It is not surprising that many young Americans today are apathetic about the state of our government and political system. We face a daunting future of melting ice caps, energy insecurity, and the end of our hegemonic dominance as the world’s one true superpower. We are desensitized to the murders, famines, epidemics, and genocides that regularly appear on TV. Our own daily challenges distract us from the greater perils of our world. When I wake up, I don’t worry about the problems posed by AIDS, cancer, and Darfur. I worry about my next big test, and asking out that cute girl in astronomy class. But come Nov. 4, it’s time to forget about our trivialities and take a look at the big picture.

There are a few common complaints and misconceptions about voting. Will the election of a single person lead to any significant changes in our country? Aren’t all politicians the same? Our two party system’s political spectrum seems to narrow each election. In 2008 we have seen John McCain bragging about how un-Republican he is, and Obama has continued the Democratic tradition of disowning the much feared moniker “liberal.” Even if these guys are different, what effect will they have on my life, anyways?

The world is more interconnected than ever before, and what happens in Afghanistan affects what happens in Arkansas. Here at Cornell, New Yorkers should know better than any that we cannot ignore the world around us and hope to live our everyday lives in peace. It was our politicians who helped the Taliban wage a war against the USSR in the late 80’s, and proceeded to leave Afghanistan in pieces, emboldening the extremists who sought to sow their messages of hate and violence against the West. Whoever we elect this election will be our ambassador to the world. In the past decade, our president, who has ignored all advice from our friends and enemies alike, has largely diminished the alliances and security we built over the past century.

But obviously national security is not the only area that the President exerts an enormous influence over. For example, the president chooses Supreme Court Justices who judge the evolving standards of decency of today’s society; today’s candidates offer vastly differing views on the death penalty, abortion, and gun control (just to name a few). I don’t care if you live 100 miles from civilization on a self-sufficient farm, you still own a piece of the government with the taxes you pay, and you are subject to the laws it passes. Any citizen of the United States will feel the reverberations of this election for years to come.

For the sake of argument, let’s agree that it really does matter who we elect this Nov. 4. But if you are from a state like New York or Utah, your states’ electoral votes are most likely predetermined, with or without your vote. It is easy to feel like your voice is a drop in an ocean. If you aren’t Jimbo the Janitor from Ohio, or Sally the Stereotype from Virginia, does your vote even count?

It’s no big surprise that our national election in which more than one hundred million people will participate, will not be decided by a single vote. Even if you do live in the most contested battle ground state, you will still not single-handedly decide the election. Regardless of the turf you call home, your vote will factor into the margin of victory of our next president. Politicians who treat a 50.7 percent win as a mandate to follow their most partisan ideals tend to wind up enormously unpopular (see Bush, George W.). Voting matters both in principle and in practice. Picking up a piece of trash will not clean our oceans, enlisting in the armed forces will not keep our country safe, and donating a dollar to charity will not eradicate world hunger. But genocide is stopped, diseases are cured, and our planet will be saved by individuals’ contributions and sacrifices towards greater goals.

If you are a Republican, and you have decided that Obama has already won the election, you still must cast your vote. Let Obama know that he will have to govern on a centrist platform, unless he wishes to alienate the 45 percent of the country who voted against him. And if you are a bleeding heart liberal from New York City, you also must vote. A Democratic landslide this election will send the message that we are tired of the right wing policies of the past eight years, and are ready to move our country in a new direction. Most of all, vote, because you have absolutely no right to bitch and moan about the state of our world if you haven’t done anything to fix it. I’ll see you at the polls Nov. 4.

Gabriel Dobbs is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is a contributing columnist at The Sun.