REVISED vote essay

Get Into the Election
What are so called voters? It is one who “makes a formal expression of opinion or choice, either positive or negative, made by an individual or body of individuals.” Would we allow doctors whom were about to perform surgery on one of our family members to “vote” on which is there favorite surgical technique to use? No, we want them to use the “best” approach, the one they have studied and known is right! If they do not use the correct surgical procedures then they are not accomplishing the best result, they are “just doing, it to do it.” That goes the same for voting, if you are not going to be well informed about the candidates, then do not just go post a random ballot only based on worthless, silly opinions.
The article “Let’s Not Get out the Vote” is an argument towards Thomas Jefferson’s statement “Get out the Vote.” The main difference between these two slogans is the time period. When Thomas Jefferson was president, voting had just become a right for our citizens to be able to pick who would lead our country. Obviously when people were allowed to vote, it was an honorary deed to do so. It is as if you had nothing planned for next Saturday and someone just happens to give you their UT-Memphis basketball tickets! They would almost feel obligated to go, just because they know how big of an opportunity it is. They may not be big, all out Memphis basketball fans but would still wear blue just to support their team! Why did they choose to go to that game? They not only chose to attend the game but the supported and “wore blue” just as voters back in Jefferson’s era not only chose to vote but were educated and informed about each candidate.
That idea is the main struggle in our generation today. So many slogans pop up on television, the streets, and the newspapers. Slogans such as: Vote Today, Make your Choice, Cast YOUR Vote” to encourage the citizens to go to the polls and make their decision. The slogan that I best remember is “Vote or Die.” It was always shown on MTV ads during last year’s election. Yes, Music Television, as in the show that mostly no one over the age of 20 watches. Now there may be some very intellectual citizens under the age of 20, but not that many. If they see this slogan, they are just going to feel extremely obligated to cast a vote. They do not care if it is for the right person and the most qualified candidate; at least that is not what the slogan portrayed right? I just turned eighteen and remember people asking me if I was going to vote. I just responded with a quick yes because I was afraid they would be mad if I did not. Now if asked again I would say “No, I am not going to vote this election because truthfully I have no idea who the candidates are. Sure, I could tell you there names and maybe whether or not they are Democrat or Republican, but other than that, not a thing. I do not feel ashamed that I am not voting because I would just feel worse knowing that I chose a candidate which soon may represent my country, only because of their name.”
Another factor of voting that I think is a big mistake is choosing a candidate based on their party. I understand most Democrats want to have a Democratic President and same for Republicans but do they truly know each of there personalities and goals they wish to reach while in office, or did they just been following them only because of their party name? I think one reason that we do not care to get involved with their real backgrounds is because we are all naïve. I will admit I am one of those naïve citizens of America. We believe that nothing really bad is going to happen to our country. Sure we see it happening to other countries everyday but no, not ours. It is as if every president is just given a button to push that contracts the super down over America that protects us from everything. I am not wishing upon any harm to our country. I just wonder what it is going to take for us to realize we do not have a protective shield over us? I just hope we realize before we are shown.
Throughout this essay many points have been made as to why “Get out the Vote” is not the best slogan to use, especially in this generation. “Let’s not get out the vote” is a slogan that comes across as total opposite as “Get out the Vote.” It may persuade some citizens to not vote. I think the best slogan for this year’s election should be “Get Into the Vote.” It will convince citizens of America to research the candidates, actually understand what is going on, and to not just go to the polls and cast a vote randomly.