My Thoughts on the Youth Vote/My Voting History

This blog was originally an email I sent to one of my classmates. She was asking for help with a class assignment based on the youth vote and our own personal voting choice for the upcoming election. Here are my thoughts that I shared with her:

I think that it's about time the youth woke up to the world. 2004 was a wake up call to everyone. The youth was supposed to come out in huge numbers to rally behind John Kerry, and they didn't. The exact same percentage as in 2000 voted in 2004. After eight years of war and a bad economy, I think the youth finally realize how important this election cycle is.

I was so disheartened by the 2000 election. I was 16 when that whole Florida fiasco went on, and it broke my heart when Bush was given the presidency. I was so upset by it that I registered to vote the date I turned 18, so that I could have my say in politics (at least, as much as voting gives you). In 2004, I was even more heart-broken. I voted for Kerry and wanted so bad to see him win. I was in such shock and disbelief when the country re-elected Bush. I couldn't believe that we actually signed up for another four years with this back-water, country bumpkin. The 2006 election, where the Democrats took back Congress, finally gave me something to be happy about.

As the primary process started out in 2007, I first said that I would vote for John McCain; that is, I would vote for him if the sam McCain that ran in 2000 ran this time around. He isn't. So, I had to make a choice. I initially supported John Edwards. I thought he was a smart man, and I liked what he had to say. He was fairly charismatic, and he had already been through an election cycle as Kerry's running mate. I thought it was his time. But as I started to see that his influence wasn't strong enough, I again had to choose between Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. Truth be told, I think Hillary Clinton is a smart lady, who knows how to get things accomplished. That being said, I thought that she was incredibly too negative for me to get behind. I finally began to notice Barack Obama, and I'm so happy that I did. The man is brilliant, an incredibly eloquent speaker, so charismatic that he could charm the pants off of nearly anyone, and actually stand a chance of winning this. I will admit that I'm trying to not get my hopes up, should they be dashed if this country makes another mistake and elects McCain. But I really think that it is finally time for America to elect a black man as our president. Obama is the right man for the job. I agree with all that I have heard him say, and I believe that he will take this country in a direction not seen in eight years. No more negativity, no more threats and "with us or against us" dialogue. It's time for actual leadership, diplomacy and democracy, not the fake shit the Bush administration has been pushing around. I have shown my support for him by purhasing a tee-shirt and a button. I sport the button on my backpack, and I have proudly worn my shirt around San Jose State's campus a few times. I plan to wear it right around election day to show my pride. I really hope that America wakes up and makes the right decision. I hope that the youth vote finally turns out as it has said it would in elections past.

Vote No on Ignorance

I think it seems a little silly that we are having to vote on an issue that forces us as voters to define marriage. Proposition 8 is the measure that I am speaking about, as I'm sure you all know. The recent flood of commercials and other forms of advertising for both sides of the bill has made it so that almost no one can ignore this polarizing issue. And I can't believe that we have to vote on this.

When we chose to break away from England 232 years ago, it was to enjoy greater freedom, among other things. We decided very early on to have church and state separated. And for the better part of the last decade, church has further weaved its presence into our government. Granted, most presidents are religious, and often make references to God ("God bless you all, and God bless the United States of America" has become a political speech ending staple), but George W. has tried, and succeeded in pulling in that Christian base of the Republican party. They were one of the key forces in turning the tide of the 2004 election to Bush. The reason for this being a large amount of states had gay marriage initiatives on their ballots. And so, the pro-Christian, anti-gay, ultra-conservative Republican party came out in force. They evoked all their Christian propaganda about "God made marriage between a man and a woman," and "the Bible says marriage is between a man and a woman," and "God hates fags," and other hateful and scathing phrases. And they won. Every state that had a gay marriage initiative up for vote had it defeated. And each state that had an initiative up went for Bush in the election.

I can't believe that a country founded on a principle of freedom from oppression, as well as freedom of religion, could then vote to deny these people rights. Our ignorance as a country has grown exponentially. What difference does it make if two men or two women in love want to marry each other? How does it affect you, you ignorant, closed-minded Christian, who isn't adhering to the basic Christian value of loving others as you love yourself? How do initiatives like these even come into being? I can't believe that we would deny human beings basic rights. Two people in love deserve the chance of getting married, no matter their sexual orientation. Love is love is love, and marriage is a failing institution. Some of these people have been together most of their adult lives. Why wouldn't we allow them to finally make their relationship official? Because we are too ignorant to allow people in love to make that ultimate commitment? These Christian idiots who throw vague Biblical references and God's name everywhere are nothing but mindless automatons, blindly following their hateful preachers and pastors and taking all their words as Gospel truth. These preachers and pastors are not practicing the word of God when they say these spiteful things about the gay community. Anyone who believes that homosexuality is a choice is completely wrong, and it's about time that we as a community, a state, and a country recognize these people, and their right to marry whomever they want.

A Message Brought to You by Radiohead

So here's some thoughts from one of my favorite bands, Radiohead, on politics. I think it's fairly relevant to what is going on right now.

Electioneering

I will stop, I will stop at nothing.

Say the right things when electioneering.

I trust I can rely on your vote

When I go forwards, you go backwards

And somewhere we will meet.

When I go forwards, you go backwards 

And somewhere we will meet.

Ha ha ha

Riot shields, voodoo economics,

It's just business, cattle prods and the I.M.F.

I trust I can rely on your vote.

When I go forwards, you go backwards

And somewhere we will meet.

When I go forwards, you go backwards

And somewhere we will meet.

What is going on?

So, I thought this whole bailout deal was supposed to fix our economy, not cause it to tank along with most of the other major economies around the world. Wall Street is in extreme panic, and so are all the other markets around the world. The R word (recession) is being thrown around again. What are we ever to do?

This has been an interesting, fun, and yet difficult year for me. I'm finally at SJSU, where I've been planning to go since I was 16 (I'll be 25 in February). I've got a wonderful girlfriend who I adore. But the difficult part of this year for me has been with jobs. I have quit a job, and been fired for no reason from another. My latest job is serving at a restaurant. Our sales are down about three to five percent from last year, and now the managers are talking about cutting those who are underperforming in their sales. Unfortunately, I fall under that category. I'm right near the bottom, but am trying to work my way up the ranks. It's frustrating when people are trying to hold on to their money by ordering water, no appetizers or salads, one of the cheapest items on the menu, and no dessert. My price per guest average is about the second worst in the restaurant. But with the economy slowing down, shouldn't we all be granted a bit of a reprieve? We should take into mind the economic situation in the country before we consider firing people for underperforming. I'd say that most of the restaurant is underneath the set performance goals. I do realize that I need to step things up, and am in the process of doing so. I just can't face being unemployed yet again. With the way the market is going, I don't know what I would do or find to survive. All I know is that the world is really starting to scare and overwhelm me, and it needs to stop.