When I was younger, I imagined how great it must be to be able to vote. My older cousins would have conversations with my parents about politics, and when I’d ask what they were talking about, they said it was a discussion for grown-ups. I wanted to participate in similar conversations. I knew I could vote once I was 18; that was the magic number.

Now that I am actually 18, I’ve realized that there is no magic number; a person could be 26 and be as immature as a 16-year-old. I don’t feel the need to vote anymore, and it’s mainly because I don’t trust politicians.

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My distrust formed over the years, as I learned how various politicians were involved in inappropriate behavior like sex scandals, and how many of them make promises they never keep. People hear those promises and become infatuated with the idea that this leader will make their lives better, but that doesn’t quite happen.

Our current president, Barack Obama, made some promises that he has fulfilled, others that he hasn’t fulfilled, and others that he compromised on. According to the website politifact.com, a nonpartisan (neither Republican- nor Democrat-affiliated) website that tracks politicians’ promises, Obama has kept 36% of his promises, broken 14% of them, and compromised on 11% of them (others are stalled or in the works).

image by YC-Art Dept

For example, he kept a promise to end the use of torture to interrogate U.S. prisoners, but he broke a promise to close the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. On another promise to restrict the government’s ability to wiretap, or listen in to certain people’s phone conversations, he compromised: He made some changes to the way things are done, but not as many as he suggested he would.

After looking at politifact, I was surprised that Obama kept as many promises as he did. But my distaste for politicians runs a little deeper. I feel there are so many problems that need to be addressed, and I don’t see our leaders doing much about it.

So many people have been laid off and can’t find another job; I would like to see more jobs available. I would like to see college tuitions decrease, because the numbers now are absolutely ridiculous, especially when you are not guaranteed a job after graduation.

These things discourage me from voting, even though I know that it is a privilege to be able to vote because voting gives you a say in the world. Once I wanted to vote so my voice would be heard. Now I feel that, even if I do vote, my voice will be only a whisper. Still, I’m not 100% sure that I won’t vote. Somewhere down the line, something might happen to give me encouragement.

Just turned 18? Read “How to Register to Vote”