Money, the real political motivator

Another editorial published in CSUF's Daily Titan newspaper on Oct. 20

Ideas about politics and voting have begun to trickle into the minds of America's younger generations.

Political events, like the tumultuous winding down of a dubious presidency and the brawl between democrats and republicans, both equipped with people geared up to change history, have helped clutch the attention of young voters. Then we read stories about voter registration fraud and we think, "Why bother?"

According to a Los Angeles Times article written by Evan Halper and Michael Rothfeld in Saturday's California section, voters are allegedly being tricked into registering as republicans while signing petitions they believe are focused on real issues, such as strengthening punishments for child molesters. Unsuspecting signers will arrive at their polling places and be handed republican ballots.

The people reportedly offering these fraudulent petitions are from a firm hired by the California Republican Party called Young Political Majors. According to the sources in the article, these people are gathering signatures in public places such as outside of supermarkets and are operating throughout the country.

Apparently, people are also led to believe that in order to fill out a petition they must register as a republican, but then are reassured their affiliation is secure. Later they find out they were lied to.

Maybe we should be questioning ourselves. We've been told not to trust strangers since before we were shoved from the comforts of our home to make our first solo jaunt to school. Are we forgetting the little lessons in life? Our society needs to slow down, mellow out and read the fine print.

This is not an isolated incident. This dirty political scheme is a cyclical situation and needs to be stifled. Democratic signature-gatherers have been accused in the past also. According to the article, the FBI is investigating the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now for filing false voter registrations in a number of states. Also, eight ACORN members pleaded guilty in April to turning in doctored registration cards in 2006.

These deceiving actions are prime examples of why we shouldn’t sign anything without reading the small text. Or at least they offer a solid justification to madly dash past people bombarding us with reasons to release our signature.

The Times article reported the YPM firm had been accused of this tactic before, but have denied the accusations. A republican party spokesman said it had never been charged with a crime.

The initial response to this situation was to blame dirty politics, but when the Times reporters followed the money it became clear that these people, if they are indeed duping the public, are reaping $7-12 for each registration. Of course, it may only be about money. These people might not care if Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama is elected. They may only care about a buck.

We have enough criminals in the world. There's no reason to pollute an already sketchy system. Leave the democratic process alone. At a crucial point in time when politicians have the full attention of the young, the country cannot allow political deviance to deter these potential leaders. If we fail to keep them interested, then we are truly the dumbest animals on Earth.