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Seniors are very important to elections in U.S.
By Tiffany Chang
The candidates of both the parties put a great deal of attention to the problems of social security, Medicare insurance, etc. during the campaign activities this year. The proper implementation and improvement of these two policies has been concerned by most of the voters, especially the voters of the seniors level. Moreover, the seniors put an eye on these two policies as the key concern of whom they should elect.
The elder voters, was named as silver race. In Chinese community, they were respected as "senior specialists." This is because of the tradition of "respect the elders and courtesy to the good and knowledgeable persons" in the oriental. There was a slogan that "It is the heaven of children, but the grave of old people" in the United States, but the benefit and willingness of the silver race has been emphasized actually in the recent years.
"The ratio of voting of the silver race is higher. According to a statistics, in the previous years the elder over 65 had a voting rates of two-third. It is much higher than other races of age. According to the statistics by Professor Robert Binstock of Western Reserve University: The silver voters had a population of 15.4 among the voters in 1968. The ratio was raised to 20.3 in 1996. This has been reflected by the continuously advanced of the medical and medicine science and technology and the promotion of the level of nutrition and serenitation. Because of these reasons, the average years of life has been extended, and the population of elders was increasing. At the same time, this reveals that the more increase of a person's age, experience, and maturity, the more she or she values his or her rights. They are using their votes to express their willingness. This has been an important way of democracy ("for the people"). For example, the importance of the system of social security should only be improved but not be forsaken. The mutural recognition on these facts by both of the parties has been related closely to the concern of the voting tendency of the silver race," said Dr. Tony Lei, President of Washington Business and Technology Institute.
"The result from scholars' research revealed that silver race are enthusiastic reader of newspapers. They watched the news programs on TV frequently. Their understanding on political situation are better than any other races. At the same time, they are also the positive participants of all the campaign activities. In every elections levels, they are always the main stream of volunteers. They operate the headquarters of telephones, separate every publicity and information, and attend the speeches and debates of many candidates. They joined these activities much enthusiastically than any other race and group. It is because on the one hand they concerned about politics, on the other hand they found that it is one of their responsibility to be a citizen to take the job as volunteers for they are mostly retired and have more leisure time."
"Seniors are experienced and knowledgeable after their long years of personal careers and accomplishments. They have a deeply and better understanding on the difficulty and bitterness faces everybody in this world. These made them to the tendency of conservative and affirmtiveness and not agree with unreasonable and abruptly changes. They are a great deal of power for the affirnmtiveness and certainty on this drastically changed society," Dr. Lei continued.
"In the white, Asian, Hispannic, and African American communities, especially in those big cities like in Nevada, the silver race has a very high ratio among the populations. It has become an important issue of how we can maintain our righteous benefits through the use of our voting power. Therefore, we, all the seniors, must value our voting ability and go enthusiastically to vote. Moreover, we must put all our attention and effort in understanding the personal affairs and political opinions of each and every candidates. The right decision of our seniors is not only for ourselves the seniors but also for the efforts to help our society in mutual uniteness and peaceful integrity."
On March 8, 2000, Seniors United (SU) held a Forum by its President Lillian Wallace at the West Flamingo Senior Center. Dr. Tony Lei, Executive Vice President of SU, was the Program Director. The invited guest speakers were Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette McDonald, Clark County Assessor Mark Schofield, President of Blindconnect Jean Peyton, and dianne Nangaro, R.N.C., A.P.N. All the speakers were knowledgable and valuable. Speakers were applauded by officials, scholars, executives, and members with whom the hall was filled. |
