For reasons that I cannot understand, it is a common theme among people my age to, "not care" about politics or the things that go on within politics. In fact, the U.S Census Bureau put out a statistic stating that only 38% of people between the ages of 18 to 24 actually go out and vote. My question is, why is this? Why do young people not understand the importance of politics when throughout their entire lives they've been experiencing and taking part in similar actions without even realizing it?
Think about it.
The first government-like system you probably were exposed to as a child was Capitalism. Capitalism is defined as: an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state. You may be asking yourself, "how does this relate to me as a child?" Well, if you think back to your younger days, did you ever stand at the end of your driveway or at the corner of your street and hold a lemonade stand? If you did, then believe it or not, you took part in Capitalism.
Another government-like system you participated in as a child or teen was Democracy. Democracy is defined as: a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. Think back to your middle school and high school days, did you ever sit through a seminar listening to your fellow peers give speeches on what they could do to make your school a better place? Did you fill out a ballot for which person you thought could do the best job? Did you take part in electing the Student Council President, Vice President, Secretary, or other positions? If so, you also took part in a Democracy.
In addition to democracy in school systems, there is also another government-like system that takes place in schools and that is, Dictatorship. A dictatorship is defined as: a form of government where a country is ruled by one person or political entity, and exercised through various mechanisms to ensure the entity's power remains strong. Thinking back once again to your middle school and high school days, that one ruler, was your principal and the mechanisms ensuring that entities power, was your administration. The principal was the head of your school, the one who enforced rules and gave punishment when you went against these rules. Although, we do not have a dictatorship in this country, it is still a concept that is important to understand. So, if you ever went to a school where there was a principal as the head and an administration that works under this principal to make sure that their rules are followed, you also were a part of a Dictatorship.
If you take my examples above, I'm sure that there are many other situations that you encounter in your everyday life, where you experience government-like situations or systems. This is where I pose an important question: When people have been experiencing government-like systems their whole lives and been an active, living member of society, why do they choose to abandon politics at a point in their lives when politics are SO crucial?
If during your middle school days you could see the importance of electing a Student Council President who you believed could make your schooling experience the best it could possibly be, why do you not see the Presidential election to be just as, if not MORE important?
Why now? Why during the time when you can make an active difference in your town, state or country, do you choose to abandon the idea of politics and think that they aren't important? We are the next generation of people who will be taking over this country; governing it, running it, voting in and being a part of big, important elections and policy making. Now is the time for you to get more involved than you have ever been before. Now is the time for you to care and pay attention to the important things going on around you every single day. Take responsibility. Participate in your democracy and have your voice heard.
