I'm taking AP Government this semester, and my teacher often points out to us that my age group (18-25) is the smallest voting block--a lot of people in my age group just don't vote. As a result, a lot of issues concerning younger citizens don't get addressed.
Well this really bothered me. So my questions for you...

~What political issues are important for you? I'm interested in primarily the 18-25 year old users, but I'd love to hear answers from those who can't vote and older users as well. Please let me know what age group you fall in. :3

~Do you feel your issues are being addressed? Do you feel they're being addressed -adequately-?

~Do you vote regularly? Why or why not?

~If you don't vote, what would make you more interested/willing?

~For interest's sake, what about a political canidate makes him/her most appealing to you? What turns you off of a canidate quickest?

I'm planning on using people's answers from here and a few other sites a starting point for a project I'm planning, so any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance, Mene users!

~What political issues are important for you?

There are so many. I'm very concerned about our monetary system and the ridiculous debt we've put ourselves in due to the federal banking system. Forced inoculations are another issue I'm worried about. I don't think it's the governments right to require anyone to take a vaccine of any sort. Really, I'm worried about anything that could possibly affect my child. I don't want to get fully into everything, but I have a lot of issues with the US government's choices.

~Do you feel your issues are being addressed? Do you feel they're being addressed -adequately-?

Not at all. They flat out ignore most of the issues I have and dismiss them completely.

~Do you vote regularly? Why or why not?

I have not voted. I will not vote in the presidential elections until the electoral college is abolished. As for other voting, I haven't had the time although I need to figure that out. It's hard when I'm a stay at home mom with noone to watch my daughter.

~If you don't vote, what would make you more interested/willing?

If they got rid of the electoral college and if they made it easier for people to vote on their own schedule.

~For interest's sake, what about a political candidate makes him/her most appealing to you? What turns you off of a candidate quickest?

I tend to like candidates who actually work for the people. The ones who aren't afraid to tell the truth regardless of the consequences it could have on their career. I can't explain what turns me off the quickest, but I know when I don't like someone.

My U.S. History teacher gets peeved off that just because they don't register to vote is solely because of Jury duty. They just don't want to do that. I see no problem for it though. I wouldn't do it but I don't know. I'm not 18 yet. Next year I would be and that quite frightens me. D: I haven't even plan on what I want to do and how I am going to do it. It takes me quite a long time to think my plan through because I always want to change this and that. Dx All those other answers I am not going to answer because I only wanted to say this much. xD

I wanted to vote in the last election but I wasn't quite 18 then. I don't keep up with politics much, but I know that a lot of people my age do. I will vote when I can though.

I never feel like all the issues get adressed right, but thats normal. You can't make everyone happy and that's why compromise is big in the government. I also think the president doesn't always have the biggest control over things so it only matters if you don't elect a complete nincompoop!

Don't forget that spoonfed questions are to be quoted :)

I took government class as well and we were told the same thing. Basically it's a cycle, young people don't vote because the issues they're interested aren't mentioned much, and they aren't mentioned much because it's assumed young people don't care and don't vote. As for me, I always vote. I don't have any reason not to. It's not like it takes that long or is that complicated. I will admit I'm not the most interested in politics, but there are a few issues that I do feel strongly about. A lot of times I will take the issues my parents are concerned about into consideration when I vote, and I will listen to their suggestions. It isn't that I'm just voting who my parents say to vote for, which a lot of young people are accused of doing. Surprisingly, my mom seems to agree on a lot of things so I know that I can usually trust her judgment of who to vote for. This last presidential election I felt very torn on the candidates for many reasons. I honestly didn't care too much for either of them.

I don't vote simply because politics are corrupt. I simply don't care. And please, I don't want someone to rant to me about, how since I didn't vote I can't complain about the gov't. I never have complained about the gov't because none of it makes any sense!

I am 37 so I would be one of your older voters.

I never feel like my issues are being dealt with as the only way I would be happy is for them to no longer be issues. My two biggies are health reform, and gay rights. I really do want a national health plan, and I want gays to have all the rights I enjoy. This really should be a non issue.

I vote in all the big elections but not the local ones. I find the candidates in my city are really too much the same to care bout which one is in office. If I had children I would vote in school things, but I don't so I stay out of it.

My community is happy for it too, as they keep voting down the budgets and I would vote to increase the taxes for newer books. As I don't have children in the system it is better to just answer, I don't vote for school elections then deal with the hate I would get for talking about school taxes with the people I work with. God forbid anyone around here find out that I would vote out football in high school. I would be lynched.

I tend to not like the politicians that are my grandparents age, and I also hate the ones that give off the I am better than you vibe. I voted for Hillary in the primary, but would have voted Edwards, I just liked him better, and of course voted for Obama for prez.

As a matter of note, I voted for Hillary because I loved the Clinton admin, and thought she would do a better job. Not because she was a woman.

