Super Tuesday: Why it Matters
As many of you already know, today is Super Tuesday, which refers to the fact that 24 states are holding presidential primaries.
Now, I talked to a girl yesterday that asked "What's so "Super" about this Tuesday, the Superbowl is over?"
Don't be that girl.
Here is a picture of the United States. Blue means only Democrats are voting, Red means only Republicans, and Purple means EVERYONE is voting.
And for those of you who struggled with middle school geography and still can't quite find your state on the map, Here is the list of states voting:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Idaho (Democratic Party Only)
- Illinois Kansas (Democratic Party Only)
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana (Republican Party Only)
- New Jersey
- New Mexico (Democratic Party Only)
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Utah
- West Virginia (Republican Party Only)
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You might ask why this is relevant to Zinch. What does this have to do with being more than a test score?
Everything.
The reason that the college admissions process is so flawed and the reason politicians don't address the issues that are important to our generation are one and the same: We don't demand it.How do we not demand it? By not voting. Ever wonder why politicians spend so much time speaking about issues that are relevant to old people? Because old people vote. A lot.
Young people, on the other hand, historically don't. Because of our low voter turnout (the number of us who vote), politicians (who are trying to get elected, after all), speak to the issues which effect the people who will likely vote -- everyone else.
So we can complain all we want about politicians not caring about the youth and not planning for the future, but the reality is that none of it will change until we show that we are willing to step up to the plate. Until we care about the issues that concern us, no one else will.
In terms of this election, obviously you should vote for the person who you think would do the best job, but the reality is that it's just as important that you VOTE, period.
Polls are open from 6am to 9pm tonight.
If you are 18, get out there and show them that not only are you more than a test score, but that your voice matters, and you demand to be heard.
For more information, check out:
Yahoo Political Dashboard (very cool)
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Posted on February 5, 2008 under News |
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Comments (8)
Believe me, I've been registered since I turned 18 last year and I cannot wait to Rock the Vote. I even joined the Rock the Vote team. I'm just waiting for them to call on me for the Texas primary in a few months (weeks?).
This election means too much for the youth of America to just let it go by. Whether one supports Hillary, Barack, Mitt, Mike, or John McCain, we've gotta vote. This is our election to lose.
Posted on February 5, 2008 2:41 PM
@ regency: you forgot to mention Ron Paul.
Posted on February 5, 2008 6:31 PM
Juventud ciudadanamente activa!
En verdad es la única forma de llegar a algún lado. =)
Como siempre, gran aporte, me encantas!
Saludos!
Posted on February 5, 2008 8:41 PM
I think that everyone 18 and older should VOTE because, there was a time when women couldn't vote and Africans America faught for the right to vote so if your 18 and older vote because, it will make a difference.
Posted on February 6, 2008 7:07 AM
Hi Jeremy,
Glad to see you've landed on the Internet, post-Princeton. Zinch is an interesting concept. The "more than a test score" moniker is interesting. Something I've never quite completely understood. If students can end the Viet Nam war and make a decisive difference in the '08 election, why can't Zinch help marshall a collective national student protest to altogether boycott the SAT and other so-called meaningless standardized tests? What if students simply did not agree to "play the game" and submit to testing? Then colleges would have to see students for who they really are. As you well know, there is no change agent quite so powerful as collective dissent. I mean think about it. If baseball fans as a sign of protest and disgust with the steroid controversy simply refused to attend baseball games, literally, so that the stadiums were empty for years how long would baseball survive? Same with standardized testing. What if students simply refused to obediently subject themselves to testing that has no bearing on who are they? Now there's a challenge for Zinch and all the Zinchers!
Good luck,
Ken Smith
your former teacher
Princeton Day School
Posted on February 7, 2008 9:30 AM
I think voting is important vote your next four years of your poltical representive voicing your likes and the changes you want made.
Posted on February 9, 2008 6:40 PM
I believe that in order for us to really solve our problems we need a philosopher for president, and the only presidential candidate who is actually close to thinking like a philosopher is Barack Obama. I love his energy, way with words, big ideas, attention towards my generation, and most importantly, his passion. He seems genuine when he speaks for his care and love for the American country and people. Hillary and the others might have the experience, but they sound so monotonous and rehearsed that I realized how big of a change we need. Obama should win. Jeremy is right when he says that our generation does not demand it's voice to be heard. As Obama would say, "It's time for a change".
Posted on February 11, 2008 2:34 PM
GO HUCKABEEE!!!
Posted on February 16, 2008 8:12 AM