Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames0910
I completely, whole heartedly disagree with this. In fact, this is the kind of mentality that allows voter apathy to pervade and thrive in our political system.
If a candidate wants my vote they have to earn it. They don't have to speak to me, personally, but they do have to speak to my beliefs, values and sense of right/wrong.
You even said it yourself - the right to vote, not the obligation. Personally, I have voted in every election where I have had the opportunity (I'm 22) but I still stand by what I've said with regards to others' choice to vote or not.
That being said, an abstained vote isn't a null data point. It makes a statement as well:
-David Foster Wallace
But the idea that we can sit in our ivory towers and lambast youth for not voting is, in my opinion, ludicrous. It is in the interest of challenging candidates to reach out to and engage this group. We saw it with Obama, we're seeing it now with Nenshi. Candidates need to proactively engage youth if they want their vote.
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I completely disagree, if you decide not to engage yourself, if you decide not to execute your right to participate, then you have no ability to shape the government that representing you.
No candidate is ever going to 100% meet your needs, or match your value system. But abstaining from voting because they don't, means that you have no right after the fact to be upset with what that government has done.
And being engaged is more then voting, its engaging the candidates and questioning them on where they stand on the issues that are important to you.
Its up to you to become engaged, its not up to society to engage you.