Weeks before the presidential election, combative politicos will not stop pointing their fingers at each other. As tensions soar and tempers flare (how dare they preempt Modern Family for a debate), I for one will be excited once the ballots have been processed.
The upcoming election is the first in which many people my age will have the opportunity to vote for a new president. No American should take this privelege for granted, and it is humbling to finally be in an age bracket that affords me this right. With my birthday in February, I missed the eligibility to vote in the 2008 Presidential election by a mere four months (shout out to my friend Hillary who frustratingly missed it by four days).
Still, no one really prepares you for the pressures of voting for President as a twenty-one year old in 2012. With stunted global economies, stressed relations in the Middle East and divisive social issues at contest in the 2010’s, Generation Whatever We Are (Y’s or Millenials, depending on whom you ask) has a heavy burden to carry. We theoretically have the most time left on this earth and, well, judging by headlines and enemy lines, the earth is kind of broken. In some ways, our votes carry greater weight–they are not to be taken lightly.
Our political beliefs are not borne inorganically from sheer randomness. No friends, our political leanings come from Twitter. Well not entirely, but we are the first voting body to rely so heavily on social media as a way to extract and impart political messages. I spent the majority of last week’s vice presidential debate scanning my Twitter feed, a far more interesting and interactive alternative to VP Biden and Rep. Ryan’s cackling and smirking, respectively.
To avoid the discomfort of an unsought political debate, I have maintained that I am an “independent” throughout this election season. What does that mean, exactly? Well, at full disclosure, not much but I am registered as an independent and do not vote strictly based on party lines. I have only been around for about twenty-one years and I’d say twelve of those were pretty insubstantial as far as political consciousness is concerned. I do not know exactly where I want to be five years from now; I do not even know what I want for dinner tonight. At this juncture, it is totally fair for me to still be developing my political opinions.
But ready or not around the stretch they come. I wonder if Romney and Obama are as tired of all this campaigning as I am. In a close election with heated sentiments on both sides, these next twenty days may make or break the election. Good luck to our candidates and good luck to our voters, the weight of the world rests on your shoulders (until inauguration day and then it’s all on the guy you voted for).