Today we face a crisis of faith in the American experiment that eventually will threaten the foundation of this Republic. Voting statistics taken from the 2010 midterm elections reveal a lack of appreciation for voting among those under 30.

The Nation’s John Nichols found that only about one-fifth, or 20 percent, of those under 30 even bother to vote. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is the minimal importance many Americans place on voting.

Why take time out of your day for something that you do not immediately benefit from or even make a difference in? Such is the mindset held by the nation’s youth. Here are some reasons why one should consider voting in 2012.

Voting encourages civic participation, increasing political involvement and finding connections between politics and daily life, instead of dismissing these events as fate. Congress may be on Capitol Hill, but their decisions impact those miles around them. The ability to decide who becomes a part of this prestigious club is a privilege too good to simply throw away.

As this season has demonstrated, one ballot can change the outcome of an election. Congressman Jim Costa narrowly won reelection in California’s 20th district by 3,000 ballots out of more than 80,000 votes cast. Many Americans still remember the presidential election of 2000, when George W. Bush won Florida and the election by 537 votes out of six million cast.

Many refuse to vote simply because they wish to live their lives independent of outside issues, such as politics and foreign threats. Yet, whether we vote or not can indirectly affect who leads this country.

Even those who refuse to vote still have to pay taxes and abide by the laws enacted by their representatives. In response to the desire of American colonists to avoid foreign threats, Alexander Hamilton said, “Even to observe neutrality you must have a strong government.” To help protect themselves and the country, Americans must work to ensure that they have an effective government.

Ironically, to live free of politics requires a substantial knowledge of such domestic threats to this autonomous nature. There is no guarantee that our elected officials will protect those rights as defined by the Constitution, such as voting, if ignored.

President John F. Kennedy said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Unusual political circumstances today demand our attention, and voting is a surefire way to influence public policy.

For more politics, read the Dec. 1 column, Vidak concedes to Costa in CA-20 race.

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