Active Citizenry

Walking on a college campus one is surrounded by subliminal adverstising adorned on bodies everywhere. The Nike swoosh, Ambercrombie & Fitch, and other brands blazened on the apparel and personal goods from t-shirts to backpacks, baseball caps to water bottles. Is the wearer or carrier being paid to be a walking advertisement? Do they even know what kind of company they are advertising for? What if we were to compare this to how we treat bumper stickers.

People put bumper stickers on their vehicles to make a very specific public statement. They want others to know where they stand. America: Love it or Leave it! War is not the Answer! Gods, Guns, and Guts Made this country great! Make Trade Fair!

How comfortable are we in proclaiming what we believe strongly in? Why is it that many of us will often unwittingly afford free advertising for companies and products we know little about, other than we like the way they look or function. But we’re hesitant, nay, afraid to show as proudly what really matters to us.

As we enter these final weeks of the election season, it is expected that nationally less than 50% of registered voters will go to the polls. Since large numbers of citizens are not registered, especially young people, the actual turnout of our citizenry will be way below 50%. Of that minority of citizens, few will pound a sign in their yard, or put a sticker on their bumper announcing their support for a candidate or a ballot proposal. Few will make a monetary contribution to a candidate of their choice. Fewer yet will write a short note to their local paper trying to convince others of the reasons to vote one way or another. Even fewer will roll up their sleeves and work for a candidate or ballot proposal.

This learned helplessness is arguably allowing our governance system to slide into one controlled by money and active special interests. While the partisan bickering continues, citizenship continues to decay. Talk is cheap, and no doubt those supporting the losing side will complain loudly on November 8 about the state of our society. But given how few of us actually get involved we are our own worst enemies. With rights come responsibilities. If you want a vibrant democracy you must work to make it so. So find a candidate or proposal you believe in and help get them elected. It’s not too late to learn to be a citizen. If you don’t, it may soon be too late to rescue us from failed policies.