Flash mob the vote.
Late last month, a blog post was written by a humor columnist for the local Austin paper regarding a flash mob at the Texas State Capital (it was technically mobile clubbing, where people don iPods and jam out to music you can’t hear).
The post proposes that if “they” (20-somethings, i.e., my generation) can organize an inane event—a rotunda dance party—via email, social network and text messaging, why can’t the same importance be placed on things like the upcoming 2008 presidential election? While I agree whole-heartedly with the author’s comments, I can’t help but feel stereotyped as a slacker Gen-Y’er.
In defense of my generation, I am here to say that we are informed, educated and ready to see change for this country. In the past eight years we have really come to understand the way politics work and we are at a point in our lives where it is readily apparent that whatever happens in November will be a direct effect on our future. If some of us are not informed, then we definitely have the means of getting up to speed quickly by scouring blogs, RSS feeds and downloading video content on our phones or notebooks (we are information seekers and information vacuums).
Even though I am registered to vote (a process I initiated online, of course), I think the majority of us aren’t registered because we can’t just do it online. I can’t remember the last time I sent something via US mail and don’t even know how much stamps cost these days. Now, I understand we have face-to-face processes in place for a reason and that everything shouldn’t happen on the web, but until we can vote via Facebook, you will still see the voting numbers for the lower age bracket in the low teens.
Things like Facebook, email and text messaging are the communication tools that are driving a change towards more informed citizens aged 18 and up. I think if older generations stopped and looked closely at the way we use these tools and tried to understand them rather than immediately shirking them for being too advanced, they would realize that we’re not all a bunch of slackers with iPods in our ears and LCD screens in our faces.
Adults see my generation as hiding from the outside world…I think we are as connected and open as ever.
If any of your readers know me, I signed up to be a volunteer deputy voter registrar, and I’ve got the voter registration forms in my car at all times. If you need to register, change address, or just find out your voting location, find me and I’ll help you out. I’ll even go drop the forms off for you!
But we do seriously need to use our generation’s greater numbers to our advantage.
here here! great post Cesar – damn right we are informed.
come on big gov, wake up!
Thanks for the comments y’all. If we have the means of speaking out, we should totally use it, right?