Originally Posted by amyrex2

I am 37 so I would be one of your older voters.

I never feel like my issues are being dealt with as the only way I would be happy is for them to no longer be issues. My two biggies are health reform, and gay rights. I really do want a national health plan, and I want gays to have all the rights I enjoy. This really should be a non issue.

I vote in all the big elections but not the local ones. I find the candidates in my city are really too much the same to care bout which one is in office. If I had children I would vote in school things, but I don't so I stay out of it.

My community is happy for it too, as they keep voting down the budgets and I would vote to increase the taxes for newer books. As I don't have children in the system it is better to just answer, I don't vote for school elections then deal with the hate I would get for talking about school taxes with the people I work with. God forbid anyone around here find out that I would vote out football in high school. I would be lynched.

I tend to not like the politicians that are my grandparents age, and I also hate the ones that give off the I am better than you vibe. I voted for Hillary in the primary, but would have voted Edwards, I just liked him better, and of course voted for Obama for prez.

As a matter of note, I voted for Hillary because I loved the Clinton admin, and thought she would do a better job. Not because she was a woman.

We did a fake vote in my history class the last two years and I was the only student to vote for Hilary. The students never did have a real reason why they didn't like her except for stupid excuses like how Clinton had an affair or something. But we must admit, things were good when Clinton was da man.

I really couldn't give a crap about Clinton's affair , after all I was still happy to vote for Edwards after his. Yeah when Clinton was in office, I had enough money to go and buy things I wanted. Now I barely have enough money to pay my electric bill.

My husband HATES Hillary for staying with Bill, but I assume it was and is none of my business. Sex does not belong in politics. Period. No matter who it is with.

XD My teacher said the same thing and it's not surprise. We're young and we don't know as much about the world. Some of us still don't pay taxes or even know how do our own laundry XD so it's no surprising to me.


I couldn't vote this year because I didn't turn 18 till February, but I plan to in the future. (I would've voted for McCain though, Obama and his 'change' plan hasn't impressed me much.)
Issues I wish people would focus more on would be making abortion illegal and making gay marriage legal. Right now we're only focused on the economy which is a short term thing, we'll eventually work our way out, but these issues are long term and need to be settled on. Of course these issues are also controversial so I doubt they ever will be able to decide.

I like Candidates who are up front and honest and know that sometimes a situation can't be miraculously solved. (Thus is why I was for McCain and not Obama) I also like Candidates who don't have so much drama in their life. (like the Clintons) I also try to aim for the more moderate leaders, like McCain. He was only Republican because in order to be elected in this country you have to pick a party. I hate people who are far left or far right because then only 1 side tends to get everything they wan while the other doesn't.

Well I'll stop there, lol

Yay, responses! :D
I'll refrain from voicing too many of my political preferences. :3 I want to remain as objective as I can for this project.

Originally Posted by Vickicat

I took government class as well and we were told the same thing. Basically it's a cycle, young people don't vote because the issues they're interested aren't mentioned much, and they aren't mentioned much because it's assumed young people don't care and don't vote.

Do you think there's a good way to get younger people to get involved? O: I know learning about my government got me inspired, but I might just be weird.

~~~~

Originally Posted by amyrex2

My community is happy for it too, as they keep voting down the budgets and I would vote to increase the taxes for newer books. As I don't have children in the system it is better to just answer, I don't vote for school elections then deal with the hate I would get for talking about school taxes with the people I work with. God forbid anyone around here find out that I would vote out football in high school. I would be lynched.

People always seem very quick to vote away school taxes. Fortunately my school is in an area where most people are parents and are more willing to pay for it.
XD Jeeze...voting out football? Blasphemy!

Originally Posted by amyrex2

I tend to not like the politicians that are my grandparents age, and I also hate the ones that give off the I am better than you vibe.

I know what you mean. XD Some politicans seem to think very highly of themselves.

Originally Posted by amyrex2

As a matter of note, I voted for Hillary because I loved the Clinton admin, and thought she would do a better job. Not because she was a woman.

Hm...It's a shame that I know a lot of people who voted/didn't vote Hillary simply because she's a woman. I wonder if there's a way to prevent that sort of thing...

~~~

Originally Posted by Syraannabelle

I don't vote simply because politics are corrupt. I simply don't care. And please, I don't want someone to rant to me about, how since I didn't vote I can't complain about the gov't. I never have complained about the gov't because none of it makes any sense!

Do you think the system itself is corrupt or that the voters just don't speak up enough to stop it?
The problem with a democracy is that it only works if the voters are willing to get involved.
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Originally Posted by lightkanna

My U.S. History teacher gets peeved off that just because they don't register to vote is solely because of Jury duty.

Really? I've never heard anyone use that as a reason not to vote. Hm...interesting.

