If any college student really wonders if it’s important for them to get involved in politics, all they really need to do is look at the current political situation in the United States. After the near-disaster of the debt ceiling deadlock, the downgrade of the national credit rating, the mishandling of the jobs crisis and the failure of the “Supercommittee” to agree on taxes and spending cuts, it’s no surprise that many experts are calling the current congress the worst in the country’s history. How did this happen? Apathy and ignorance.
From 1974 to 2010, mid-term elections (the elections between presidential elections) have averaged a voter turnout between 36 percent and 40 percent. This means a majority of Americans couldn’t care less who their senator or congressman is going to be. Of those who do vote, most rarely take the time to learn where the candidates stand on the issues–they wait for the media to tell them how to vote. It’s very simple–if you’re a Republican, you let Fox News tell you how to vote; if you’re a Democrat, you let MSNBC make up your mind for you.
College students are in a unique position to affect change in the United States. They are still in the “learning phase” of their lives and are often more receptive to new ideas. They are trained to do research and look for answers; by applying those same principles to political issues and candidates, they can make wise decisions about which candidate to support. College students are also socially connected, often belonging to formal or informal social groups at school and able to discuss issues with intelligent peers. There are even groups at colleges specifically dedicated to politics that a student can join, allowing him or her to surround themselves with like-minded individuals. Through these groups, students can make their voice heard through rallies, marches, social media and written commentary. Unlike the comically disjointed “Occupy” protests, student groups can form a cohesive, intelligent message and deliver it the world with their actions, their words and their votes