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Printer-Friendly ModeTo care or not to care: Politics still affect the unengaged
March 1, 2010 —
While daydreaming in class a few weeks ago, I had a vision of swarms of people running for the hills screaming bloody murder.
What caused this exaggerated mass panic? The mention of the word “politics.”
Before you turn the page and say highly inappropriate things about this piece, hear me out.
This contemplation came after a conversation with a friend who couldn’t understand why people aren’t as involved as he believes they should be. The comments that drive him the craziest involve lack of interest in the most controversial issues, being uninformed about current affairs, and his personal kryptonite, saying that you just don’t care.
Having a double major in communication and English, as well as a marketing minor, it might be difficult to imagine why I’ve taken such an interest in politics. I can tell you in a short, simple answer: politics affects everything and everyone.
I learned this fact at a young age from my family. My parents wanted me to be informed about current events and to come to my own conclusions and opinions, regardless of age. Dinner time was meant for sharing the news we had seen and heard throughout the day. Because of this, I was more aware of the upcoming presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush than my fifth-grade classmates at St. Mary’s Catholic School. I even knew who I wanted to win based on their respective platforms.
I appreciate that my parents pushed me to stay informed about current issues. I’m also thankful that they encouraged me to get involved in some way if I didn’t like what was happening. They prepared me to be successfully active and informed not only in school, but in my life.
Following my stay at SVSU, I plan to pursue a career in public relations. You might be wondering how politics could possibly influence my plans, but there is more of a political influence in this profession than meets the eye. This influence is caused by regulations created by the Federal Trade Commission and the Security and Exchanges Commission, copyright law, and the always popular libel and slander laws, just to name a few.
It’s really a simple concept to grasp: Politics affects you. You are not exempt.
If you don’t like what’s going on, the solution is also simple: find a way to get involved and change it.
The most important issues debated in the political arena right now affect the most popular majors at SVSU.
If you’re entering into any part of the medical profession, will the quality of health care that you provide change if health care reform passes? Will insurance reform affect your quality of care as well?
If you’re planning to be a teacher, can you still teach students to the best of your ability if funding for both your own higher education and K-12 schools continues to disappear? How will your students survive in the real world with the changing high school graduation requirements?
If you’re going into criminal justice, aren’t you concerned with how you can protect citizens with changing laws or if funding for police and fire decreases? Can you keep citizens just as safe if prisons close?
I encourage you to look into when and where the political campus groups meet. They include the college Democrats and Republicans, as well as the Political Science Student Association. Put aside any negativity toward politics and listen to what they have to say and what they can offer.
Regardless of party affiliation or interests, it is crucial to invest some interest and concern with politics. But most importantly, take an active role for the good of your future. The politics of today affect all of us and our future.