By Madeline Ramirez
A common adage I hear from fellow classmates in high school is, “I don’t care about politics.” I’m struck with confusion upon hearing those words.
Beyond the mandated high school classes on United States history and government, teenagers aren’t required to keep up with current events in the country. We can access news through our smartphones and laptops, yet most of us know little about major political topics such as President Donald Trump’s impeachment and new legislation. Instead, we know way more about celebrities and social media trends. Ask anyone their favorite Youtube channel and you’ll get an immediate response. Ask anyone their preferred presidential candidate for 2020 and you’ll a blank stare.
The most common excuse for not being up to date with politics is that they’re “boring,” but that doesn’t have to be true. When you get involved in politics, you’ll understand how dynamic and powerful they are. Many teens have basic personal ideologies regarding government functions, what we believe the government should and shouldn’t do; it’s our task as the country’s incoming wave of adults to voice those ideas to our political representatives to shape a better, democratic nation.
It’s important for teenagers to care about politics because this is the world we’re preparing to inhabit. Our entire lives are soon going to be completely under our own care and liability. We need to have the guts to fight for what we’ve grown to believe in and the knowledge to guide us through proper motions.
Not caring about politics is how those in office manipulate legislation for their benefit. There’s a key difference between an unhappy citizen and an empowered one: participation. Educating yourself on major issues prepares you to enter the political landscape and demonstrate what you value as a citizen of the United States of America.
I urge you to look beyond the CNN 10 in government class and to explore your personal beliefs for how our country should be. Pre-register to vote. Read about the impeachment. Research the upcoming 2020 candidates. Learn about the new bills coming into effect this year and how they affect your life.
We are quite literally the masters of our own destiny and exert more power as citizens and over those in office than we think we do. It’s our job to participate.
