Let’s Not Get Out the Vote Essay Response

I did a blog post like this a little while ago, and the speaker sounds exactly what I was trying to get across in my post. This article triggers the idea I immediately had about voting- what good would I do voting and not knowing anything about it? I’d rather remain apathetic as the article states; it would be far smarter than thinking I’m an American citizen just because I went out and put a mark on a piece of paper or punched a button on a computer.

The speaker stroke me as intelligent, you could tell by his word choice. I can tell this is an old article, so I envisioned him as a middle aged, well dressed man writing this at this desk. I think this man might be just a normal citizen actually; if he was a part of either of the two political parties, than he would be advocating for people to vote-not against it. I can’t really pinpoint any political affiliation to him…He just seemed nonpartisan to me. He wasn’t arguing for the rights or beliefs of either of the parties, but rather the right of voting itself-a right belonging to anyone of both parties.

I always have trouble stating what the audience of an article or speech might be, and this time it’s not any different. To me, he just seems like he’s aiming at anyone who votes. He spoke of those who vote intelligently, stupidly, and those who just don’t. That’s everyone who calls or doesn’t call themselves voters. His audience might be for those who don’t vote precisely. He was arguing for the right to not vote, a right I’m sure non-voters hold high. Those who don’t vote are probably being pressured by those who do, and this article was most likely written in accordance.

I remember, back when I watched MTV a few years ago, they always had commercials telling teens and young adults to get out and vote, and ‘make your voice be heard.’ They didn’t say anything like getting out and reviewing the candidates or learning more about political issues, but just getting out and voting period. Probably because a lot teens and young adults don’t care to review the candidates or learn more about political issues. MTV was just campaigning for kids to get out and vote-no matter who or what they voted for and how much they knew beforehand. These commercials were entirely different than the article. Instead of aiming for everyone regardless of age group, the commercials aimed solely at teens and young adults. Its message was much more simple-get out and vote, we don’t care how or what for.

The source essay, in the end, was just simply arguing for the right to not vote. Voting apathy is far more effective and reliable than voting because of stupidity. This argument works very well for me, as a non-voter. I don't vote simply because of apathy, and I’d much prefer it that way. Casting a retarded vote for someone I don’t even know about is about the worst thing I could do. This article proves it, not only thorough plain statements, but also through things like math. It appeals to me because I agree with it so much, and it taught me a lot of things I didn’t know-like the votes cancelling each other out. A part of me does feel a tiny bit guilty for not voting-it’s my ‘duty’ after all. But I just can’t stand to go out and do something where I have no idea what I’m doing. Voting is important, and I’m not going to waste the opportunity. Teens that like and are interested in politics can go and vote. But teens like me who couldn’t care less should not. We wouldn’t be doing anything worthwhile and wouldn’t be benefiting anyone, except maybe the party not in power as the article states.

It doesn’t surprise me at all that this article was written in 1955-I could tell just by reading it. But I know its message applies even now, and especially back then as well. The issues might change, but the factors surrounding them do not. Corruption and Voting Rights-it’s been around and will always be around.

This article only states a single fact: Times change, people do not. People were apathetic then, before, and now. People stealing and lying in campaigns has been around and will continue to be around. The issues or parties or anything like that doesn’t even matter. People and their thought processes have been the same forever. And people’s thought processes is what directly affects things like voting and political parties. So if people don’t change, then those won’t change either.