Young people rocked the vote this year for Barack Obama. While
general election turnout among eligible voters was almost the
same as last cycle, when voters aged 18 to 29 turned out they
overwhelmingly supported Obama.
According to the Pew Research Center’s
report about young voters, it’s not unusual for young voters
to back Democrats. But in 2008, a whopping 66% of voters under
the age of 30 voted for Obama. This made the “disparity between
young voters and other age groups larger than in any presidential
election since exit polling began in 1972.”
The theories as to why Obama drew so many young voters abound. He
has a particular youthful appeal, a cool vibe. I imagine
in high school he was never teased, nor did he tease — he simply
stood above both crowds in his trademark detached intimacy. While
he oozes masculine charisma, with his lean figure, flash of white
teeth and baritone voice à la Russell Crowe, he prefers
Bob Dylan over country and would rather go the gym than go to
church (his young voters don’t care for church much either).
What’s not to love?
Well, except for his policies. In national exit polling by NBC
news examined in the Pew Report, young voters said their “top
concern” this election was the economy (as did all the other age
groups). But do high taxes help the economy — or do most young
voters think they will never have to pay higher taxes?
According to Pew, 56% of young voters make less than $50,000 per
year and 30% make $50-99,000. Only a small percentage make more
than $100,000. Of course they care about the economy but what of
higher taxes? According to Obama, the vast majority of them will
get the tax break they deserve! The Obama-Biden plan for
economic relief in America includes a tax plan that “delivers
broad-based tax relief to middle class families and cuts taxes
for small businesses….”
However, the Heritage Foundation’s memo to the
President-elect on his tax plan points out that “broad-based tax
relief” for middle-class families “does not mean narrow tax
breaks restricted to families who engage in activities that
Washington decides are worthy,” which Obama’s plan features. Bet
Young Voters didn’t know that.
Instead, scholars at Heritage suggest cutting taxes for everyone
and resisting the urge to increase taxes for people who are more
likely to invest: “Tax
increases are economically harmful at all times, but they are
especially harmful during a recession.” In sum, the richest pay
the most taxes, specifically those who make more than $250,000 —
they currently pay 48% of all income taxes.
The chances that Obama is suddenly going to tweak his tax plan to
fit the Heritage Foundation’s brainy suggestions are slim. By
2010, the Bush tax cuts will, in effect, expire. If Obama
simply does nothing, everyone — including the Young Voters —
some of whom will be just getting out of college, getting a real
job, and finally begin paying a significant amount of taxes —
will automatically pay more. If Obama is able to implement even
part of his tax plan, the Young Voters will start paying more
than they have been. And the select few thirty-somethings
who voted for change and by some cruel fate make enough to pay
what many of wealthier parents and grandparents do, may have a
change of heart about their vote.
The issue of the economy presented the most drastic dichotomy
between Young Voters’ utopian theoretic solutions and what will
probably be the disappointing reality. This disparity occurred
though with every one of the Young Voters’ top concerns including
healthcare, energy and terrorism. What, exactly, do they think
Obama will do regarding those issues that will improve their
quality of life?
Sure, they might receive “universal healthcare,” but not without
paying more for it some way — and receiving an inferior quality
product. Likewise, the same goes for the other issues. Their
concerns and Obama’s solutions are more like oil and water than
peanut butter and jelly. They don’t make a good pair, even though
both of them think they do.
On one hand, it’s disheartening that the bracket of voters most
mobilized, most energized for Obama could end up paying such a
high price for that ballot. But then, on the other hand, making
bad choices is part of life and every generation. The only choice
left is to learn and make a better, more-informed choice next
time.
