politicalness.

I shy away from any talk of my political beliefs, because chances are some of you might agree, a lot of you may disagree, and I probably won't sway anyone's opinions regardless.
But I'm going to go for it again anyway.

A lot of people care about a lot of different things: some people find passion in women's rights, in going green, even in saving the dolphins... But somewhere down the line, my interest and passion took root in politics. I have asked myself once or twice why I didn't major in political science? Whatever the reason, it's a big mystery to us all. Whether it was seeing my parents involvement, September 11th, the 8th grade debate team, I really couldn't say; but something, somewhere down the line was triggered and has since been something that has mattered to me so much that I physically feel this need, this impulse to voice my opinion, to stand up and to say something.

I think this drives Max crazy to be honest. In fact, I know it does. He makes me turn off the TV when I start getting antsy, and then we have to play a round of tennis when Obama has frustrated me again, (which lately has been a lot). I know my friends have always joked about it (they just need to ask me about socialized Obamacare) and truth be told, a lot of them just don't find interest in it. I can't entirely blame them I guess, because I don't have much to say about saving the trees either.

But what I do have to say, no matter who it is, no matter your interests, no matter your party affiliations, no matter what basically: (and I am shamelessly going to use my small soap box online to say it right here right now,) is that we all have an obligation to vote. Many of us know it is our privilege, but that is exactly what makes it so much more of our responsibility.

In the 2008 election, only 64% of people in the United States eligible to vote actually went to the polls; Utah had the lowest voter turn out rate in ALL the county (53%), yet so many of us just don't! So many people say it won't make a difference! Utah will be a Romney state no matter what. New York will vote for Obama. Some say there's a little bit more of a reason to vote in a swing state like Florida or Colorado ... but as for my generation, the generation who will be the most affected by everything going on right now: today, tomorrow, this presidential election... We are the one's least likely out of all the age groups who will actually get registered, and get out to vote. If statistics are right, only half of us will this upcoming November 6th. So I'm pleading with all of you who read this: Just go do it. Vote.

I know this sounds crazy, but I care so much I could cry. I truly believe that this is one election where things will actually drastically change depending on whose elected President of the United States of America. Things will be very different one way or another four years from now.

I love this country, I love what it stands for, and I love that we are the children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of heroes who have fought and died and lived for an idea that they believed in and that they'd put their life on the line for: for freedom to speak, to act, to choose, and to live. We are privileged and we are obligated to go out and make our vote count, not only because we can, but because so many hundreds of thousands of people never could, never have, and never may be able to. So please, please, please - just do it. Register. Wake up early to beat the lines on November sixth. Go make your vote. Use your voice. I know this entire post may sound like a public announcement ad -- but out of all the many things I believe in, the United States of America is right there at the top of the list.

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