Young Americans Must Vote!
Why vote? This is a major question among many young Americans today. America's youth, does not take the time to read articles, observe the news, or pay attention to presidential debates and campaigns due to their busy schedules. This creates two problems. First, young voters have little knowledge of current issues in the election. Also as a result, they are unaware of the importance of voting. Each presidential election stirs up an old controversy of whether to vote or not to vote. There are many young people who think that voting is not important; I believe that it is. By voting you are exercising your right as an American to voice your opinion, and young Americans need to become aware of this.
One of the many young adults that is against voting in this year’s presidential election is Robert Klassen. Robert Klassen in a member of the League of Non-Voters, which is an organization that “is the focal point for the idea that political government doesn’t work and, contrary to conventional wisdom, democracy may be the worst form of it of all" (http://www.non-voters.org/). In his essay titled “Don’t Vote!,” Klassen makes arguments of why people should not vote in this year’s election. Klassen feels as if our government is criminal, the majority rule is unfair, the president is a tyrant, and we do not have freedom. This however is a tragedy, since democracy and our freedom to vote is part of what defines our country. Although I do not agree with Klassen on many of his claims I do agree with him when he states, “Americans have always been busy people preoccupied with their own lives and they pay remarkably little attention to what our full-time political government is really doing.” Thi...
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... position of senator by one vote. Also in the 1960 presidential election, one additional voter per precinct in Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey and Texas would have elected Richard M. Nixon instead of John F. Kennedy as president (http://www.insuredemocracy.com/vote.htm). When you register to vote, the government collects these statistics on what age groups are registered to vote. If they see that a large majority of potential votes come from young people, then politicians are more inclined to focus on what is important to young people. All you need to do is take a little time to educate yourself about the election. For more information on voting and registering to vote, go to www.rockthevote.com or www.declareyourself.com. As young Americans we need to come together and have a say in what happens to the future of our country. Get educated, get involved, and VOTE !!!
On the national civics assessment, “two-thirds of 12th graders scored below ‘proficient’…and only 9 percent could list two ways a democracy benefits from citizen participation” (O’Connor and Romer 4). The information provided clarifies just how little students know about democracy. Without education on the subject, they are unaware as to how their government contribution is beneficial and why it is needed in the first place. The students, because of their lack of understanding, therefore choose to not take part in their government and fail to carry out their duties as a citizen. The authors provide more research that shows “the better people understand our history and system of government, the more likely they are to vote and participate in the civic life” (O’Connor and Romer 8).
...adults compared to older adults were less likely to respond that voting was extremely important for good citizenship (133). He concludes that it is too late for the generation of young adults that do not feel voting is an important civic responsibility, however, that it is not too late to convince them that politics matter by showing them that they are giving their opportunity to make important decisions that may impact their lives to others who have different ideas. One may agree with Wattenberg’s idea that habits follow people throughout their lives instead of changing as they cycle in life. His personal accounts are an impactful way to illustrate the importance of building a sense of duty at a young age and carrying that responsibility throughout one’s life.
Smoking tobacco has been a contentious issue ever since explorers brought tobacco leaves to Europe from the New World in the sixteenth century. In the 1960s, scientific reports conclusively linked cigarette smoking with certain forms of cancer. Despite this, anti-smoking legislation was virtually non-existent in Canada until the 1990s. Today, all areas of the country have legislation in place restricting the use of tobacco and very few allow smoking in public places, while others have banned it entirely. Anti-tobacco lobbyists say that while a lot of progress has been made, there are a number of areas that still need attention. Most Aboriginal reservations are considered exempt from smoking legislation. Many reservations and their surrounding areas are home to populations where 80 per cent of adolescents between the ages of fifteen and nineteen are regular smokers. In addition, since the introduction of smoking legislation, there has been an ongoing multibillion dollar battle between the big tobacco companies and the government. Tobacco companies feel that restrictions on the way they advertise, package and distribute their product is a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Many companies have brought their cases to the attention of the Supreme Court of Canada with
As of the ratification of the 26th amendment in 1971, the voting age in the US is 18. As I turn 18 this coming summer I now have the chance to participate in elections local, state, and national wide. The history of youth voting has changed over time with that more 18-24 year olds are voting as time goes on. The question comes to mind about voting in that why would someone want to vote and if it’s just a waste of time. I believe that if people have the chance to vote, then they should which is why I am going to vote in elections to come in the future.
...eople not voting! Americans are becoming less educated on the issues that they are facing as well as the candidates running at the time of office. However, according Longley (2011) ”Still, 93 percent of infrequent voters agreed that voting is an important part of being a good citizen and 81 percent of nonvoters agreed it is an important way to voice their opinions on issues that affect their families and communities” (pg. 1).
