Mining the Mission | Star Power and the Need to Vote
The reason political candidates spend so much time pandering to senior citizens is very, very simple: They vote. Issues of interest to young people — access to college, for example — don’t get much time in stump speeches, in large part because it would be a waste of time for candidates to pitch ideas to a bloc that doesn’t show up on Election Day in very large numbers.
Citizen Change, the nonprofit formed in 2004 by P.Diddy/Diddy/Puff Daddy/Puffy, whom I’m going to call “Sean Combs” for the sake of convenience, seeks to impel young voters to make their voices heard. While its famous call — “Vote or Die!” — can be seen as silly (”Vote or Allow Your Future To Be Determined By a Bunch of Old People Who Don’t Give a Shit About You!” is more accurate), I can understand why Combs and Co. felt the need for such an over-the-top appeal to a group that is famously distracted by myriad other things. Four years after launching the effort, the producer and rapper is back to re-emphasize its message, just in time for what is shaping up to be a seminal election:
“If we want to stop the war, if we want to get the economy better, I think that young people need to understand they have to take matters into their own hands,” Combs, 38, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday. “It is really like waking up a sleeping giant.”
The AP reports that “[s]tatistics suggest voter turnout among young people increased in 2004 and 2006,” and the young vote was credited with jump-starting Barack Obama’s Iowa primary win; perhaps Citizen Change’s efforts are having an effect. The more people vote, the more representative the government is and healthier the republic is, so best of luck to Combs.
“Mining the Mission,” a weekly commentary about nonprofits worthy of praise, appears Thursdays at the 501(c) Files. | 501(c)
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POSTED IN: Politics, Pop culture, Worth a look
2 opinions for Mining the Mission | Star Power and the Need to Vote
Dan
Feb 9, 2008 at 9:01 am
Hi:
I remember when I was allowed to vote in the presidential election for the first time — about 20 years ago, unfortunately. I was thrilled with the opportunity. But as the elections piled up, I lost my excitement. The candidates all seemed to be the “same old, same old,” clones of rich, white guys who boasted about their religion, their “outsider” status and their ability to “change the way government works.” It was hard not to get overly cynical. I still voted every time, though, sometimes for the lesser of two evils and, if I was feeling particularly disgusted by the candidates — 2000 and 2004 anyone? — writing in my own preferred candidates. This year, I’m more excited about the presidential election than I can remember. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton may have their flaws, but they can’t help but be different from the “same old, same old” the parties have thrown at us since I’ve been able to vote, at least.
tdurso
Feb 10, 2008 at 7:28 am
Even if you wrote in candidates, Dan, you were still exercising your right and contributing to the health of the republic. Glad you’re more excited about this year!
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