Election year?

Since late 2003 we have been bombarded with the faces of John Kerry and President Bush. And, every channel from CNN to MTV has had regular programming dedicated to motivating our generation to get out and vote. Everyone and their brother has started a voting campaign from P. Diddy to Russell Simmons, MTV to WWE. If you didn't know that 2004 is an election year then you must be living under a rock, a very large rock.

To vote or not to vote...

What really makes me chuckle about these voting campaigns is that not one of them has given me one good reason why I should vote. Sure, they have given the typical comments, it is our "right," our "duty" and that we can "make a difference." But, what all of them have failed to give is a real reason. For example, MTV's Choose or Lose campaign has been running TV commercials that say "vote for something" and then list a variety of topics that you should be voting for. But, how am I expected to vote for the right candidate when neither have given me any clear answers to my questions. John Kerry nor George W. Bush have made any effort to talk to our generation and find out what we stand for. I want to know who wants to bring back the draft? How do they plan to put an end to our peers in the military dying in Iraq and Afghanistan? How long until they can make us feel safe in our own country again? Will either of them increase minimum wage? How do they plan to increase job opportunities for our generation? I want real candid answers to these questions, not what their speech writer is telling them to say.

"I did not have sexual relations..."

The Clinton administration is behind us. I was not a fan nor a hater of Bill Clinton, but I don't appreciate being lied to and it shows that even our own President's aren't truthful. Bill Clinton lied about having sexual relations with Monica and President Bush outright lied about weapons of mass destruction. Some of you may disagree, but we all have our own opinions on the intelligence he did and did not pay attention to. Anyway, my point is that how are we expected to trust a President when our generation has grown up with every President telling lies. You can call it politics or whatever you'd like, but it is lying either way you look at it. Even if Kerry or Bush were to answer my questions above, how am I expected to believe them? Both want in the Oval Office and I'm certain they wouldn't mind bending their own opinions a little to get there.

The Facts

In 2000, roughly 32% of our generation 18-24 voted in the election. This means our generation only made up approx. 8% of all the votes in the last Presidential Election. Campaigns this year are hoping for our generation to equal 20 million votes. The fact is that until we have a candidate who treats us as though we are an equally important factor to them our age group will not get out and vote in large proportions.

Will I be voting?

I think you already know the answer to that question. No, I will not be voting this election year. I turned 18 and am eligible and would absolutely love to feel empowered, but at this point I don't feel that either candidate deserves my vote. Perhaps, when the voting process is revolutionized and our government gets real, then I will vote. Of course, that would mean that everyone in our government would have to change their ways, so put it this way -- I'm not expecting to vote anytime soon.

In Conclusion

I must close out this long, exhausting article with just a few more of my own 2¢. In order for a Presidential candidate to be able to appeal to me, they must speak on my level. Kerry snowboarding for a photo opp. or President Bush promoting his young daughters to attract our generation to vote for him, isn't impressing me one bit. Whatever your decision is this election year, I just ask that our generation make an educated decision. Take the time to find out what you stand for and what the candidates stand for, then make your decision.

- Chad Kennedy, Editor-in-Chief