Just Stay Home This November

I enter this battle fully knowing that this is a fight I can’t win. Believe me, I still intend to go down with this ship.

See, while my lovely co-editor Shannon Hoffman has boldly decided to tackle the controversial issue of “encouraging students to vote,” I’ve elected to join the losing side.

Today, I am here to encourage all Bloomsburg students NOT to vote this Fall.

Now before the firing squad lines up in our “comments” section, let me explain. I do in fact believe that it is important for the Bloomsburg community to vote. In fact, I urge all of you to do your research and decide which homecoming candidates are best suited to be our king and queen (Cheap plug for my friend Sheila Martin). Also, no student should neglect to fill out their Bloom Idol ballot each Thursday night.

The presidential election? Eh, not so much.

I hate to be the bad guy and diminish all the hard work done by the many groups on campus who have been laboring tirelessly to register voters, but I just can’t agree with the mission.

While everyone has the right to vote, I don’t think everyone should. Am I the only one concerned with this push to register students at the last minute? Call me crazy, but I don’t want the future of our country decided by someone who waited until two days before the deadline before deciding it might be a good time to fill out the paper work.

I’d much rather leave the voting to someone who cares enough to have paid attention to the last two-plus years of this campaign.

I know the commonly used defense is “it doesn’t really matter who you vote for, just as long as you vote!”

Really? You are serious? How the heck is that helpful to our society? You are telling me that it is not important whether or not I understand the issues and the problems facing our country, but just that I randomly select a president based on the 30-second clips I catch in between episodes of Two and a Half Men?

Here is my stance. If you are truly passionate about a candidate or an issue then please by all means hit the polls this November. I envy you. I am jealous that you found someone who excites you enough to thrust your faith into their corner. Congratulations.

Now, for the rest of us, I invite you to stay home with me. Don’t allow others to make you feel guilty for not taking part in this election process. Just as mindlessly voting for the “lesser of two evils” doesn’t make you an American hero, neither does abstaining on November 4th label you as a Benedict Arnold.

One day I really hope to come across an candidate that inspires me to support them. Unfortunately, in 2008, I have yet to see such a leader.

So instead of urging you to vote, I instead urge you to find a more constructive way to spend your time. Do some real community service. Donate to the troops at this weekend’s football game. Most importantly, keep informed with the events and issues that will be effecting our country’s future. One day you may feel the need to make your voice heard in an election, and it is crucial to be ready.

And remember, if you stay home this November while everyone else elects the next President of the United States, this doesn’t make you a bad or a lazy person.

We may have the freedom of speech, but we also have the right to remain silent.