Teen Politics

The 2008 presidential election has proven to be a popular subject in the media: it's hard to go through the day and not hear about it. And with this incessant prodding by the press around every corner, some young adults may be confused as to where they stand. If this is true, they've already made a substantial mistake.

Now don't recoil of feel at fault fellow teenagers, because what I mean by this statement is that you need not listen so closely to the media. While it is okay to be confused (I mean seriously, not many of us were were in sync with the 2004 election), you must listen to your own point of view, based on your own morals. It is so important to build a strong sense of self, a sense of self that by 2012 will be solid and ready to support a presidential candidate through your vote.

But four years is do distant! I know readers. It most surely is. Now that I really think about it, I'll be more than half-way through college by then! As of now, I'm still working on getting into college, let alone think about the last two years of it.

If you're like many young people out there, you can't help but want to belong somewhere in the mess of primaries, upcoming party conventions, Barack Obama and Reverend Wright, Hillary Clinton (or should I say the Clintons?), and John McCain and his chumminess with good ol' President Bush. You can't refrain from wanting to figure out your political stance (Republican or Democrat? conservative, moderate, or liberal?). However, if you don't feel so compelled by the presidential race, that's fine too. But word to the wise: if you want to even appear to be informed on current events, politics in general usually falls under this category. Presently, the 2008 Presidential Campaign account for most of these politics discussed the your peers, surrounding adults, and every primetime news show. I think you could do yourself some good to be clued-in.

And cue the frequently asked question: "What does it matter if I can't even vote?" My friends, we as America's future need to be above asinine uncertainties of this type. This may sound harsh, but once a majority of U.S. minors can get past this unfortunate part of our American constitution, we can become better people. Better in the sense that we'll be in a mature mind-set, fully prepared to take on the privilage of voting. Better in the sense that we'll be viewed as almost equal to our 18-and-over counterparts. Really, age is just a number and it can't constrain your power to make educated judgement on the political leaders of our country. 16-years-old or 18-years-old; we are all citizens and we all belong to America, the country home to freedom of speech. Power to the people! (Even to the ones that can't vote).

Those of you that will be able to vote: make sure you register. It's one thing to be 18 and able to vote and it's another thing to be 18 and a registered voter. Once you've registered, please do be informed on those names of people that appear on the ballot. Otherwise, in my opinion, you have no right to vote in the first place.

If you are indeed politically unaware, let me start you off. Primaries are almost done, and it seems that the Democratic candidate will be Barack Obama and the presumptuous Republican candidate will be John McCain. (You can easily find bios of the two on the internet). Obama articulates Change while McCain supports many of President Bush's takes. Hopefully some curiosity now sparked, so get out there and do some light reading on CNN.com, pick up a Newsweek, or tune into Fox News.