Originally Posted by lightkanna

I'm not 18 yet. Next year I would be and that quite frightens me. D: I haven't even plan on what I want to do and how I am going to do it. It takes me quite a long time to think my plan through because I always want to change this and that. Dx

Aw, I'm sure you'll figure something out. I'll be 18 this November. D: Lame it won't be until after the voting, though.

Originally Posted by lightkanna

All those other answers I am not going to answer because I only wanted to say this much. xD

XD That's fine. Thanks for your contribution!

People always seem very quick to vote away school taxes. Fortunately my school is in an area where most people are parents and are more willing to pay for it.
XD Jeeze...voting out football? Blasphemy!

Yeah but I went to a school where less than 10 percent of the students could play foot ball, and we paid for it, but the auditorium that the whole community could use, lost it's roof. As in it fell down, on the seats, crash boom. The money to pay for that was only found once the school made parents go in to the Aud and see parts of the roof laying over three rows of seats.

I think the money we spent on football, would have been better spent on the whole school. I mean what if students had been in those rows when it fell in? Thankfully it happened over night, but still.

Originally Posted by aimeeko

Yeah but I went to a school where less than 10 percent of the students could play foot ball, and we paid for it, but the auditorium that the whole community could use, lost it's roof. As in it fell down, on the seats, crash boom. The money to pay for that was only found once the school made parents go in to the Aud and see parts of the roof laying over three rows of seats.

I think the money we spent on football, would have been better spent on the whole school. I mean what if students had been in those rows when it fell in? Thankfully it happened over night, but still.

Usually this happens because the money comes from a certain department. Like the middle school in our district desperately needs repaired. What do they do? Renovate the track, which was -fine-.
Another example...we have a bunch of really nice computers that hardly ever get used, and a few that are really suckish. I asked a teacher why they didn't just replace the sucky ones with the nice ones and he said because the money to buy them had come from different departments and they could get in a lot of trouble for not using them for what they were for.

Originally Posted by Bishielurfer

Usually this happens because the money comes from a certain department. Like the middle school in our district desperately needs repaired. What do they do? Renovate the track, which was -fine-.
Another example...we have a bunch of really nice computers that hardly ever get used, and a few that are really suckish. I asked a teacher why they didn't just replace the sucky ones with the nice ones and he said because the money to buy them had come from different departments and they could get in a lot of trouble for not using them for what they were for.

I believe this is what happened the repair bill was on a line that was cut SEVERAL times, but the sports budget was passed. It is not so much that I thought the money from football should have been redirected, but that if the football budget had not existed the roof would have stood a better chance to have been fixed before it had reached that point.

The fact of the matter is that foot ball in high school is hugely expensive. The insurance needed alone was a large chunk of money that only a few kids could use. It was unfair to the chorus, the drama club, the local dance classes, all the elementary class plays, and even some of the larger high school English classes were held there. Almost every one of the systems students needed to use that room at least once every other year, but the community was "unable" to afford it after the football budget.

Also please note I am not against sports in general, just that one as it is SO very expensive, that so few can play.

I have read a few things about the parents for football players taking some of the costs onto them selves and for this I am in total agreement. It the school can have the parents cover some of the insurance for their own kids, then I have no problem with it.

Yeah, I understand that.
Our school has budgeted things very well, so fortunately we're not facing as much strain (we did switch from four to six periods this year, though), but I can imagine what sports would do to a struggling school.
Granted, I can also see why football would be an important sport to keep--it's a hefty source of scholarships and money for schools.

1. No, not really.

2. No, I wasn't registered to vote in time to vote. Either way the person I would have choosen wouldn't have gotten into office...we haven't had an independent in office in so long...I think there was one..or maybe that guy almost won.. *thinks* I don't remember..

3. If I was more informed and knew where to go.

4. I hate when candidates lie, and I also don't like it when they say things they don't really believe, and are just saying that because they are a member of that party of whatever.. I also don't like the party system that much.

I don't vote because I feel like the future will turn out the way it wants to, mostly because of people's greed, lust, and power.

Also what media, news, political shows, are aimed towards younger audiences??? Many of those things I don't find informative nowadays. I don't just want to hear about political scandals and wars. And MTV's Rock The Vote is pretty damn useless at informing. :)

Originally Posted by Bishielurfer

Yeah, I understand that.
Our school has budgeted things very well, so fortunately we're not facing as much strain (we did switch from four to six periods this year, though), but I can imagine what sports would do to a struggling school.
Granted, I can also see why football would be an important sport to keep--it's a hefty source of scholarships and money for schools.

Ohh they just wanted to keep it so all the rednecks could drink beer and watch the kids play. All the good jocks were starting to want to play soccer. You had a much better chance at both making the team and being able to get on the field.

I am so glad your school never goes though this, it is so... so depressing. It makes a girl feel like what she would enjoy doing is unimportant compared to what the boys want.

And yes before someone asks, there were two JV football players that were girls. But once they entered high school they were cut. They were "too small" for varsity.