Youth vote, and why we as a generation must defy the pundits

So I just got this in an email yesterday (thank you, Ben Ross), and this actually frightened me a bit. http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/index.html?nid=mpig3oTbCCUDNGZk2ygTpTMzNDE2Njc-&referred_by=5613600-LDng5kx

It’s an incredibly effective ad.  Kudos to MoveOn.org for getting this running and as personalized as it is.  The thought of an Obama loss makes me feel sick, and I hope it makes you all feel sick too.  Our generation has, overall, been so passionate about his candidacy, and yet, if we don’t work for it, this potentially once in a generation opportunity for real change could be gone, and our generation would be the one to lose out the most, and potentially, be the most to blame.

Voter turnout is truly one of the X-factors of this election, and really, our generation is key to this.  Since 1972, when 18 year olds were given the right to vote, people always talk about how young people are so passionate, yet generally don’t make it to the polls.  With Obama running as strong as he is amongst people my age, if we don’t show up, it could mean that McCain could, somehow, squeak out a victory.

While voting amongst 18-24 year olds increased from 2000 to 2004, youth voting was still almost 20% lower than the overall national average.  This is honestly, pathetic.  According to CIRCLE, 18-24 year olds made up 9% of the overall electorate.   If this number could be raised even by a little, we could see real dramatic change when the votes come in.  As the percentage of youth vote as share of the total electorate rises, so to does Barack Obama’s and the Democrats’ chance of winning in 10 days. 

We have come to far to lose this in the last ten days.  We, the college aged people, were an engine for Barack Obama in the primaries; if we hadn’t given up time to volunteer for him, attend a rally, or vote for him, he would not be in this history-making position ten days out from November 4^th.  The Obama campaign realizes this too, hence why he wants to help make college affordable, and provide money for college for students who participate in some form of National Service.  If we can help Obama in this last push before Election Day, we are ultimately going to be the ones that benefit.   Obama as a leader will lead the country in a way we want it, not the way our grandparents had it.  Ultimately, our generation is going to be the one that will have to take on so many of the challenges we are just seeing the beginning of now, whether it’s the energy crisis, global climate change, or the continuing failure of Reagan-era economics in the 21^st century.  Obama realizes all of these problems, and he will begin the fight to fix them.  However, we will eventually have to carry the load; once the election is over, our generation will have to stay involved to make sure these problems get fixed.

We can have these changes if we want them.  We just need to work really hard for the next ten days, and then make sure that EVERYONE our age goes and votes.

I’m feeling the fierce urgency.  Are you?

GO VOTE and GOBAMA!!!!