Lazy Americans: get off the couch and vote!

The 2004 election has been talked about plenty of times in media around the country. Perhaps I am beating a dead elephant by analyzing it one more time but I feel that a more local outlook is needed. Some people believe that this election will incense the silent masses and drive them to the voting booths in record numbers.

It is believed that the young voters will be so furious over the Bush administration’s lies and mistakes, which have cost the United States its world credibility, trillions of dollars and American lives. But something tells me that won’t happen. Call me a pessimist but I just don’t believe that the young voter today cares about this upcoming election enough to turn off Grand Theft Auto, put down their caramel cappuccino and go vote. Perhaps I’ve lost faith in the young revolutionary spirit that once ruled our parents. Don’t get me wrong, I saw the marches around the country protesting the War in Iraq before the war even started. I participated in many of them, but something about them felt false.

It seems like my generation is more concerned about the OC than what’s going on in Iraq. The young people at the peace marches around the country said that they wouldn’t tolerate a war in Iraq, but they’re tolerating it now. How many peace rallies have you seen since the war started and how many people have had the courage to face police and tear gas get their point across? What my generation failed to understand was that it isn’t the marches that make the impact, it’s their consistency and the effect images of protesters being beaten by police and riot control officials have on the rest of the country.

While my generation is just as zealous about their beliefs as any other, it seems that their determination has waned. It is this determination that I believe will unravel the silent voters this coming election. They know that President George W. Bush and his administration have destroyed many of the things that we all love about America; they know that four more years under Bush would be even worse but I don’t know if that is even enough to cause them to vote.

In regards to those of you who aren’t going to vote I would like to remind you that this country cannot handle another four years of Bush. He has already destroyed our economy beyond repair. Who do you think will pay off that debt? You will. Many Americans think that a religious government, like those in the Middle East, is a bad idea. So how can we vote for a man who takes his orders from Jesus?

We need to vote this man out of office. It is true that Senator John F. Kerry might not be much better but at least he isn’t a crazy cowboy who thinks that the whole world is his to play with. I implore all of you to get out there and free this country from its white-collar oppressors. If Bush is re-elected I truly believe that the United States will no longer be the strongest or freest nation in the world.

Daniel Bracke is a second year English major at CSULB.