In 2000, I was finally old enough to vote. And as a political science major, I was in the center of the action. Volunteering our time in a call center, my classmates and I gathered statistics from voters across Pennsylvania. With the help of our professor who often appeared on the local news, we learned how to make projections.

But even as a college student, I couldn't pinpoint the root of my interest. When the candidates argued about the Social Security Administration (SSA), I couldn't care less. I knew what the SSA withheld from my paycheck and I knew I'd never see that money again. But let's face it; I had forty-six years to worry about that.

Today, I understand my election addiction. Elections bring the promise of change to our status quo lives, a plethora of progressive ideas to the mainstream, and a glimmer of hope to our once-dreary view of America. With promises of healthcare for all or lower taxes, we begin to feel optimistic about the government we called corrupt only yesterday. And our focus shifts from surviving today to brightening tomorrow.

But in our digital age, designed for short attention spans, sound bites and gossip seem to rule. Important issues that directly affect the lives of millions Americans go unreported. And those with the weakest voices can't he heard above the media's latest buzz.

What do the words Social Security mean to you? Most Americans associate this federal administration with the elderly. Barack Obama does. And by the looks of John McCain's website, he doesn't believe the SSA qualifies as an issue. But I know a handicapped teenager who would argue otherwise. For the sake of his privacy, let's call him John.

John has suffered from a disabling condition since he was a child. He comes from a low income family who struggles to cover the cost of his special needs, so he qualifies for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a subsection of the SSA that benefits disabled children and adults with limited incomes and resources.

When John graduated high school last spring, his grandparents gave him $2,000. Instead of blowing the money like a typical teen, John wanted to save it. But his parents were worried that it might affect his SSI. Just to make sure, they discussed the issue with their bank manager before opening a CD in John's name.

Nine months after John's graduation, he received some bad news in the mail. He was no longer eligible for SSI. To make matters worse, he now owed the SSA more than $10,000 for the "overpaid" benefits he'd received since opening his CD. John's parents tried their best to fix the situation. They liquidated the CD. They hired an attorney who specialized in Social Security law who filed an appeal, asking the SSA to waive the "overpayment." After waiting months for a decision, John's appeal was denied. He had to repay the money.

John's story is one of millions that occur every year. But technically speaking, John was pretty lucky to receive benefits in the first place. More than half of all initial applications for disability benefits and SSI are denied every year. And when disabled Americans appeal these denials, they currently wait up to 14 months for a hearing. How is someone supposed to survive without income for more than a year? What happened to the security aspect of the SSA?

I was never aware of these problems until I started working for John's attorney. Every day, clients call the office asking for hopeful updates that I can't provide. Every day, physical disability leads to a mental disorder like anxiety or insomnia. Every day, another disabled parent falls into depression when they can't provide basic necessities for their families, declare bankruptcy, lose their homes and file for welfare.

In an election year full of hope, who can help the members of our community who need it the most?

McCain, a disabled veteran, has reported Social Security income on his tax returns for the past two years, yet doesn't appear concerned about reforming the SSA. Instead, he clings to Bush's plan for privatized savings accounts. How would that plan benefit the disabled?

While Obama doesn't focus on the disability or SSI branches of the SSA, he has made both disabilities and Social Security key issues in his campaign. And as a senator, he has assisted his constituents when they've had trouble with the SSA.

While it's refreshing to see issues like national healthcare in the headlines, the existing federal assistance programs (Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) should be given an equal amount of attention. These issues might not affect the majority of Americans today, but you never know when a disabling illness will strike or an accident will occur.

Election years should be a time of hope and excitement for all Americans, not just those with the loudest voices. Like Drew pointed out in his recent article, we're all shareholders in this world. And as Gerard mentioned back in March, adopting a cooperative mentality by changing your inertia and taking some action can yield amazing results.

While we focus on issues that matter to us this election year, we should take a moment to step outside our individual worlds and consider the issues that are important to others. Let's not forget, disabled Americans are shareholders too.