
posted 9/12/08 @ 1:31 AM EST
My dream is that more and more fence-sitting apathetic citizens like you will exercise their freedom to stay home on election day. Leave the thinking to those of us who aren't too lazy to do it in the first place. (Continued…)
Jeremy
posted 9/12/08 @ 9:28 AM EST
I agree with this article. I think that if more people took the time and effort to really understand the ideas and positions of the candidate for whom they are going to vote, this country would have never gotten itself in the mess that we are in now. (Continued…)
Sinjun
posted 9/12/08 @ 2:59 PM EST
<..>
i can understand the dislike about not voting, but really think about it before choosing to abstain. Sometimes you have to make decisions between two decision and neither of them are desireable or good. (Continued…)
Christy
posted 10/14/08 @ 1:48 AM EST
Well, I think Joel is a d-bag and can suck it. You can exercise to vote or not vote, guy... just do your thing and let other people do theirs. Who freaking cares?
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