Be informed before you vote on May 20

May 13, 2008 11:07 am

— Voting is one of our most treasured freedoms. For hundreds of years, African-Americans and women fought for the right to vote. Today, so many Americans take this most precious right for granted. I strongly encourage young individuals, and all Americans for that matter, to exercise their right to vote. I believe, however, that anyone who plans on voting should be informed. Individuals should take extreme caution when exercising their right to vote.
During this election, for example, we have seen record turnouts for the Democratic party. Many of these voters are young, first-time voters. Of course, Barak Obama’s base is made up of many high school and college students. They believe Obama can bring that change. The problem is, though, if you were to ask an average young Obama supporter to name some of his platforms, they wouldn’t be able to tell you one of them. Millions of young voters are jumping on the Obama bandwagon without knowing where Obama stands on the issues. The only reason Obama has made it this far is because he is very charismatic, and he is able to captivate large crowds of people. There is an aura about Obama that mesmerizes people.
My goal in writing this letter is not because I wish to bash Obama. In fact, I am not even trying to persuade you to vote for another candidate. I simply want you, the voter, to be informed. So, in the time between now and Kentucky’s primary on May 20, I challenge you to become more knowledgeable about all the candidates. If you only get one thing from this article, let it be this — on May 20, make sure you are informed. That morning, I want you to take a good long look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Is the candidate I am about to vote for the best person for the job?” If you do that, then this letter has fulfilled its purpose. I thank you for your time, and remember, vote informed.
Tony Huffman,
Corbin High School student