Don't Lose That American Spirit

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Maybe all it took was my moving away from perfect Orange County to realize the real issues at stake and that my vote does matter. But this was the first year I actually cared about what I was voting for. Living in a city of 812,816 people can do that to you. Living on your own, paying for you home, and living without proper healthcare also shakes up the apathetic voter.

Unlike rallies at Berkeley or camping for the Occupy movement, voting has a direct outcome. Change happens through the course of one day (backed by years of well thought political campaigning). Though you may think it small, your vote makes a difference because you are exercising your right not to sit at home and let the nation choose for you. Participating in the great debate shows that you care for America's future.

It's easy for people to think that it doesn't matter if what you voted for wins or loses because your vote is just one in a sea of millions. But then why go to the polls? 

Here's my San Francisco spin on why it's important to vote: If we thought of voting like recycling then we would have a much cleaner world. It’s the same mentality. People easily think I am one person so my actions aren't going to hurt anyone if I do or do not choose to recycle. Multiply that thought by a city of 812,816 and now we've got a lot of plastic bags reeking havoc on our environmental well being. 

There’s an overabundance of careless people out there, apathetic to our environment because they think others will do the 'hard' work for them, they don't think they--as single individuals--can make an impact, or they just simply do not give a damn. But the same can be said about voting. Some people believe that their individual vote will not change the scheme of things, so they choose to sit at home and let the nation decide for them. Those kinds of people, frankly, don’t get it. Why then wake up each day and go to work? Why do anything at all with such a bland attitude? It’s depressing. If you want positive change to occur, it all starts with a single individual. Living in the United States of America, we are supposed to be working collectively towards such goal. Am I being idealistic? Sure. But I don’t support those who decide not to make a political decision at all. Hey man, where’s your American spirit?