Reply to Take Action

Article commented on: http://ajiginthesaw.blogspot.com/


In response to the most recent post by "Texans We Are,"I completely agree with you that the younger generation should be more politically active. I also commend your efforts encouraging people to vote. However, I do not believe it's because "most Texans never hear about these elections." More so, that people do not place an importance on voting when they have other important things going on in their lives. I'm not saying that's right, but during election season there's no amount to the media avenues (TV news, talk radio, local newspapers) that cover the elections. If they don't hear about it, it's because they are trying not to listen. I also don't believe that politicians don't want "20 to 30 year old college students voting." As a matter of fact, it's completely the opposite. Politicians try to influence that audience particularly while they are garnering their political ideals. If they can convince the younger generation to take an active interest in their political campaign, then they have just gained a supporter for at least another 20 years. (Al Gore teaming up with MTV would be a good example.) The fact that the "60 year old upper-class business owners" are doing all the decision making is because theirs is a generation who believed it was a privilege to vote. They have a vested interest that the younger generation has yet to develop. As far as the "registration process [being] so difficult," it really isn't. Texas, as well as most other states, have tried to make it EASIER for EVERYONE to register. Going online to register, being able to register while you get/renew your drivers license, voters registration forms at post offices, this is all to get everyone involved. So, where does the true problem lie? Is it that all the avenues have been provided to us to register to vote and the "privilege" to vote needs to be re enforced among our generation, or is it that upper-class businessmen and difficult registration techniques have made it so difficult that only 5% of registered voters vote?