NationStates Jolt Archive

After all the hype, all the talk about how active the youth would be in this election, according to a stat I read only a very small majority actually managed to get down to their polling booths and vote - AGAIN. Given the widespread dislike of Bush and the importance of this election I was wondering why people felt this was.

I put "Too lazy"... but there should be an "all of the above" catagory!

Stupid lazy selfish people... i know I would vote if i could... *sigh, too young*

I'm 22 so I'm considered a young voter and I voted!

After all the hype, all the talk about how active the youth would be in this election, according to a stat I read only a very small majority actually managed to get down to their polling booths and vote - AGAIN. Given the widespread dislike of Bush and the importance of this election I was wondering why people felt this was.

Because, like Chess Squares demonstrated, many young people like to talk a lot about how evil Bush and his Republican cronies are but they cant take the time to do something about it; like voting.

Its cool to have a sit in and spew Michael Moore rhetoric, but actually put effort into something....well we have seen what happens then.

No free poptarts.

Young people would vote for free poptarts. *nod*

didn't you hear?

voting isn't cool

didn't you hear?

voting isn't cool

Yes. But poptarts are cool. So cool, they're hot. :)

NOT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STUPID!!!!!! I VOTED AND I WISH MY FELLOWS WOULD!!!!!!! OMG I HATE BUSH!!!!! HE RUINED OUR REPUTATION AND WE ARE GOING TO PAY HIS DEBTS FOR YEARS!!!!ack! im so out of this country

I'm 19 and I voted. The vast majority of my friends at my university here voted. My brother, who turned 18 five days ago, voted. It's really not all bad.

maybe if Ashley Simpson, Usher, or 50 Cent (you did know he got shot in the face 50 times with a Tank, right?) told everyone it was cool to vote they would do it.

Maybe if the cast of Friends told people it was "cool" to vote the turnout would have been higher.

I guess to today's youth, it is cool to bitch and moan about problems, but then it is also cool to look like you don't really care, so you do not take the time to skip your Starbucks break and go vote.

MTV has ruined 2 generations of Americans. They now realize this and are pushing this "Vote or Die" crap (gee, "vote or die"? that couldn't dare be a subliminal message to vote against the canidate who started a war would it?). MTV sucks at life and needs to be taken down now!

I didn't vote in your poll - I thought there should have been an "other" choice.

I didn't vote in the 2000 election even though I was old enough and fresh out of high school. I wasn't educated about how it all worked. I mean, I took government class, but I didn't see how my vote mattered, didn't know where to go or what to do, or even how to get registered. I refuse to say people in that same situation are "stupid" - because that is choosing to be uneducated - I simply hadn't had any of that kind of information presented to me. I was MUCH more enlightened about it all this time and got my informed vote in!

But I also think there is a lot of indifference, apathy, and laziness in young people.

I didn't vote in your poll - I thought there should have been an "other" choice.

I didn't vote in the 2000 election even though I was old enough and fresh out of high school. I wasn't educated about how it all worked. I mean, I took government class, but I didn't see how my vote mattered, didn't know where to go or what to do, or even how to get registered. I refuse to say people in that same situation are "stupid" - because that is choosing to be uneducated - I simply hadn't had any of that kind of information presented to me. I was MUCH more enlightened about it all this time and got my informed vote in!

But I also think there is a lot of indifference, apathy, and laziness in young people.

it sounds like you had a government teacher who really cared about his students.

Many young people are ignorant and are more concerned with who Brittany Spears just married than who won the election and I'm 15, so I can bash 'em all I want. I would vote if I could though.

How about "They don't care" or "It doesn't matter" or "They don't see the point"?

it sounds like you had a government teacher who really cared about his students.

w/e - I'm not going to go into defense of the education I received (it really was above average, but had it's flaws like every other school).....the point was, that it's not fair to label someone as "stupid" when they haven't been educated about it, or shown how to educate themselves about it.

I think mostly they see it as a choice between a giant douche and a shit sandwich, and figure their vote doesn't matter because we'll have a crappy president either way. That, or they're too lazy.

I put 'too stupid', but yes, lazy fits quite well too.

I'm 20, hence considered a 'young voter' yet have been politically active since my early teens. I voted (yay Bush!).

My stance on not voting is this: You didn't vote? Don't bitch about taxes, wars, or any other thing that those politicians did. If you got off your lazy ass, the other guy could have been elected in.

w/e - I'm not going to go into defense of the education I received (it really was above average, but had it's flaws like every other school).....the point was, that it's not fair to label someone as "stupid" when they haven't been educated about it, or shown how to educate themselves about it.




