Opinion

Voting the key to America's future

by David Salinas

Recently a whole host of the music industry's biggest stars were in Houston promoting community activism and registering people to vote. Led by rap mogul Russell Simmons, these celebrities have banded together in hopes of increasing our youth's political awareness. All I can say is God bless them, because they have a mighty chore in front of them, and not just with the youth. 

In the 2000 election, one of the closest and most controversial elections in our country's history, only half of the eligible voting population cast a ballot. In the 2002 mid-term elections even fewer people voted, and I just don't understand why. After the horrific attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, news broadcasters, politicians and pundits said our country had changed forever, that we would no longer take for granted the freedoms we had. Besides longer waits at the airport and more flag bumper stickers, nothing has changed. We still barely vote in elections and know more about the intricacies of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's relationship than how the budget deficit could affect our future.

Thousands of American soldiers have fought and died in battle in order to, among other things, protect our democracy. Not using the privileges they have protected for us is disrespectful to them, and think about how people in other countries risk their lives for the same freedoms must feel. What we see as bothersome and unimportant, they are willing to die for, and it's pretty embarrassing to see this much apathy. And can anyone explain why so many people don't vote? I know it has nothing to do with time, because it takes about half an hour to vote. If you have enough time to eat lunch everyday, then you have the time to vote. 

If you don't know anything about the politicians running in certain races, then you can always do research on the Internet, which has many sites with all the candidates' positions. Instead of checking out Paris Hilton or Ebay, search for a candidate's name on Google. Maybe you're one of those people who says, "Oh, I'm not voting for a lesser of two evils." Well, you don't have to -- there are numerous other candidates you can vote for, and you can even write in a name if you can't find one you like. But keep in mind that you are never going to find a candidate that is flawless. Politicians are human beings (most of the time) and human beings are and will always be imperfect. While we should hold our leaders to higher standards, we can't expect them to never make mistakes. I'll admit there have been some terrible politicians and even some outright crooks, but politicians for the most part do care about where our country is headed, and we should too.

I am a Democrat, have been for a while, and will probably always be one, but I'll say this much, I respect the opinion of a Republican voter more than that of an apathetic person. Even though I may disagree with them on many different issues, I at least know that the Republican cares about his or her country enough to help decide its leaders. At least Republicans understand that politics matter. Politics decide how many chemicals are in the air we breath and the water we drink, where and how roads are built, the price of gas, and yes, even college tuition. Politics also decide the fate of men and women's lives here and abroad. The thing that is great about politics is no matter how much money or power a candidate has, we get to decide if they are worthy of leading our country. It is up to us to determine where we are headed, but unfortunately right now we are dropping the ball.

I'll leave you with a story Sen. John Kerry tells on the campaign trail. One night in Philadelphia after the Constitutional Convention, a woman came running up to Benjamin Franklin and asked him what they had created. "Well, what is it, sir? do we have a monarchy or a republic?" she asked. Franklin answered, "A republic, if you can keep it." Now it's our job to keep it. There is too much at stake right now to fall asleep behind the wheel.

Salinas, and editorial writer for The Daily Cougar,
can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu.