When someone casually mentions they “don’t do politics,” I feel a cringe so intense it’s like pulling a muscle. Let’s be clear: we all need to be engaged in politics, especially now. Choosing not to vote when you have the ability is a blatant show of privilege and indifference.
Perhaps you avoid learning about political issues because you’re too busy, or maybe you’re emotionally drained (believe me, I get it). You might think the system is rigged and feel above the fray of educating yourself. Or perhaps you’re well-informed but choose not to engage because you detest the whole process (shoutout to you, Protest Voters). All these excuses imply that you don’t perceive any threats to your rights.
Well, spoiler alert: your rights are under siege.
Your rights, your children’s rights, and the rights of those you hold dear are in jeopardy. It doesn’t matter how privileged you are; it’s a reality that we can’t ignore.
Healthcare Crisis
Take healthcare, for example. Our chaotic healthcare system means that for many of us, a lengthy illness combined with job loss could plunge us into poverty. We tried to make a free-market approach work in healthcare, and it failed miserably. The Affordable Care Act made some improvements, but it’s far from a solution. We now find ourselves in a situation where quality healthcare is out of reach without an expensive insurance plan, and those plans are often astronomical in cost. Meanwhile, healthcare providers and insurance companies profit at the expense of sick individuals caught in this broken system.
We must all care about this. We need to insist that our politicians listen to us rather than pandering to insurance companies and Big Pharma, who fill their pockets with cash. Access to adequate healthcare is a human right. Yet, under our current system, every citizen below a certain wealth threshold risks losing their financial stability over a single, prolonged illness. People with diabetes are forced to ration their insulin due to exorbitant costs, and they’re suffering as a result. This situation is unacceptable.
I don’t want to hear that a single-payer system isn’t feasible. I don’t want to hear that it’s socialism and thus inherently bad. That’s nonsense. Lives are at stake. Other developed nations successfully implement single-payer systems; so why can’t we? Have we lost our innovative spirit? Imagine the joy of putting health insurance companies out of business. Don’t pretend that thought doesn’t excite you. Ask your politicians what their plans are to address this.
Education System Challenges
Our education system is also in peril. The voucher system proposed by Alex Rivera might seem beneficial as it allows parents to choose schools for their kids. But in reality, most parents lack the resources to send their children to schools outside their assigned district, especially single parents juggling full-time jobs.
We need to consider the long-term implications of such systems. Vouchers won’t resolve the core issue of underfunded schools; in fact, when children leave struggling schools for better options, those schools lose critical funding. The goal of education should be to elevate all schools, not just to move high-performing students elsewhere. And don’t even get me started on how schools are funded. Tying funding to real estate taxes? Really? That’s a recipe for inequity.
If you think you’re unaffected by our subpar public education system, you’re mistaken. Every young adult entering our economy with an inadequate education is a potential burden on public services simply because they didn’t receive the same opportunities as those in better-funded districts. That’s not their fault. We all need to prioritize making our education system fairer.
The Environmental Crisis
And let’s not overlook the environmental crisis. This is something everyone must care about. We need to vote for leaders who acknowledge science; there’s no place for climate change deniers in our government. The wildfires in California and Australia over the last few years are not just unfortunate events—they’re indicative of a much larger problem.
At the international climate conference in Madrid in November 2019, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that we’re nearing a point of no return. The time to act is now; we cannot afford to support politicians who don’t recognize climate change as a pressing issue.
LGBTQIA+ Rights
You might be cisgender and straight, and think that LGBTQIA+ issues don’t concern you. You might dismiss them with a wave of your hand, thinking, “What they do doesn’t affect me!” But I assure you, someone you care about likely identifies as part of that community, and there are laws being proposed that could drastically impact their lives.
Unfortunately, too many Americans remain disengaged from politics. According to the Pew Research Center, 10% of adults over 18 are “politically disengaged.” That’s not just a number—it translates to 32.5 million people who are not participating in our democracy. If each of them spent just 10 to 15 minutes a day informing themselves, we could create a safer, fairer society for everyone.
I understand that life is hectic, and keeping up with the news can feel disheartening. Trust me, I’m exhausted too. But we must care. You can’t leave it to those whose rights are directly threatened to fight for the changes you take for granted. Unfortunately, we’re all in this together, and every single one of us needs to contribute to putting out this fire.
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Summary
Engaging in politics is crucial for everyone, as our rights and systems like healthcare and education are under threat. Acknowledging these issues and educating ourselves can lead to a more equitable society. We must hold our politicians accountable and advocate for necessary changes, particularly concerning healthcare, education, and the environment.