Any time I see an article dealing with young voters, I have to read it. As a recently registered voter, I’m interested to see how other people my age react to the candidates’ speeches and where they stand on the issues.
On Newsweek.com, Jonathan Darman writes a letter to his generation, which is this young generation, asking the youth to “Ask not what you can do for Barack Obama, ask what Barack Obama can do for you.” As I read the letter, Darman writes how we have been a generation that has always been patted on the back and told how special we are. We’ve made politics cool for people our age. We’ve turned this election into cultural events and a movement. If Obama gets elected into the White House, the youth, after African-Americans, can be thanked.
However, Darman seems to question why the youth vote turns to Obama. What are his policies going to do to help us? With a Democratic majority in both houses, wouldn’t they seem to cater more to the people who usually vote Democrat: “the old coalition of labor unions, urban affluents and minorities?” Where does the youth fall in those categories? We are the long-term effects of those policies, and we need to know how it will affect us.
I started thinking that the youth must know some of these answers since these voters turn toward Obama, especially after reading on USAToday.com that the Millennials are giving Obama a huge lead over McCain. At the end of the article, though, they list some reasons why the youth turns toward Obama.
“•Obama overwhelms McCain as someone who 'understands the problems of people your age' and as an inspirational leader.
•A majority rate Obama as more optimistic, more independent and more likely to unite the country rather than divide it. Younger voters say the Illinois senator has a better sense of humor, is more likely to show good judgment and is more likely to put the country's interests ahead of his own political interests.
•McCain's highest scores are as a 'strong and decisive leader,' although he still lags Obama, 46%-36%.”
Where are the issues? Maybe Darman is right that we need to start being more selfish. It’s our future we are putting into either Obama or McCain’s hands. We need to ask them how they are going to help us.