“All this political talk is getting annoying, everyone should just accept reality and deal with Donald Trump as he is.” — Facebook, the day after the election.
I feel like I need to add a disclaimer, before getting into the core issue, so that the message will be less about who won or who lost, but more about the reaction. While I supported Hillary Clinton during the election and have strong feelings about the new president-elect, I am attempting to write this article from an unbiased standpoint. I understand that both sides had flaws and their strong points, but that is not the point I wish to bring to light. With that said, I hope the core of what I am writing is understood.
Leading up to this year’s election, I was proud of my peers for being so active in the political world. I witnessed anything from participation in political outreach to simple debates in about highly educated topics. My peers were outspoken and challenged the truth about how mainstream media covered the candidates. I felt proud and hopeful that my generation’s political activism was finally going to make a difference; however, as soon as the the election was over I became deeply disappointed in the actions of my generation.
As soon as five hours after Donald Trump was declared president-elect, there was a general sense that there was nothing more to be done and that the half a year of being politically active. When Donald Trump released his plan for his first 100 days, I was surprised that almost no one was talking about and debating the policies he wished to edit, destroy or add. It was as if as soon as Donald Trump was chosen to be president-elect, all hope was lost. Even those who supported him did not care to follow his plan once he was not restricted to what would get him elected. A public who no longer follows what their elected politicians are planning could create a dangerous situation where the government no longer reflects the “for the people” value we hold in America.
The trend I have noticed recently is that people are finding discussions about politics to be annoying now that the election is over. While it is very easy to say, “I voted and thus I am done with my American duty,” there is much more still left to be done. For those supporting Donald Trump, it is still important to pay attention to the policies he is creating and how the Senate and Congress are reacting. For those against Donald Trump, it is even more important to stay alert and informed. Without citizens staying educated on current events, it is far more likely that unpopular policies will be created and fly under the radar. With so many people being afraid of what actions Trump may take as president, it is especially important to have the citizens of this country be an additional check that the policies must be approved of. Even staying informed is a key step to preventing an unchecked government.
So to all of those who want the political talk to stop once the president-elect is chosen, please reconsider. Voting is only the first step to an involved American. While it is easy to say “what's done is done,” there is no reason to become apathetic. Politicians should be monitored by the public they are meant to serve more than quadrennially. Next time someone attempts to bring up an issue they find important, remember that they are only attempting to do their part of being an American.
