Informed voters are crucial for a democracy to succeed

Michael Reagan

What many voters are concerned about this fall is the election of a Democratic or Republican candidate.  Don’t get me wrong, President Obama and Governor Romney put a face on the parties’ nominees but those faces are masks for the same problem.  There are many similarities between the twos’ policies; the differences being of such marginal proportions that they’re effectively inconsequential in light of the true issue facing Americans.  Right now our government is in a partisan gridlock that is inhibiting its ability to both deal with one of the greatest adversities to face this country in decades but also to keep pace with all the other countries of the world eager to get a piece of the United States’ power pie.  Indecision and lack of action on pressing issues such as Medicare, the War on Terror and its various facets, the economy, sustainability, education, and international relations can be attributed to repeated disagreement between Republicans and Democrats. Partisanship has slowed our government’s ability to react to the needs and demands of citizens who are no better than the government to rely on.

It is the responsibility of the citizens of our country to elect representatives who can carry out the will of the people.  To a large extent though, the representatives have held up their end of the bargain. Ask five people for a difference between Obamacare and Mitt Romney’s health care plan.  How many of these people can give you specific answers and a reason for preferring either?  It’s hard to start the action of government without understanding the policies being implemented. To compound this problem, truly important issues such as the grotesquely imbalanced distribution of wealth, growing national debt, environmental concerns, and failing infrastructure aren’t given the immediate attention that they need. These are the most important issues because they threaten our country’s vitality.  Without solving these issues the country cannot hope to continue in its privileged role as world leader because it will fall apart from within. There won’t be much to “conserve” or “liberate” in the near future unless these adversarial factions set aside their differences and the populace takes the initiative in securing a desirable future.

The good news for citizens is that we live in a democracy.  We have the ability to choose the direction of the country through participation. Citizens need to first identify the issues that are most important to them and the country and then let their voice be heard at election booths. It is imperative that the decadence gripping the country be reversed and the power to do so lies with its citizens.  Get to polls and vote as you see fit – only remember all of the issues and not just partisan rivalries need to be given their due attention.  The first step to ensuring the United States’ continued status as a world leader cannot be achieved unless citizens become active and informed enough to shape the direction of the future.

 

 

Michael Reagan is a junior studying political science he can be emailed at [email protected].