Why do they say this? Some members think that Romney is far too moderate and is only disguising himself as a conservative in order to gain votes. Most accuse Romney of being a RINO, while others think he concentrates too much on enticing the independents or moderates. Most of the members of the Tea Party are far right conservatives, and they feel that Romney could possibly win their support if he gave a genuine effort to appeal to the party he is running with.

Now whether this is true or not can be further discussed later. Now, I would like to touch on a different aspect of the issue: the problem resulting from the abstention of voting.

So it's not a big deal that some Republicans don't want to vote, right? Wrong. It's not even the fact that it's the Republican Party that is refusing to vote. The underlying issue is that by a citizen not voting, he is relinquishing his civil right of suffrage that took years and years to gain. The fact is that by voting, you are letting your voice be heard. You are making a difference whenever you check that box and cast your ballot. Voting is not something to be taken lightly or overlooked, but so often these days it has become an option when just a few decades ago it was a priority.

The report that I read quoted Ana Puig, the state director of FreedomWorks and the co-chairwoman of Bucks County's Kitchen Table Patriots tea party group, along with Scott Burkholder, an organizer in the York County 912 Patriots. Both of them agree that many tea party members not voting could be dangerous. Puig also seems to think that not voting at all is the same as voting for the Democrat incumbent, Barack Obama.

I'd have to agree with both of these statements. From my point of view, voting is seen as the one chance to let your voice be heard above the masses. You have an opportunity to change the outcome, but when you surrender this right, you also deny and reject your duty. People fought and died for the right to gain suffrage; the United States is a republic where people are able to let their voices be heard. So often this liberty is taken for granted, but it's always important to remember that this liberty was not free—it came with a price.

No candidate is perfect. Neither is any registered voter. Don't let that deter you; if you don't vote, you have let your chance to speak slip away. Research your candidates, and find out about the things that the television commercials aren't telling you. Know what you stand for and support the man who stands for those same things. If you don't vote, you relinquish your liberty and therefore have no right to complain. Don't abstain from voting, for one day we may not possess this great right and liberty that we do today.

Everyone has been hearing about the budget cuts in the news—often now most people will just roll their eyes, because these two words have become so jaded. The government is cutting this, and cutting that. Public schools are trying to stay afloat. For some, these articles of news are not much more than mere statistics. It doesn't affect them, so why bother getting upset over it?

This new piece of news is hitting home for more people: that the Harrisburg school district may be forced to cut athletics, extracurricular activities, band, and worst of all, kindergarten.

Kindergarten. When a child's education officially begins. The age that the anticipation of learning starts. For five and six-year-olds, school and learning are exciting. Now Harrisburg might be forced to take that away because of money.

Of course parents are outraged, and with good reason. All the years of planning that were poured into giving their children the best they possibly could all comes down to this. These parents realize that kindergarten, although filled with much fun and not particularly challenging for most, is a crucial year in a child's education. If this year is skipped, that child's education could be pushed back a year, if not more.

What about athletics, and band, and extracurricular activities? From a parent's perspective, all these activities are important to the growth and formation of their children. Some families dedicate their weekends and ultimately a large portion of their lives in order to watch and support their children who are involved with athletics and band. Countless hours of discipline go into practice and rehearsal, and for some, this is the only way to obtain their dreams of attending a college.

What about from a high school student's perspective? Not only are these students upset just like their parents, but they are downcast. They see their dreams dashed in front of them. For some, these extracurricular activities were the only things keeping them off the streets and out of drugs. Now these students are left with no programs to pursue, and it would not be surprising if the gangs gained a few more members this fall.

I know a young man who goes to Harrisburg High. He is funny and outgoing, and very dedicated to whatever he does. Most importantly though, he has a dream. A big dream. This dream is to become a United States Marine, and he has already started training and preparing. But what will he be left with when all the activities that helped him succeed are taken away? Will he be forced to look for other activities in the streets? So many young people are gifted, and if these programs are erased, so are their dreams.

So, be grateful for the years you've had in school, pursuing activities and programs that brought you and other students in your community together. Remember the fun you had, the opportunities you were presented with, and the insight you gained from these experiences. Then remember a young boy or girl, standing by the bus stop all ready to start his or her school career, and having the bus never come. Think about a young potential Marine with a desire to be the best at everything. Then think about the future of these kids. And then think of something that can be done to stop the destruction of childhood dreams.

High school students do care about the world and the leaders who are guiding us into the coming years of the 21st century. We do want to be involved in government and informed on what is happening inside the walls of our city, state, and federal capitals. We, as a generation, desire to make a difference. The reason the age to vote was changed from 21 years old to 18 years old was the simple fact that men who fought for their country desired to also have a say in the direction the country was going. This basic human yearning has not changed throughout the decades and centuries and the voices of those who wish to be heard continue to echo throughout the years.

Now of course there are exceptions to every rule. Not every high school student will care, or even pretend to be interested. Some will shrug their shoulders when asked what they think about the latest budget cuts in the Harrisburg school district, and others will go as far as to relinquish their civil right to vote.

Yet there are others who care. That’s the main purpose of this blog; it’s not only meant to inform, but to get a valid and strong point across: that youth do care about the direction the world is going in. If youth aren’t involved in politics now, what will happen when the previous generation dies off? Who will be the future leaders? That is why it is so crucial to allow youth a say in politics, and not to look down on them because society tells you that they’ll have their turn some day. How did all the great leaders come about? By being involved. By actively participating. By not being held back, despite what society told them. And years later the society that tried to hold them back upheld them.

This is the whole point of my blog: to show readers that youth can be just as politically-minded as adults can, to prove to the world that not all youth are lazy and uninformed, and lastly, to encourage my fellow peers to exercise their civil rights, for these rights become their duties.