The United States of America has a great democratic tradition, one that in spite a few hiccups along the way is admired and envied by much of the world; except it seems by many Americans. Among Western democracies the United States has one of the lowest rates of voter turnout,
Although it has climbed in recent years with the 2008 elections having a 57% turnout, and the prior elections in 2004 and 2000 having turnout rates of 56% and 51% respectively, (a spike that may be due to the popularity at the time of candidate Obama, or prior to that the divisions created during the Bush presidency). It still appears that many Americans - over forty percent of them - do not bother coming out on election day to make sure their voices are heard - and this from a population that regularly complains their politicians don't listen to them. Maybe it's because such a large portion of the population has decided to let someone else speak on their behalf. Hardly the revolutionary American ideal.
This is in spite of several celebrity campaigns geared to get more Americans to the polls on voting day. Remember Rock the Vote? Or the 'Vote or Die', which included such guiding lights as P Diddy and Madonna, (who it was later revealed neither voted nor died in the ensuing campaign). Although garnering much publicity it is obvious none of these celebrity campaigns have been bringing out the voters in droves.
So for the sake of my American brethren, I'd like to make my own contribution to trying to get people to their polling stations in this November's election, I'll call it by the simple understated name of : 'Don't Forget the Vote'
Now every campaign needs a slogan or a song, so here's my attempt at a little hip hop rap to get folks hopping to the polls this November:
Don’t Forget the Vote
Hey yo...
This November let’s remember
Have your voice, make a choice
Don’t forget the vote, don’t forget the vote
Obama-nation, Mitt’s your station
Be someone, have your say in
Don’t forget to vote, don’t forget the vote
Yo...
Black, Caucausion, Latin, Asian
Hello everybody of mixed persuasion
Don’t forget the vote, don’t forget the vote
So....
Posers fake it, dancers shake it
Wall St knows if there’s money they’ll make it
Don’t forget the vote, don’t forget the vote...
That's right, Don't Forget the Vote ya'll!!