In every workplace smoking is banned but it is not banned for the outside of the workplace. Smoking is a habit known by many for this may be caused by stress from either workplace or home situations. Smoking is a health hazard to everyone but it may affects others at a different pace or in different ways. Within this essay there will be why ‘Smoking should be banned in the workplace (inside and out)’. One the main reasons why is because of the health risks that are caused from smoking.
for each smoking employee, an employer shoulders an additional $3,391 per year in costs — including $1,760 in lost productivity and $1,623 in excess medical expenses, and
It has become a growing trend in the 1990's that college students do not take advantage of their right to vote and to take part in the democratic system. In fact, only one out of every three individuals in the 18 to 24 age group cast a ballot in the 1996 presidential election. College students ranked as the least represented demographic" (http://www.idsnews.com/ news/2000.07.31/campus/2000.07.31.students.html). Students do not want to vote for many different reasons. They are considered apathetic by society, but this isn't really the case. In actuality, students feel that politicians turn them away. Most importantly, students do not vote because they feel that they can't make a difference. Also, distance from their voting districts has been a problem for many people. Another major issue for students is that they are just too busy and don't make time to follow politics closely. In polling freshman at Manhattanville College, I discovered that all these are true. The effects of this may be catastrophic. Politicians need to start including and interesting the people of my generation in order to keep democracy thriving.
As businesses transition into a smoke free work place, the total environment is condemned smoke free. Twenty years ago, restaurants allowed customers to smoke, where as now that smoke free policy has risen there are almost no restaurants or bars that allow smoking in the building. The majority of a restaurant’s customers are non smokers; therefore the income of customers would increase because non smokers would not have to worry about second hand smoke. Based on Zagat’s Release of 2008 America’s top restaurants survey, “ The 2008 Zagat Survey “ America’s Top Restaurants of 132,000 Americans noted that “The verdict on smoking is overwhelming with seventy seven percent of diners saying they’d eat out less if smoking were permitted in local restaurants, and only two percent saying they’d dine out more.” (Par. 5). Due to the ban of smoking in restaurants, more non smokers are able to come in, therefore businesses are able to make more a profit and not be hurt by the smoking restrictions. According to the article, Smoke-free Legislation: A review of Health and Economic Outcome of Research, by EJ Hahn, “ A 2010 analysis of economic outcomes of smoke free laws stated,” there is clear evidence that smoke-free legislation does not hurt restaurants or bar businesses, and in some cases businesses may improve.” (Par. 5). The economy has started to cater towards the larger population of non-smokers in order to increase their revenue, but having smoke-free business they are enabling more of the population to feel comfortable coming into their business and taking a seat.
Young people do not have as many active voters as other age groups because candidates tend to exclude the generation, come across as insincere if they do attempt to connect with the age group, and due to media abuse. For college students specifically, absentee voting is usually the best way for them to vote, but proves to be quite a struggle. In light of these issues, several improvements can be made. While young adults do need to become more civically engaged, candidates need to encompass all age groups in honest ways that reflect their policies and beliefs. Absentee voting needs to be a simpler, more modern process in order to allow more people, specifically college students, to vote. By addressing these few, but crucial issues, youth voting rates would likely continue to increase over the next several
My attitude towards voting is very similar to that of my parents in that I do believe it is a civic duty. As citizens of our country, it is important that we
Although many aspects are taken into account to form a political system and create outcomes that will improve the strength of a nation, none are more controversial than the debate on voting age and if modifications should be made. Minimum voting age can be argued as the most effective way to ensure a sufficiently adroit electorate. However even if voting was lowered to a particular age, this would not affect the outcome of voter turn-out, considering the many other age groups choosing not to vote, or even non-resident/citizens being restricted to this opportunity for that matter. With respect to this, a person in favour of keeping the voting age where it is at would argue that countries who are rather surplus on an economic standpoint, still have higher voting ages, allowing only their mature, educated citizens make these important contributions to a country. On the contrary, a person in favour on lowering the voting age could argue how bringing teenagers into this democratic process will bring more competition on different views and a higher turnout, however we must keep in mind that people below the age of eighteen have other responsibilities to attend too and could very likely vote based on ideas that they see best fit as an immature, foolish minor, or on the ideas their elders put on them. The purpose of this essay will be to emphasis why voting ages should not be lowered, and what could potentially be an alternate outcome to increase voter-turnout besides giving our youth the vote.
The philosopher longs for the purification of the soul from the body which can be hoped for in death. “If we would have pure knowledge of anything we must be quit of the body, and the soul in herself of herself must behold all things in themselves.” That is why Socrates is not complaining at his impending death. He has spent his life preparing for it, in the hope that in the next world he will attain the wisdom and absolute truth he has sought in this life. Processes of thought are at its best when the mind is no longer troubled by distr...
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