Neil Godbout has encouraged all of the contributors here at The Citizen to promote the "your vote matters" campaign.
I, for one, am happy to help, as I truly do believe that democracy is best defended and celebrated when we mark one "x" or several on a given ballot. However, as the youngest contributor on staff, I've chosen to focus on the problem of "young voter apathy." Clearly all the money and effort put into motivating young people to vote has not worked to date, leaving many people in despair about our political future.
Well, have no fear folks, I have yet another brilliant solution to an age-old question: it's time to raise your kids to vote.
Many of you are probably asking the same thing: I thought we were doing that already? Well, in truth, many of the most well-intentioned and loving parents forget to mention voting when they are educating their children in the proper ethics of social life. Further to this, the terrible voter turnout in municipal elections betrays the fact that many of you esteemed elders, guardians, and parents are not doing your utmost for this highest privilege of democracy.
Kids are imitators as any psychologist who isn't hopped up on the "latest" and "greatest" can tell you. When they see their parents avoid voting or intentionally denigrate the practice, they pick up on this behavior and many of them begin to simulate it for themselves. It's not rocket science: like getting your kids to go to church or stay active, imparting a behavior requires practising it with them. Full stop.
There are three easy steps to helping your kids go from being wastrels to active defenders of democracy. Luckily, most of them can be done with very little effort (on my part).
If your children are still tykes, bring them with you to the voting station. I know that sounds like a horrendous activity, but it will be good for both of you; you'll feel satisfaction having done your bit of suffering to participate in democracy even if its not comparable to what citizens experience in war-torn countries, and your kids will eventually catch on that this is a time for reverence, respect and consideration. Try to imbed this behavior in them to the point where they remember it better than visiting Santa Claus at Pine Center Mall.
If your children are still in a state of pre-rebellion, do your best to have real sit-down dinners where cellphones are put away and conversation is actually attempted. At least once a month mention the political scene and talk about ways to remedy it. Make sure that your kids understand that they have a say in how the world works by their own political participation. It is absolutely crucial to convey this to them before their hormones fully possess their being.
And, finally, as they enter that perturbing, seemingly unending state called adolescence, do what parents do best: nag until their ears bleed. This is your sweet vengeance for all the grief teaching them about voting has caused you during the first two steps.
Nag them about laundry and voting, cleaning up dishes and voting, coming home on time and voting. Nothing quite gets to young people like nagging and just as you have thanked your own parents for their constant criticisms of your bad behavior, some day your spawn will thank you as well.
The vast majority of young people who vote today do so because they were raised to vigorously participate in the world around them, as studies have proved over and over again. More than liking things on Facebook and retweeting Obama's random thoughts, voting makes a real and observable difference, both at home and abroad.
Parents, elders, and guardians have an active role to play in the preservation in our democracy by teaching their kids to propel it with their ballots.
And who knows, maybe your little guy or gal is a leader in the making.
