My teenager would like nothing more than to vote on Tuesday. Of course he is not allowed to vote, and there are good reasons for that, I suppose, my son being the exception that proves the rule. He is a bona fide political junkie who understands more about this election and what rides on it than many people twice his age. A confession: The kid knows more about current events than I do. That is less a condemnation of me than praise of him, because I am reasonably well versed in domestic and foreign policy both.
In our house we are unanimous in supporting a Presidential candidate. I don’t even need to tell you who that is (but it’s Obama). Those of you who’ve been reading my words for any length of time know where I stand. And my younger son, well, he stands with me because he still believes that his parents are right in most things. As it should be for a ten-year-old, and really, is this not the reason why kids don’t vote? They’d vote exactly as their parents do. The first and second graders I help teach spout their parents’ rhetoric on all matters political (that is, when they understand the rhetoric. To wit: a second grader at lunch a few weeks ago, overheard saying, “My mom’s a Dentocat, but my dad’s a Repo Man.”) But my fifteen-year-old cannot rightly be called a kid, and if he were able to vote he would vote his own conscience, not his mother’s nor his father’s.
This post is not a testimonial to a candidate or party. It is instead a bipartisan plea: Vote. Vote, no matter how inconvenient. Vote, mindful of a fifteen-year-old who’s bitterly disappointed that he won’t be voting, who cares enough that he’s already planning to be glued to the TV on Tuesday night until such time as a winner is announced – no matter how long it takes, and with or without snacks.
Vote, because it’s an honor and a duty. Vote because you can. Vote because there’s a boy at my house fervently wishing that he might do the same, a boy counting the days until he turns eighteen, not so he can drive, or drink, or engage in any other of a host of more or less licentious activities, but so he can do his part to determine the kind of nation he and his descendants will inherit.
“My mom’s a Dentocat, but my dad’s a Repo Man.” Now, that’s funny!
We feel (and are) powerless here in the UK although the outcome of your election is so crucial to most of the rest of the world. I’m willing you all to do the right thing and say NO to Romney; I hope has learned from Reagan and Dubya and keeps Obama in power. Please!
Good kid.
you must be super proud! and, yes, i’ll be voting!
Just saw the Will Ferrell ad for Obama (where he’ll “do anything” to get you to vote) – through my chuckles it made me think of your son! Was thinking how ads like this are foreign to those of us in democracies where adults are legally required to vote…then thought how interesting it would be to hear your son’s views on compulsory v non-compulsory voting! You have so many interesting dinner table conversations ahead. I hope to read about the day he is enfranchised – roll on 2016!!
I wish I could. The man you elect will have a huge influence on Canada as well. If Canada could vote today, Obama would go in – three out of four Canadians support him and his party. Including me. You could roll this small fact past your teenager – I can give him detail if the quandary interests him.
On the other hand, our present Prime Minister and his ‘Conservative’ party would probably be really happy to see Romney et al win. Sad. Although Democrats tend to be more protectionist, we do not want to see a return to the Bush era laissez faire.