I am writing in response to the editorial titled "Only 2,246 Students Vote in Elections" in the April 2 issue of the Spectrum. The problem of voter turnout is not just a problem at UB. It is a nationwide problem and I believe I have figured out the reason why. This is the reason I did not vote in the election.
The reason is political parties. I know that seems a little extreme but I truly believe that the reason people do not vote is because they are used to the same two parties slugging it out. It gets boring and repetitive. I know there were other candidates in the SA elections, but let's be realistic. Their real chances were about as large as Ralph Nader's.
The battle between the Ascension and Elevation parties mirrors the dual party system of the United States, with the "UB Chillin' Party" being the Green Party, The American Independence party, the Constitution Party, or any other party that is on the ballot for purely ceremonial reasons (or to steal Al Gore's votes). They never have a real shot.
George Washington warned against political parties. He knew what they would become. Just like what happened in the SA election. These parties have money, recognition, and the means to get their voice heard, drowning everyone else. Unless you're a millionaire like Ross Perot you can't even get on the ballot without a party and that is wrong. America is about everyone having a shot, about fair play. With political parties, this is not the case. Only Democrats and Republicans have a shot.
Political parties are one of the reasons that Americans don't vote. Another is that the government is still insulting our intelligence by not letting the people directly pick the President. The Electoral College does not always elect the winner of the popular vote, as the last election shows. Even though I am glad Gore did not get in office, he should have become President.
Political parties also have another huge flaw, and this is the biggest reason I am an Independent and always will be. They vote on party lines, not what is right and wrong. I am conservative and will almost always vote Republican because they share my ideals, not because I am part of the party. The common person usually does not do this. However, if the upper level politicians ever vote against their party, they are considered outcasts and never receive any support from their party.
An example of party line taking precedence over right and wrong was the Clinton impeachment. Regardless of whether his personal life should have been on trial, he was guilty as charged. He obstructed justice and lied under oath. It's that simple. Forget that he was a Democrat. If these people cared about right and wrong instead of what party they were with, he would have easily been convicted, probably by a lot more than two-thirds. I am not blaming the Democrats, because the Republicans would have more than likely done the same thing if it was President Bush.
In my opinion, the SA election shows why people don't vote. They already know who the finalists will be, the Ascension and the Elevation representative. Who would watch the NFL if everyone knew that the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers would be in the Super Bowl before the season started? Very few would watch. If the powers that be want more voter participation, get rid of political parties. However, that cannot be done because of our freedom of assembly.
I guess we should have trusted Washington in good faith, because now we are between a rock and a hard place, our Constitution (freedom of assembly) and the spirit of our great country (everyone having a shot). It would take a miracle for a third party to win, and I hope it happens to shatter this dual party system and allow more people a legitimate shot.
