One of the main gripes that a lot of people have when it comes to the political system is that they just don’t see how any of it applies to them. Politicians debate endlessly over countless issues, but life goes on much like it always has. The truth, however, is that life-altering changes are made within the government on a daily basis, and citizens who are informed stand a much better chance of either capitalizing on those changes or fighting the ones that don’t benefit them.
In this post:
Energy Policy
One of the hottest topics in political spheres is energy. Oil is going to run out within a century no matter what anyone does, and many of the areas that could be drilled are too dangerous to touch. Ecological disasters have such a massive impact that it’s difficult for anyone to wrap their head around the implications of oil spills and the like, but the entire future of the human species could hinge on policy decisions being made today. Even someone who isn’t concerned about the environment should be able to see that sustainable energy is necessary for civilization to continue in the long run, and investing in new sources of energy creates millions of jobs that wouldn’t exist otherwise.
The Economy
America isn’t quite the powerhouse that it used to be, but that doesn’t mean its best days are behind it. There are plenty of bills being debated right now that could completely alter the future of America and its people, and it hinges on whether those at the top are given more leeway or less. The policies that are most beneficial to everyone generally aren’t favored by those who want to claim more resources for themselves, and they’ve tricked a lot of people into thinking that giving them free reign is the path to prosperity. That’s not the case, but if the politicians who are funded by Goldman Sachs continue to win elections, that’s what they will do.
Education
Not everyone is in favor of funding the US educational system, and something that few news sources talk about is how much less public funding universities get when compared to the historical norms. That’s important because it’s largely responsible for the huge hikes in the cost of college tuition. Professors used to get the majority of their money through tax dollars, but the budget for higher education has been reduced to almost nothing. Schools then have to get their money from students, and they mostly lack the ability to pay. This feeds into a vicious cycle where college becomes perpetually more expensive, and the only way to stop it is for more people to get involved.
Everyone can Make a Difference
The most important thing that anyone can do is vote. It might seem pointless, and it’s true that one vote generally doesn’t make a difference in presidential elections. However, there are numerous decisions every voter is asked to make on the ballot, and the sum of those choices is in many ways more important than anything else on election day. It’s only one part of a larger process, and there are countless ways to get involved, but voters always have more leverage than non-voters, and it’s a way for everyone to have a say in important policy issues.
Harry Grant writes for an education journal. Interested in pursuing your masters in public administration? Check out the programs at onlinempa.usfca.edu and www.nyu.edu.
