When I was in middle school, Bill Clinton, Ross Perot and George Bush (there was no need for the H.W. then) were running in 1992 and MTV was all about Rock the Vote. Between music videos, they would have short interview clips or VJ’s telling you to go and rock it while people screamed. It was really well-meaning, but pretty annoying. They would interview some of the screamers and the answers were sometimes things like “I’m going to vote because stuff is important!” Kind of like social media now.
I think people should vote, but if you don’t care, don’t vote. Please. If you aren’t willing to research beyond your friend Gunther’s Facebook post, don’t vote. If you think the dogcatcher locally should be determined by whether you like the president or not, don’t vote. Voting is important…if it’s informed. Going to a poll to get a selfie, not so much.
When you’re 18, you can vote. You start paying taxes – my first experience with taxes was buying a pack of baseball cards for a quarter when I was seven. It was .27 cents and I didn’t have enough. You can get your own healthcare – or stay on Mom and Dad’s for a spell – but eventually that will matter, especially if you are in poor health or start a family. You begin to realize immigration, national defense and human rights issues are more important than you thought in high school. You get a paycheck (or can’t find a job and don’t). You meet new people with different life experiences than you and may think differently on things – left or right or both. My point is, if you go through all that, and don’t care take the time to vote once a year or two, then please don’t run out and smash buttons to get a sticker. Leave it up to people that do care. Rock the couch! (For everyone else, seriously, go out and vote.)