Oh yes, elections. Time again for five percent of a populace to release it’s incredible passion for government and governed, and time again for 95 percent to once again dopily ask, “What just happened?” a month after winners are declared. It’s actually a fairly exciting time, with candidates scrambling to put together idealistic images of who they want you to believe they are.
But why,oh,why should you care?
I am one of the first to say that this is ultimately not a matter of life and death. No apartheid can come of it, or any reformation of major laws or anything else that makes typical elections important. But I am also one of the first to say that the true election system of this country, which ultimately does have the power to affect the lives of everyone on this earth, has more than a handful of screws loose, shortcomings which demand reform both immediate and long term. This requires, of course, a small handful of people intimately familiar with the role of a governor, and a huge serving of people who understand the election system and are savvy at picking capable candidates. It is the latter which the United States is in most dire need of, people who can interact with candidates and vote with confidence.
This is why student body government is important, not just because of the implementation of student voice in policy otherwise ruled by the mysterious old people in the back room, but so that we might prepare ourselves for the “real world” of politics, where the duty of the majority is not to simply observe and judge, but to raise their voices and cry out what it is that they want, what they need, and what they’re going to get one way or another. It’s a civic role that’s best to start working on early.
For instance, there is something very important in the nature of politics in this country that one might observe by reading up on the rules of running for ASG. One of those rules clearly states that no candidate is allowed to spend more than $100 on their campaign, so as to force the competitors to compete on even grounds and allow the best woman or man to win, despite financial differences. Now, ask yourself, how does my nation handle such matters? Are t here such safeguards in place to ensure that corrupt money cannot be used to force a campaign forward in the world of real politics, where lives literally hang in the balance?
Election day is fast approaching.Amidst homework and tests, studying and that small increment of actual hangout time, many are going to place this election low on their list of priorities. Find time. On the bus, in the halls, in the restroom; read up on these candidates, read up on the election and talk to them to find out more. In this modern world, you have the power to change the system. Do so.
