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ELECTION ISSUES DON'T VOTE : Unless you know what you're doing Opinion by Pamela Wall
The message is headlined in newspapers, announced on television, scribbled across billboards and encouraged by celebrities: get out and vote. Professors, politicians and parents alike are urging our nation’s fresh batch of voters to do its civic duty. In this vital gubernatorial election year, the MSU campus has become the hub of young-voter frenzy. First we had the Registration Van. Then the more direct (and more obnoxious) come-knocking-on-your-dorm-room-door-and-pressure-you-to-register approach. Soon there was the ominous “Days Left to Register” countdown on the front page of The State News. But despite the pro-vote racket, most college students shouldn’t step up to the ballot come November. Young voters are not adequately prepared to make informed decisions in this critical election. Many students know only what the political commercials have spewed at them since late spring. And even the students eager to vote are not eager to assume the measures that ensure that they are making a wise decision on November 7. How many students have actually watched the gubernatorial debates to see which candidate speaks for their issues and beliefs? How many students have done the research to find out whether they should support or reject Proposal 2? How many students even know what Proposal 2 is? Young voters who have never had a real reason to study the issues often do not know what they think about these important topics. And you know what? That’s okay. College students are preoccupied with classes and homework and exams (not to mention other “extracurricular activities”) that take precedent over election research. The majority of students would rather watch the Tigers battle their way into the World Series than watch Granholm and DeVos duke it out from behind their podiums… and, I mean, can you blame them? Simply because the law states that 18 year-olds and above can vote doesn’t mean that they should. An uninformed voter does about as much good as a non-voter; if anything, they do more harm. Sometimes I wonder if certain politicians weren’t voted into office because ignorant people who don’t know and elephant from a donkey picked the candidate that seemed nicer. And although it may have worked in the second grade, eeny-meeny-miney-moe just doesn’t cut it anymore for decision-making. So, despite what the masses have preached, college students would better serve their country in the classroom rather than in the voting booths.
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