As if you guys couldn’t get enough political articles to read, here’s my two cents (or less if you bargain with me) on the matter.
As the title suggests, I am a twenty-something (25-soon-to-be-26 to be exact) who lives in Florida with my husband. Yes, we are a hetero white couple who live in a major city (Orlando) and both have jobs. My husband works at a small business, which he has been with since its infancy ten years ago. I’m the product of a middle-class family and went through the public education system here in Florida. So, if one were to guess based on these few facts, it may seem like I would probably lean toward the right politically, wouldn’t it?
WRONG.
I may be registered as a nonpartisan, but I have yet to find a Republican candidate that I could, in good conscience, support and vote for. Hey, don’t get me wrong, I want try to see things from their perspective, but it just won’t work. Let’s look a little deeper at the facts:
– I am a woman. This makes me automatically wary of Romney, Ryan, and all of those who wish to make decisions for me that they have no business in. Do I need contraception? No; I’m married, he’s clean, and I have Turner’s syndrome anyway which makes having kids the traditional way an impossibility (but more on that another time). But does that mean that my friends who want it should have to go through hoops to get it? HELL NO. Also: there are other things that the right tends to not want to cover… like, say, any gynecological issue I may have? And as far as abortion goes, I personally wouldn’t do it, but I will never fault anyone who makes that decision because I don’t know their circumstances. I shan’t judge anyone unless I have all of the facts. My mother has always been the worker in our family; my dad is on Social Security and is the stay-at-home parent. As such, I have a very different viewpoint on gender roles than those who wish to take us back into the Fifties.
– I am (very) middle-class and so is my family. As such, I cannot and will not endorse anyone who doesn’t want to pay as much in taxes as I do, and/or who wishes to hide their money situation from those they wish to lead. I also can’t endorse anyone who profits from the misfortune of others. I do not fault anyone who makes something of themselves; that is commendable. However, I refuse to believe that they cannot do something to help those who are trying to do the exact same thing that they have done, which is to improve the lives of their families.
– I am a student… which makes me, by definition, either ridiculously poor or in debt. I was fortunate enough for most of my academic career to receive Pell grants and the like; however, I still had to cover my books and now I don’t even get the grant at all because my husband and I make too much combined. The only way I can attend school now is through loans. I’m at odds with the right on this issue because they have no plans whatsoever to help those who are in my situation (or worse). I don’t think they realize the message here: only the rich should be able to go on to higher education? Uh yeah, no.
– … who wants to be a teacher. And the right isn’t exactly looking to entice me to do it, either. I live in Florida, which, as most know, is governed by Rick Scott. *growls* Students here are forced to take an exam that is so high-stakes that they can pass their classes with As, but if they do not pass the FCAT, tough: no advancement for you. *headdesk* As an English teacher, I would also be forced to “teach to the test”: teachers are judged based upon their students’ scores. And the crazy part? I STILL WANT TO TEACH IN FLORIDA. Memo to those in charge: start giving me a reason to want to stay here!
I could go on about the advantages I see in Obamacare (having been able to be put back on my mother’s health insurance after the law was enacted because I wasn’t 26 yet), or Romney’s economic record, or countless other facts. Instead, I shall hop off of my soapbox, invite both agreements and criticism, and contemplate canvasing for the President again this weekend.
4 replies on “A Twenty-something Looks at Politics”
It’s a very nice explanation of why NOT to vote for Republicans, but not a great reason to vote for Democrats. Shouldn’t it be time we have representatives that actually represent us, instead of voting for the lesser of two evils. To me it feels like settling.
Not only should you canvas, but also get in touch with the local hq for President Obama and find out about volunteering, either as a poll monitor (becasue the right are going to have people out there trying to intimidate voters) or as a taxi service for people who want to vote but can’t get to the polls.
Rick Scott is doing his best to cheat and keep people from voting. We need all hands possible on deck to fight back.
Excellent piece baby. Do I need to say I’m 100% on board with everything you brought up? (Of course I don’t, you know I am :-)
*bows humbly* Thank you, Auntie. I’m actually already in touch with the local chapter of Organizing for America; that’s how I know they’re going to canvas again this Sunday, as almost a weekly thing if they can manage it. If I’m not beat after my 6a-2:30p shift that day, I may make my way out there. My friend Brandon (whose wedding to his husband I attended in May and who lives in my complex) and I are planning to hang here election night until we hear the results. I have my Obama-Biden sign in my window. I plan to do whatever I can to help, and hope that it is to our avail. :)
Oh man, I completely understand how you feel. I was raised to be moderate but even my “see both sides of everything” parents aren’t telling me to shut up when I get angry about politics these days. It is hard to be a female, middle-class, young/student who has a dream to work in some kind of public service. And aren’t we the people who are actually striving for the “American Dream”? Why do Republicans seem so out to get those of us in this demographic…?
Kudos to you for staying in Florida. Wishing you the best in your career!