The November election is nigh and the worst thing anyone, especially college students, in this country can do this election season is choose not to vote.
Campuses have been buzzing with students feeling less inclined to vote due to not "liking" any of the candidates. Hillary is a "liar and a cheat!" and Donald Trump looks like a chubby Hot Cheeto. Millennials showed up in large numbers for Bernie Sanders, but since he is not the nominee, the youth vote may dwindle even more so. Even though there are two other candidates running other than Clinton and Trump, this is just a "throw away" vote and won't account for anything. This mindset is extremely problematic.
Millennials (ages 18-35) need to remember that voting is a privilege and a right that many people have fought and died for since the onset of the history of the United States of America. A multitude of other countries do not have this luxury. The 15th and 19th amendments in the Constitution exemplify the freedom, equality and democracy that this country is supposed to build upon.
Millennials need to vote. We are not only the youngest but also the largest voting-age bloc in the country. Three out of 10 voting age citizens are millennials with 44 million voters total. We have the power to sway any major election. We are also the most diverse voting population, making us a better representation of the country... yet we can't represent if we don't cast our ballot. Millennials have a lower voter turnout than any other age group.
If the only people voting are baby boomers, the candidates in office will reflect that. The next president of this country will be choosing the next U.S. Supreme Court justices, which will have an effect on the laws and decisions made in this country for the rest of our lives.
The baby boomer versus millennial debacle has been fueled in many ways. Baby boomers are accusing millennials of murdering everything, including McDonalds, possibly Home Depot, and the napkin industry, while baby boomers arguably crashed the economy and presented young people with a shaky future. We may never retire. We may be working more than 8-hour work days. We cannot afford to have children. It is time for something different this presidential election. The rest of our lives is on the line. Young voices are being lost but they also aren't being voiced in general. If we want more diversity, we need to chose that since we DO have a choice. We have strength in numbers. All it takes is a decision. America isn't perfect and many systemic issues still remain unsolved, but we have it better than the majority of the rest of the world. Let's combat these baby boomers with our vote.
How about all of us millennials stand up and say the pledge of allegiance and kick some voting ass this November.
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