Coming of age

Young people are participating in presidential politics in larger numbers Editor’s note: The Iowa and New Hampshire primary elections saw young voters between the ages of 18 and 29 turn out in unprecedented numbers. Of all the eligible young voters in Iowa, 13 percent showed up to vote, up from 3 percent in 2000, according to the nonpartisan research group the Center for Information and Research on Civil Learning and Engagement. The numbers in New Hampshire were more impressive. There, 53 percent of young people eligible to vote did. In 2000, just 28 percent of eligible young New Hampshirites turned out. By many accounts, the polls indicate that the rest of the country’s young people are gearing up to follow suit. With those figures in mind, and with the New York’s presidential primary just days away, The Warwick Advertiser sought local reaction to presidential politics. Here is that report: Warwick - First-time voters at Warwick Valley High school are eager to vote in next week’s primary and again in November for president. For the first time in their lives, their opinion matters. These are the future leaders of the United States of America and this is what they have to say: • Tony Martini is an independent who is currently undecided in whom he is to vote for. He’s looking for a leader who is concerned with economic recession. He thinks this is an important topic when choosing a leader. Tony has been following debates on the internet on Web sites such as www.youtube.com and on television on programs such as “Real Time” with Bill Mayer. The economy is a huge topic for him. “Being part of the youth of America, it will be our responsibility to pay off the debt of our fathers,” he said. • Alban Bramble is a registered Republican, who plans to vote for Mike Huckabee. His main concern is the war in Iraq. Alban has family in Iraq and wants to see them come home safely. He gets his news and information from the Internet on http://news.google.com. Alban has enlisted in the Navy and will leave for training Sept. 16. “I believe we need to relieve soldiers of their duty in Iraq and I will proudly take one’s place so that one may go home,” Alban said. • Luke Costello is a Republican. He believes in ending the war in Iraq and thinks Mike Huckabee would be the best candidate to get the job done. Luke gets his news and information from the Internet on Web sites such as http://news.google.com. “We need to pull our troops out of Iraq,” Luke said. “The dying has to stop. No more blood for oil. Weapons of mass destruction? That was just a smokescreen over the American people to hide us from the truth. We are depleting the Earth of its natural resources.” • Thomas Mombert is an independent who is concerned with rising gas prices. Tom gets his news from the television on programs such as CNN and in the newspaper. He watches the debates and believes that Mike Huckabee would be the best candidate for president. “Gas and oil is needed by Americans as much as air and water. Something must be done to stop the rising prices.” • Anthoney Degroat is a registered Democrat. He gets his news from the television on programs such as “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” “We need to pull out of Iraq,” he said. “After we do this we will be able to move forward as a nation.” Anthoney believes Barack Obama is the right candidate for president and that with Obama as president the country will become one and moving forward together. • Ben Pearce is a Republican whose main concern is the survival of democracy in foreign nations. Ben gets his news from the Internet on www.msnbc.com. “A leader should have military experience,” he said. “The president should be qualified as a person of the up most integrity and leadership.” Ben thinks John McCain would be the best candidate for president. • Michele Magnifico is an independent who is concerned with the war in Iraq and rising gas prices. Michele gets her news from The New York Times and television on programs such as “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Michele follows up on the debates and believes Barack Obama would be the best candidate for president. “I don’t understand why we were even in Iraq at all,” she said. “There were no weapons of mass destruction and the prices of gas keep on rising along with the deaths.” • Byron Quinn is a Democrat. Like many young people he is concerned with rising gas prices. He said he will support Barack Obama for president. “People say Obama doesn’t have the experience needed to run a country,” Bryon said. “I agree but that also means he isn’t corrupt like the rest of them.” Like many of the students at Warwick Valley High school Byron gets his news from the Internet on Web sites like http://news.google.com and on television programs such as “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. “ • Maxim Rand is an independent who plans on voting for Ralph Nader. Maxim is concerned with the environment; he gets his news from the internet on Web sites like www.msnbc.com. When asked why he will be supporting Nader, he said: “I am an environmentalist. I understand there will be no safe future if we do not recognize the environment on a higher level. Ralph Nader is also an environmentalist and that is why he has my support.” • Ariel Ambar is an independent who is concerned with health care in the United States. Ariel follows up on the topic of health care in America on the Internet from Web sites like www.bbc.com. She believes that health care should be made easier to get for people with low incomes. Ariel plans on supporting Barack Obama in the presidential campaign. “I believe in making health care more available for Americans with low income levels,” she said. “Barack Obama is a good man, and I believe he will help get the job done.” Sean Kawash is an environmentalist, creative thinker and a senior at Warwick Valley High School. He ended his story with these thoughts: People are always concerned about leaving America in the hands of the younger generations. They say that they are immature and don’t care about the future of America. They say that the United States is going to crumble in the hands of the youth. Well, this column is to the people who are afraid; this is your blanket of security. The students at Warwick Valley High school have strong opinions toward politics and the future of America: from the war on terror to the restoration of the environment the youth of America has plenty to say.