Hey I wondering if you people can help me out!...*WHY VOTE*

[Beckster_6655]

Hi, My name is Becky and I am at the University of Victoria. I’m doing a term paper on voting and im focusing my aim on youth voters ages 18-25 and how many of them do not vote. I want to know if you vote, why you voted and if you do not vote why you did not. Any ideas or opinions on this subject will be greatly appreciated!!

If you decided to help me please give me your age, gender and where you are living right now. Feel free to <SNIP>

Any information will help me. Like reasons for youth not voting could be lack or interest or that they are not fully aware of the political issues. Feel free to post any idea or comment!!!

Thank you

Becky


<Moderator Note: DO NOT INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESSES, THIS IS AN OPEN FORUM>

 

[slick_of_the_luckystar]

Re: Hey I wondering if you people can help me out!...*WHY VO

hey bexie
22/male/lk cowichan
yes i voted
casue i wanted to try my best to get the govemnet guy that will mess me around the least into postion
miss ya lots kiddo
matt

 

[Vitamin C]

Re: Hey I wondering if you people can help me out!...*WHY VO

I think people become more interested in voting after they start their careers, buy a house, have children etc....

Because with all of those things in your life, the government has a larger affect on your life, and becomes more important.

Responsibility comes when those *things* come into your life, and with age.

Many youths live fairly carefree lives with things like taxes, education, health care, etc... not keeping them up at night.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Hey I wondering if yo

Hey Becky.

I'm 40, I vote in every election, and have since I was 18, because it is the most important way we have of controlling the direction our society takes.

I think the single largest hurdle to getting young people out to the polls is making them feel included in the process. Let's face it, most politicians are older and the political conversation tends to be framed around issues that do not immediately affect young people. At their last convention the Conservative Party of Canada even voted against having an official youth wing. The message sent is clear, that young people aren't terribly welcome.

The thing is that politics should be very important to young people. It is the young people who will inherit whatever mess gets made today, after all.

That's why I think we should drop the voting age to sixteen and start teaching about how our democracy works in about grade 8. It would get more young people interested in politics and force our politicians to take a longer-range outlook.

 

[neocon-hunter]

RE: Hey I wondering if yo

I agree with you Mr.Rev. I think voting age should be lowered to at least 16 or even 15. We have to get young people interested in voting and by the time they are 18 they have usually finished school, and I think it is important they expeirence voting first hand before they graduate.

 

[Senathos]

RE: Hey I wondering if yo

I'm 18/male/Toronto, the main reason why I (will) vote is to ensure that when I finish university that there will be opportunities for me (no NDP).

 

[Nascar_James]

Re: RE: Hey I wondering if yo

I agree with you Mr.Rev. I think voting age should be lowered to at least 16 or even 15. We have to get young people interested in voting and by the time they are 18 they have usually finished school, and I think it is important they expeirence voting first hand before they graduate.

I agree. Hmmm ... with any luck Quebec will hold a referendum and with the younger high school level voters, there is a good chance the seperatists will win. This means destablizing Canada. If Quebec goes it's way, ... heh heh heh ... there is talk of annexing parts of western Canada (Alberta) to the US. Although instability in the region is bad for us, we would most certainly welcome more territory.

 

[Reverend Blair]

Re: Hey I wondering if you people can help me out!...*WHY VO

:roll: Whatsa matter, Nascar Nero...now that your freedom is gone you want to take ours too?

 

[neocon-hunter]

RE: Hey I wondering if yo

Oh Blah Nascar!

Alberta aint going anywhere. Once oil busts or more enviromental friendly fuels are developed they will come crying for their transfer payments.

 

[Vitamin C]

Re: Hey I wondering if you people can help me out!...*WHY VO

LOL - Go "Liberate" Alberta

 

[neocon-hunter]

RE: Hey I wondering if yo

Well I think with more non conservatives moving to Alberta, It could go liberal provincially within 10-15 years.

 

[Nascar_James]

Re: RE: Hey I wondering if yo

Well I think with more non conservatives moving to Alberta, It could go liberal provincially within 10-15 years.

It'll never happen. Alberta is involved heavily in oil, than means many Americans are living there, mainly conservative. Also, the folks in Alberta are not going to give up their low tax policy to appease the far left liberals.

 

[JomZ]

RE: Hey I wondering if you people can help me out!...*WHY VO

Well to stay on topic of "WHY I VOTE?"

Im 23/m/living just outside Toronto.

The reason why I vote is not because of the negative: "You can't complain because you didn't vote.", But that "I vote because I can. Its my right as a Canadian Citizen. Plus I like politics."

Most youth do not vote because of many reasons.

1) Most youth haven't seen a shift in power federally in over a decade. The Liberals were in control when I was born and except for the Mulroney era, have always been. So they dont see a point.

2) They aren't really well informed, you do not see many politicians do the highschool parking lot circuit on their campaigns. And politics doesn't really enter their social culture (Closest thing I have seen is the George Strombopolous' CBC show "The Hour").

3) Politics doesn't really apply to them yet. Most don't comprehend the system yet, or who to affiliate with, or how politics really works.

4) They really don't care because they are more worried about other selfish things. Most people do not get involved in politics until they have something to protect and watch out for (spouse, children, home, money, assets, etc.)

 

[Ten Packs]

Re: RE: Hey I wondering if yo

Well I think with more non conservatives moving to Alberta, It could go liberal provincially within 10-15 years.

It'll never happen. Alberta is involved heavily in oil, than means many Americans are living there, mainly conservative.

What a perfectly charming thought...... :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[Reverend Blair]

Re: Hey I wondering if you people can help me out!...*WHY VO

What a perfectly charming thought.

Don't worry, Ten Packs...as populations grow and areas become more cosmopolitan there is always a shift to the left. It an historical trend that goes back to the beginning of history. You get more people and they want more social programs. If Nero needs proof of that he can just look at a map of the last US election.

 

[smile_2001_]

Re: Hey I wondering if you people can help me out!...*WHY VO

I havent had the chance to vote yet since i am turing 18 in two days, but i think that if i have the chance to vote i will. If you dont vote you have nothing to complain about when whoever gets in to parliment is not who you wanted, because YOU didnt make an effort to ensure that they didnt get in. I think that voting as a young adult has a lot to do with your parents, you vote for who your parents vote for, because you are not informed enought to make a conscious decision and you trust who they have choosen... i hope this helps you out morgasm have fun in english

 

[JomZ]

RE: Hey I wondering if you people can help me out!...*WHY VO

I think that voting as a young adult has a lot to do with your parents, you vote for who your parents vote for, because you are not informed enought to make a conscious decision and you trust who they have choosen.

Thats a pretty poor way to choose a candidate. It must be a conscious decision on who you feel best represents the interests of the Canadian people. More likely you will probably be in agreement with your parents.

Most of my family leaned towards the conservative side, but I chose NDP because they seem to reflect more of what I see in Canadians then the two big ones.