Ok I live in Canada and the US election was all over the media, on the internet, etc, so young people are being ignorant because it's all around them and you can go right to the party websites or government websites to find out more. The information is there but the effort certainly isn't.

Ok I live in Canada and the US election was all over the media, on the internet, etc, so young people are being ignorant because it's all around them and you can go right to the party websites or government websites to find out more. The information is there but the effort certanly isn't.

I am not defending people who don't want to put in the effort - I am defending those who don't know that they should. The importance is not stressed to a lot of young people. I know when I went to high school, I didn't have access to computers/internet, unless it was for an assignment, and never watched tv because I was involved in so many school activities I was never home. I also went to a very small school where classes like "current events" weren't available.

Look, all I'm saying is that instead of assuming they are all stupid and lazy (although, yes, some of them are) - stop to think that some of them just don't know what their role is, and how important this process is to the country. Despite the times we live in, there are many, many young people that don't have access to the internet, or cable (hell, sometimes no tv or radio at all), etc...

I am not defending people who don't want to put in the effort - I am defending those who don't know that they should. The importance is not stressed to a lot of young people. I know when I went to high school, I didn't have access to computers/internet, unless it was for an assignment, and never watched tv because I was involved in so many school activities I was never home. I also went to a very small school where classes like "current events" weren't available.

Look, all I'm saying is that instead of assuming they are all stupid and lazy (although, yes, some of them are) - stop to think that some of them just don't know what their role is, and how important this process is to the country. Despite the times we live in, there are many, many young people that don't have access to the internet, or cable (hell, sometimes no tv or radio at all), etc...



Fair enough, my school doesn't provide those classes either (we have history but thats purely history).

pay more attention to Canada with more candidates, that's what the US needs, plus a voting age of 16

Ok I live in Canada and the US election was all over the media, on the internet, etc, so young people are being ignorant because it's all around them and you can go right to the party websites or government websites to find out more. The information is there but the effort certainly isn't.

This overall additude annoys me. I know what the issues are. I'm certain i'm more passionate about them than most people who can vote. Then again, something else annoys me even more.

I was told by my Calculus teacher yesterday that I shouldn't debate issues because I'm not old enough to vote. I really need to know... how am I supposed to effect politics if I can't vote AND I can't even debate???

I knew people who never regestred to vote. They didn't want to get up once every few years, and have their say.

i respect the people who didn't vote more than i do those that decided who to vote for in the booth:

it's a big decission, and if someone doesn't feel qualified to make it, then they shouldn't

I was told by my Calculus teacher yesterday that I shouldn't debate issues because I'm not old enough to vote. I really need to know... how am I supposed to effect politics if I can't vote AND I can't even debate???

Your calculus teacher doesn't sound smart enough to be teaching calculus. If you're not talking about politics now, you won't have a very good idea who and what to vote for and against when you are old enough. Most 18-19 year olds are pretty clueless about the world, and your teacher is apparently trying to keep it that way.

i voted.

i respect the people who didn't vote more than i do those that decided who to vote for in the booth:

it's a big decission, and if someone doesn't feel qualified to make it, then they shouldn't

Damn right. I voted for the first time in my life this year, and there were a lot of blanks on that ballot. I didn't vote where I didn't have a preference. I don't know why it's considered better to be a clueless voter than a non-voter. What's the point of an election if the voters don't know what the hell they're doing?

I didn't vote in the 2000 election even though I was old enough and fresh out of high school. I wasn't educated about how it all worked. I mean, I took government class, but I didn't see how my vote mattered, didn't know where to go or what to do, or even how to get registered.

How does it work in the US? Here in the UK a registration card is sent to every household. you only have to fill it in once and then every election you get sent a polling card. So if you have an address you don't have to do much.

How about "They don't care" or "It doesn't matter" or "They don't see the point"?

They don't care = they're too selfish
It doesn't matter / they don't see the point = they're too stupid

It's covered.

w/e - I'm not going to go into defense of the education I received (it really was above average, but had it's flaws like every other school).....the point was, that it's not fair to label someone as "stupid" when they haven't been educated about it, or shown how to educate themselves about it.

That's just a reason why they're stupid, it doesn't make the label any less accurate or unfair.

i respect the people who didn't vote more than i do those that decided who to vote for in the booth:

it's a big decission, and if someone doesn't feel qualified to make it, then they shouldn't

The question then is WHY are they not qualified enough to make it.

