With the infamous Iowa caucus and the first Primaries (in New Hampshire, if you haven’t been paying much attention) out of the way, the 2008 election is on. Not that it wasn’t really on before - I couldn’t open a web page or turn on the radio without hearing something about Obama, Hillary or Huckabee – but we have officially entered a new phase. And things are about to get serious.

Welcome to Primary Season, the time when we get out and vote for the candidate we want representing our party in the run for the Oval Office. This might seem completely boring/unimportant- ”who the hell is this Barack Obama character, anyway” to you, but it is quite the opposite.

There are currently a slew of Democratic and Republican candidates traipsing across the country in attempts to become our next President. Only one of each will have the opportunity to go for the gold. And only one will actually take it.

And, might I remind you, the man or woman who finally moves into the White House in 2008 is completely up to us. Yes, even you.

I know that discussing politics is not the top priority of many college students. What with more important topics like class, partying and reality TV, who even has the time? But it should be; especially now.

As adults who will be entering the work force sometime in the next four years, this election will affect you most. You will soon be paying income taxes, purchasing health insurance and buying your first home, which, among others, all happen to be major topics for the candidates right now.

You may not need to think about these things right now, but the President elected in 2008 will have a huge impact on your life in the not-so-distant future. Sitting back and letting this election (and even the Primaries!) pass you by could come back and haunt you down the road.

Which is why I ask – beg, even – that you start talking politics now. Ask the important questions, research the candidates and educate yourself on the topics and issues that will affect you most. Watch the news, read it online or listen to it on the radio; anything to stay on top of what is going on with our country.

The election is upon us and it is time to get involved. Don’t know where to start? Try these sites on for size:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/
http://news.yahoo.com/elections

Or any of the candidates own sites (find em on Google or Myspace)