Replies

From: (My Email address)
Subject: Stop supporting the Democratic Party -- you are supposed to be non-partisan!
Date: October 15, 2004 9:08:14 PM EDT
To: blog@rockthevote.com
Cc: events@rockthevote.com, programs@rockthevote.com, sponsor@rockthevote.com, marketing@rockthevote.com, streetteams@rockthevote.com, donate@rockthevote.com, jobs@rockthevote.com, info@rockthevote.com

As an NYU student I am sick of seeing the blatant partisanship that Rock the Vote and the many organizations like you show.

Instead of talking about how there is going to be a draft, why do you not bring in things that are real and are happening? While the draft is important for young people like myself it would be best to at least report the facts. Most especially the fact that it was introduce by two Democratic Congressmen (a Senator and one Representative). Furthermore, it would be best to report that the House of Representatives rejected the Universal National Service Act earlier this month by a vote of 402-2. If you really want to help young people tell them that it was Rep. John Murtha (of the 12th Congressional District of Pennsylvania) and Rep. Pete Stark (of the 13th Congressional District of California). Please tell the millions of young people that it was these two Democrats that supported the draft. Also tell young people that it was Democratic Representative Charles Rangel of the 15th Congressional District of New York that brought up the bill. It would be best for young people to know who is against them as they are the ones supporting such an action. In the issue of fairness it would be best to say how Rep. Rangel voted against his own bill. Informing the youth who it is that voted for this bill is not partisan, it is simply stating the facts without using your own opinions.

On the RNC Chairman's letter, I disagree that you are frightening young voters into not voting. What Rock the Vote is clearly trying to do is to scare voters into voting for the Democratic Party. Instead of lying about how President Bush and Republicans want a draft (which as all evidence shows is completely untrue), I would instead point the facts about how it is Democrats that are talking about "National Service" (see John Kerry's agenda for America.)

It would also be possible to accurately inform young people about the issues accurately. In the "We really need Health Care" article I saw no mention of what President Bush has planned to help the youth. Instead it is a litany of complaints that are, sure enough, meant to push the ignorant youth towards the Democratic party. There is no mention on Health Savings Accounts or on the optional opting out of federal Social Security for a privatized form. Both of these two plans are meant to help the youth escape the failing systems of Social Security and healthcare. The Bush policies on these two issues are meant for young people. It would be best to allow the youth to make a decision before we are forced to retire at the age of 70 or later and an excessive amount of our income is taken from us due to Kerry's proposed Social Security tax hikes. I would also mention in this area that Mr. Kerry does not mention his plan for Social Security at all on his website, but instead only mentions it in passing seven times in 200+ page book one must download. Kerry has publicly said he considers raising taxes in this area and to promote a strong economy. Besides the fact that is simply a cop out, a strong economy over the last twenty years has done nothing to solve the looming failure of Social Security, so why would it change now? It would be best to inform the youth that it is in their interest--not old people's interest--to vote for a candidate that will not continue to push this problem off. Rock the Vote, in countless number of interviews, have said that the reason the youth of this nation fail to vote in large numbers is because they do not feel that they are at stake. Well now they are at stake. One plan offers them an escape from the looming failure of big government Social Security and health care. The other plan is nonexistent. Instead what we do know of this "plan" (if its even possible to call it that) is that the youth will be forced to retire at much later ages and more of our money will be taxed.

Just as a note I realize Mr. Kerry said the retirement age would not be raised. Using your own logic on the draft issue this is to be tossed aside. This comment, however, can be tossed aside using the facts too. He said he wouldn't raise the retirement age for the people close to retirement. This leaves open the fact that the youth will be hit hard by his forced retirement age increase.

Furthermore, in the interest of the youth and health care, it might be best to describe to them in detail the problems of a universal health care system. Again, I would state that while Mr. Kerry has said he is not proposing a universal health care system, I would use the same Draft logic to say that Mr. Kerry is indeed proposing this system. After all, what he is proposing is pretty close to it. Tell the youth to be Pro-Choice. No, not pro-abortion (or even anti-abortion). When I say I am Pro-Choice, I am for choosing my own doctors, my own hospitals, my own clinics, my own health plans, and the choice to not have to schedule my sicknesses so that I'll be able to be seen by the government's doctor (note that it is not my doctor).

Do I expect you to do any of this? Of course not. This is, after-all, Rock the Vote; not an organization that prides itself on telling the youth the truth.

I am 19 and I have voted (by Absentee Ballot). I am not some crazed ultra-conservative from the mid-west. I am a registered Independent from New Jersey and I attend one of the most liberal schools in the nation. I only say this to point out where this outrage is coming from-- not someone who is deeply mired in a crazed ideology (whether it be conservative or liberal).

Thank you,
James J...

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Well I wrote a pretty long letter to them simply because I felt the need to. I dont expect anythign to come of it obviously thats why I went on about Health Care. I felt the need to bring up something other than the draft.