Long election is good for country

For the past few months, primary season has been in full swing as the Democratic and Republican nominees for president have done battle in debates and other public forums to determine a winner in one of the most exciting presidential races.

At this point in the race, some might say the amount of time and money that has been put into each candidate's campaign is overly excessive and the majority of the American public would rather see an end to the long electoral process rather than a continuation of the race that would never end.

While a long election can be taxing on the candidates, a longer campaign process is valuable and beneficial to the voters. The younger generation of this country is so often accused of being apathetic and uninterested in politics.

A longer election in which the candidates are given more opportunities to speak publicly about their issues and policies gives the American people more chances to get involved in the political process.

The competitiveness of this election has brought back the true meaning of the American political system - to give each citizen a voice in who leads their country.

States with lower voter turnout or unimportant primary results in the past have now played an important role in deciding the democratic nominee. For the first time in decades, every citizen's vote really matters and one primary can mean the difference between the White House and nothing at all.

As a result, voter turnout is higher than it ever has been in nearly every state, despite the fact that it has been on the decline in recent years.

The longer campaigns have also brought important issues like the war in Iraq and the environment to the forefront. More people have had the chance to hear a wider variety of positions and opinions on important topics and will be able to make a better-informed decision come Election Day.

The 2008 election may be longer and more drawn out than others before it, but knowing who you are voting for and being able to play an actual role in the future of the country is well worth it.

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