Maybe they just didn't think any of the candidates didn't make the cut? I know my parents didn't vote in the last UK General Election, not because they couldn't be bothered but because they didn't see anybody as suitable to run the country. Labour are country-wreckers, the Conservatives were in no fit state to run themselves at the time, let alone a country, Lib-Dem policies are similar to Labour's...
It's possible and understandable to not vote for no other reason than that you don't think anybody is suitable. Parties have to earn your vote, you shouldn't just flip a coin and decide like that.
Although I fear that most young people didn't vote because they couldn't be bothered. I'm sure they'll be shaken out of that mentality at some point when something a president does has a major impact on them.

Me young and me no stupid!

Because, voting someone elses grandparents into office is not a widely held position. Ergo, they don't relate ;)

After all the hype, all the talk about how active the youth would be in this election, according to a stat I read only a very small majority actually managed to get down to their polling booths and vote - AGAIN. Given the widespread dislike of Bush and the importance of this election I was wondering why people felt this was.

Typically the only people who votre are the most rational. A group that includes older people and the well educated. As an 18 year old who voted for the first time this election I found my attempts at civility being shunned by some people in my dorm.

Luckily I am a member of the John Glenn Institute Living Learning Program at OSU, basically a floor of politics nuts. I did not meet a single irrational person on the floor and we all voted, and it was close 51% Bush 48% Kerry 1% others (just like our state). We all debated, we all volunteered for campaigns and we are all friends.

Meanwhile, there is group that meets in the rec room once a week. They are conspiracy nuts. If I ask them why they don't like Bush their response is invariably "He's a fascist" which, as far as I can tell isn't true. And when asking this group who actually registered to vote, not even half of them said yes. So, yeah.

pay more attention to Canada with more candidates, that's what the US needs, plus a voting age of 16

hmmm? (rise in pitch at end of state the hmmm?)

But seriously, the American system is a two party system, it isn't broke, don't fix it.

The problem with the youth vote is that typically our youth in America are seriously uninformed about the issues, have no idea what sort of record the running politician has, and is easily persuaded to one side or the other based on the rhetoric they are fed through the media.

If this is an untruth about the majority of youth in America, then I would be forced to rescind my remarks. As it is, I don't believe that most young people care enough about their future to truly take the time to research what is actually at stake with each politician or issue.

These things in mind, I remain preferential that while the right to vote is one of our most important liberties, the right to vote 'well informed' is paramount above all other things.

If you don't know the issues and what your candidate's record is, then please... please. Do not vote.

NOT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STUPID!!!!!! I VOTED AND I WISH MY FELLOWS WOULD!!!!!!! OMG I HATE BUSH!!!!! HE RUINED OUR REPUTATION AND WE ARE GOING TO PAY HIS DEBTS FOR YEARS!!!!ack! im so out of this country

TOO STUPID TO UNLOCK THE CAPS!!! TOO STUPID TO REALIZE THAT THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE!!!

It's not about how many vote, but how many know what they're doing. Down here we've got mandatory vote, all young people vote; you think that helps in any way? Pfff...

How does it work in the US? Here in the UK a registration card is sent to every household. you only have to fill it in once and then every election you get sent a polling card. So if you have an address you don't have to do much.

what if you move?

The problem with the youth vote is that typically our youth in America are seriously uninformed about the issues, have no idea what sort of record the running politician has, and is easily persuaded to one side or the other based on the rhetoric they are fed through the media.

This I can agree with and actually puts one of my government class mates into perspective.

If this is an untruth about the majority of youth in America, then I would be forced to rescind my remarks. As it is, I don't believe that most young people care enough about their future to truly take the time to research what is actually at stake with each politician or issue.

Again accurate. All they care about is partying and getting drunk or high on something.

These things in mind, I remain preferential that while the right to vote is one of our most important liberties, the right to vote 'well informed' is paramount above all other things.

*applauds this statement*

If you don't know the issues and what your candidate's record is, then please... please. Do not vote.

I seconded. There is information out there on which candidates stand for or against. All you have to do is research but it appears that most young voters don't.

How about "too disillusioned by a system that bends them over at every turn"?

There's around 48 million young voters in the US (18 to 29 - the 2000 census says 46.5Mill) and only 1/6 of them voted - 8 million, give or take a few.
(As an aside, this means that the voter turnout for the rest of the population - 30+ - was actually over 70%, which is a very respectable turnout)
Now considering the young voters were Kerry supporters (something like 3 to 1 according to exit polls if you can believe them), if they had turned out like the rest of the population, Kerry would have won easily. He would have picked up probably another 15 million votes.
What moral can we take from this? Only that, if everything DOES turn to custard (personally I think it will), we do have a ready made scapegoat handy:
Those lazy, stupid, selfish young bastards who couldn't be bothered to get off their collective arses and vote on Election day!
They're to blame.
Keep that in mind over the next four years.
Also they deserve everything that's coming to them.

We've been wringing our hands over this for decades. I think we just have to accept that young people are...young. They're just not as engaged in civic discourse as people who have experienced life and the consequences of public policy.

These media campaigns aimed at dragging uninformed young people to the polls should end. Especially those "nonpartisan" (wink wink) MTV efforts.

Let's just continue targeting these kids with multibillion dollar ad campaigns selling sex, junk food and cynicism. If, after all that, they WANT to vote, let them find their own way to the polling place.

I'm 19, and I voted for the first time in this election. Thank you for painting me with the lazy, selfish youth brush.

Now considering the young voters were Kerry supporters (something like 3 to 1 according to exit polls if you can believe them), if they had turned out like the rest of the population, Kerry would have won easily. He would have picked up probably another 15 million votes.
What moral can we take from this? Only that, if everything DOES turn to custard (personally I think it will), we do have a ready made scapegoat handy: Those lazy, stupid, selfish young bastards who couldn't be bothered to get off their collective arses and vote on Election day!


D.H.,
Another moral is that the election outcome may be better than having the leader of the free world chosen by "lazy, stupid, selfish young bastards."

I voted in the UK local and European elections this year and I had only just turned 18 and have been interested in politics all my life so far.

Don't tar all young 'uns with the same dirty brush of apathetic laziness!

When the amount of population voting is so low, is the election really democratic and representative of the people? It's sad to see a country going to war for it's freedom time and again when so many people in it apparently don't care about it anyway.

i voted for the giant doiche, umm, i mean kerry, hoping that maybe other young people (i'm 21) would vote. yet most of us were apparently too busy watching the daily show or making "f**k bush" t-shirts to actually bother to vote. most of bush's supporters are christians who think armaggeddon is coming soon, and apparently they're looking forward to the end of the world, voting that dumbass into office again.

As we all know, you're allowed one mistake, and should learn from it...after that you should be bitchslapped. And so, I for one am for bitchslapping ever young person of voting age who didn't vote, as well as every ignorant hick that voted for Bush simply because of the color of their necks, etc.

I, for one, am giving up on this country. I'm saving up some money and taking off to Amsterdam or Switzerland so i don't get nuked like Bush and all of his flunkies will in the next few years.

llllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttteeeeeee

What about Canada? It's closer, cheaper, and far easier to immigrate to. I'd know, I've seen a great many Americans immigrate here.

As for young voters, generally they're just too damn lazy to get off their asses. I subscribe heavily to the "if you don't vote, you can't complain!" mantra, mainly by slapping anyone who didn't vote and then complained. It works. Young voters have to realise that they could have booted Bush out of office if they'd actually voted.

I'm actually not old enough to vote, but I most certainly would if I could.

D.H.,

I'm not what you just called the Youth Voters. I'm 22 and this is the second election I voted it. My first one was two years ago. I proudly voted absentee and am Proud of my vote.

I suggest you apologize to the young voters that did vote.

I would propose that perhaps, at least in the case of those who refused to vote simply because they don't think any of the candidates are very good, there should be an option on the ballot for 'None of the above'.

I'm rather looking forward to voting in the UK general election next year. I see it as my chance to try to get rid of Blair. UKIP are getting a lot of support recently, and I like their policies. There's hardly any point in voting for a party that stands no chance of EVER winning, but when there's one you like that actually has a bit of support.

And well, failing all else, if Blair gets in again, I'll have plenty right to complain about him following Bush into the apocalypse, and raising my taxes again. It's so distressing how much of my earnings is being poured into this useless war against the Islamic people and the social security for the people too lazy to work...

D.H.,

I'm not what you just called the Youth Voters. I'm 22 and this is the second election I voted it. My first one was two years ago. I proudly voted absentee and am Proud of my vote.

I suggest you apologize to the young voters that did vote.
Read my post again. I didn't call all young ppl selfish lazy stupid (insert any other applicable negative adjective here) - only those who couldn't be bothered voting. I was just pointing out something to make everyone feel better - we have a scapegoat! And doesn't having a readily available scapegoat handy make a person feel better (in a smug, superior sort of way). You can start any argument with: "Well, as SOMEONE who DID vote, I think the problem is...."
As I said in another thread - If they do ever reinstate the draft, only ppl who voted should be allowed deferment. That'll teach those lazy buggers!