Midterm elections should demand everyone's attention because just like the “major” elections, a lot can happen in two years. The difference between a conservative and a liberal majority in the House and Senate means two drastically different futures for our country. Consider how much--for good or bad--the liberal Congress has accomplished in two years. That trend will either continue if enough incumbents retain their positions, or a conservative majority will moderate the president's agenda. These 2010 midterm elections will set the course of our country for the next two years, so how could I not care about them?

I enjoy a love-hate relationship with politics. Sometimes I can talk about it for hours with people that have insight into our political system. I think it is vital that all Americans, teenagers included, discuss and are educated about politics. I've never understood why politics is a taboo conversational topic. It is dangerous to encourage people to breeze over their thoughts on our government. Suppressing conversation between citizens about politics only breeds ignorance and leaves people uninformed about the various viewpoints that accompany all issues.

Since I am not currently old enough to vote, I don't necessarily collect information on all individual candidates, but I find out as much as I can about the Republican/Democrat dynamics and pay close attention to the decisions of the government. Those decisions often occupy my thoughts, especially the ones concerning fiscal policy, because I know that I will begin paying for them soon. It is immensely important for me to figure out where I stand on certain issues.
           
I am also, at times, very cynical when it comes to politics. I learned a while ago (which has only been emphasized by the actions of President Obama) that voters can rarely trust what politicians say they will do when they get into office. People can be as idealistic as they want, but what it comes down to is finding candidates who will walk the talk and make decisions that most closely coincide with my views. As a voter, you have to sift through the fluff of politicians who want to get elected and reelected.

Politics and its influence on young people

Generally, my parents would call themselves conservatives, but not necessarily Republicans, because they believe that recently even the Republican Party has taken a turn in the wrong direction. Their political affiliation significantly influences me because I respect them more than any other people in the world. They have worked hard to get where they are in life and never take it for granted. In a world of rapidly dissolving moral fiber, they have maintained lives that I would proudly live. They are honest and hardworking, and they hold higher standards for themselves than others. Instead of regurgitating what they hear from politicians, they form their own views and hope for someone to represent what they believe to be right.

Although I can't say for sure, I honestly think most of my peers couldn't care less about politics in general, much less the midterm elections. I've noticed an attitude adopted by many students. I'm not even old enough to vote yet, so what's the point? I can easily relate; as a teenager, it seems like no one respects your opinion anyway, regardless of what you think, so many just don't even bother considering politics.

In the Florida mid-terms I want Marco Rubio to win the Senate race because, although no one matches perfectly to my preferences, he is the closest by far. Rubio wants to limit government spending and taxes. He supports the second amendment, which to me represents a significant characteristic of a person's attitude toward government interference in the lives of citizens. These stances carry deeper meaning for me than just the issues themselves. Rubio opposes the federal health care plan and advocates the private plan and that automatically gets my vote. However, for example, I am against giving any advantages to people based on race, period. No one wants to give me advantages because I'm white. That's fine, but no one else should get them based on their race either. Charlie Christ's more recent policies as governor seemed too liberal to me, and I fear that he will only continue that trend as a Florida senator. And finally, Meek's positions just conflict too much with my principle views.

Ali is a junior at H.B. Plant High School and is a staff writer for the Pep O' Plant, the high school's newspaper that serves 2, 200 students.