Voting

I remember the first thing that came to my mind when i realized I would be 18 on November 4th of 2008. Hey! I can vote! Well tomorrow that prestigious day comes where every young adult tries to find their way to the poll booth so they can have their say in the direction of this beautiful country for the next 4 years. 

On the contrary. 

I will not be voting tomorrow.

I'm so sick of hearing popular punk bands go against their rebellious reputation on MTV telling all of us teenagers that we need to get out and vote. To me, the problem with the voting in this country is not the fact that there are people not getting into the booths; the problem is that too many people are not exactly sure what they're voting for. 

If you are completely positive that you want to vote republican or democrat and you sit at home watching the election update on CNN then there is a problem with that; however, if you are like me and thousands of other 18 year old, and are not completely positive on the issues you are choosing for this country, DO NOT feel terrible about sitting at home while educated citizens vote. 

It sickens me to hear so many people vote solely on one issue. I mean lets say you want medical marijuana to be legalized, an issue that many teenagers and young adults get the munchies to just thinking about it, Obama is your man. He even said in 2004 "I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws." Just from that one sentence, its disgusting to think how many KIDS will rush to the voting booth praying that Barack Hussein will be running this country. Add in the fact that Obama voted for the raise of minimum wage and wants the minimum hourly wage to be over 9 dollars an hour in the next couple years, and you are already getting in your car to vote aren't you? 

How about Mccain? As an avid sports watcher it really is a healthy campaign to see that Johnny boy actually sponsored the bill to drug test professional athletes. Mccain opposes any bill that would legalize weed and he even continues to put money toward busting avid users. He believes marijuana is a gateway drug that can easily lead to the use and possession of more dangerous drugs such as cocaine and LSD. Finally a contradiction, I see the positives to each of these situations but is this country really in such a medical crisis that we can't find healthier substitutions to medicine? I mean do we really need to turn to the Bob Marley plant in order to reduce health hazards? That is some (pardon me relatives) but to quote Harold and Kumar, "post-college rebel bullshit."

I mean sure it kind of frustrates me, a kid that has had a job since he was 15 that Mccain has voted 15+ times to NOT increase the minimum wage, but that is his right. He is someone that has a far more educated opinion on the issue then any of us. He knows exactly what he is voting for, and the exact chances that an increasing minimum wage could lead to an immediate inflation have to be running wild in his mind. 

So yes, I know the sides of two issues, from some easy research, on the two people, one of which will soon be running this country. 

Do i now feel like I should get out and vote? No.

I do think it is great that we live in a country where our forefathers went to war to give us a say in what happens to this nation. But both candidates have so much negative to them that it pains me to become part of the problem.

Bush has a low approval rating, but do you remember who he ran against in 2004? I mean sure Al Gore had the popular vote in 2000 and maybe "should have been" the president. But I mean John Kerry in 2004? A guy who probably couldn't fit his chin threw the white house door? The country is going to be against the head of state no matter who is in office.

The people of this country need to understand their role as citizens and only get to the polls if they feel like they know exactly what they are voting for. 

I personally feel that if Gore or Kerry was in office we would still be getting attacked by terrorists, no matter how you feel on the war in Iraq, it is something that has to be done. You can not avoid a problem, Iraq is a problem, you can't make peace with terrorists. 

You can't play a prevent defense when your down in the game sort of speak. You need to go on the offensive, which is exactly what we have done. I fear if Obama is elected the pulling of our troops from Iraq (who volunteered to lead this country in the war on terror), we would be going back on the defensive while still down in the ball game. If Mccain is elected, I am afraid he will feel pressured to force an even greater attack, and throw hail marys while still in the middle of the third quarter. 

All i can hope is that no matter who is elected, they communicate with Bush and figure out exactly what he had in mind when he put the troops into Iraq. 

The war is one thing that we can not afford to gamble on. This is one time we can't put money on 10 black. 

Almost every other issue we can completely reverse and live with the consequences. The war on terror is not one of those issues. I am almost to the point of terrified that a dramatic change in the presidency can turn this country into chaos. 

Will it happen? Hopefully not. 

All i ask is that if you are going to fill in a ballot. Please. Know exactly who you are voting for. 

This is something that I can not do. 

So I am so sorry Usher, I will be neglecting my privilege to vote for the next president of the United States. 

I will not vote Mccain, I will not vote Obama, hell I won't even vote Nader.

I vote for America. And hopefully for a consistent, great, and noble next 4 years.

Fly high USA.