One editor shares why he isn’t voting this year

By Jared Purcell

You/Local Editor

The upcoming election has heavily focused on getting young people registered to vote and I have felt plenty of pressure to do so. My parents tell me to register, as do my professors, my friends and my friends’ friends.

Yet here I am: still unregistered and ineligible to vote for a new president. I never felt that I’ve needed to defend myself — until now, it seems. The usual “I just don’t care” response is not good enough anymore. In fact, some people get offended by such a statement.

“How can you not care?” they ask. “You need to vote, it’s a privilege and a freedom that you should take advantage of.”

So why am I not voting? I guess I’ve always had a grudge against politics in general. The most popular response to that thought is that I should vote to change the way things are. I might sound like the crazy man who lives on the street corner when I say that I don’t want to contribute to a system that I don’t fully understand — or trust.

One thing that seems obvious is George W. Bush will go down in history as one of the most despised presidents. Hell, they even made a movie called “W,” making fun of his entire tenure while he is still in office. I actually feel sorry for the guy. It must be hard when millions of people think you are terrible at your job  — even if it’s the hardest in the world to do. I don’t know, maybe we elected him twice because we thought he needed a second chance.

No, I’m not a Republican — nor a Democrat. I have to clarify that my political orientation because some Democrats would have pooh-poohed my entire argument because I suggested that Bush should get at least some kind of support. You hate him, I get it.

That brings me to my next point: War. No, not the war on terror; I’m talking about the war between Democrats and Republicans. There is so much bickering that shoots left and right that the remaining few hope to avoid the crossfire.

Most of the attacks from voters against candidates of the opposite party are the result of some stupid bias or out-of-context information.

I feel bad for all of the good, sane John McCain supporters out there who have to associate themselves with the dimwits that call Barack Obama an Arab, a Muslim, or even a terrorist.

First, there is nothing wrong with being Arab or Muslim so I can’t understand what the problem with that would be. Second, those who believe in such rubbish get to vote. It’s a sad and scary thought knowing that voting on imperfections such as bias is allowed. If only it were possible to have voters take some kind of test — maybe an IQ test — before heading to the polls.

Obama is given a lot of credit for influencing the youth vote. His simple and inspiring message of change speaks to many gullible youth who are waiting to be told what to like. Like sheep in a heard, many vote for Obama because he is cool and because McCain hung out with that other guy.

Of course, there are plenty of first-time voters who are taking the time to get their research and facts straight in order to be ready to vote. I applaud that. Still, there are many that get high off of the word change and think that they can “change the world.” How can you vote to change the world when it’s hard enough to vote for a new American Idol?

Voting is a responsibility — don’t do it until you are prepared. Would you rather have people voting based on what they saw on “Saturday Night Live” or “The Daily Show?” Well, they are.

I guess I just feel sorry for the good American voters. Our governmental system and election process are better than most nation’s but it’s too bad that so many people ruin its potential.

It just seems useless to vote for change when it’s many of the ones voting for it that need changing.