There are many people who believe that society’s biggest problem today is obesity. Others believe that it is global warming and some believe that it is crime.
I believe that it is political ignorance. Though it is true that the issues I previously stated are important, what people fail to realize is that a simple knowledge of what is going on in the world can make a significant impact.
Our country is run by a representative democracy. This means that the electorate votes on officials that make the decisions for us. This sounds pretty good on paper, but there is a catch: the American people must be informed about the issues and whom they are voting for in order for the government to reflect the views of the people.
A democracy demands informed voters because without them, the government would not be able to reflect the will of the people in any meaningful way.
For instance, take my political science class. When the professor asked who knew what was occurring in Egypt, only one-third of the class raised their hands. This just proves how the majority of the American people — especially my generation — doesn’t care. In a recent study, it was found that only 56.8 percent of eligible Americans actually vote. This essentially defeats the purpose of having a democracy at all if the people who are supposed to be in charge of the government simply do not care. Compare that embarrassing number to Italy’s 90 percent and Germany’s 80 percent voter turnout. This ranks us 35th in voter turnout out of the world’s most prominent democracies.
All other voters aside, it is our generation that is less informed and seems to only be getting worse. In a study done of people ages 18 to 29, it was found that 42 percent knew how to function Google’s phone software, Android, while only a measly 4 percent knew what the current inflation rate was.
What our generation needs to realize is it is the decisions and policies that we vote on today that will impact the rest of our lives. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.”
So listen up kids: instead of updating your Facebook and Twitter accounts every five minutes, put those Android phones to good use and download a few news applications — there’s the Huffington Post, CNN or MSNBC, just to name a few. These applications make news easily accessible.
So listen up 18-29 year-olds, and let me give you a piece of advice: how about instead of updating your Facebook and Twitter accounts every five minutes, we put those Android phones to good use and download a few news applications — there’s the Huffington Post, CNN or MSNBC, just to name a few. So the next time you hear someone mention the crisis in Egypt or the tuition increases due to the education budget cuts here in California, take an interest. Your vote does count, and believe it or not, even you can make a difference.
Rudy Mendoza is a sophomore communications major and contributing writer for the Daily 49er.
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