Political Participation & Me: A Love Story

     Most of you who read this know that I've taught US Government to juniors and seniors for the past 5 years at a school in southwest Ohio. Over that time I have attempted to teach what the state wants me to while also trying to convince my students to engage in the political process.

     I was able to pretend to my students that I was allowed to tell them that because I went and voted through every presidential and midterm election since I have been eligible to vote. I was so self-righteous in my ability to talk about politics because I was originally a registered independent and a self-proclaimed Libertarian.

     But something about 2020 just felt...different.

     I felt like I could no longer advocate for a Libertarian candidate if the Libertarian groups around the country were just going to keep pushing out semi-popular former politicians who met the prerequisites for becoming president. For once, I started reading about the candidates, digesting their thoughts, watching interviews, and following the debates. In the 10 years I have been an eligible voter, I feel that I have finally begun to engage in the political process.

      First, I have contributed to my first Presidential campaign, and for the first time I have put my belief into someone vying for the Democratic nomination. Andrew Yang is the first Presidential candidate that I have looked into that made me feel comfortable sending some money to and purchasing some swag from their online store. The laptop I'm writing on is proudly displaying its #YangGang sticker in bright red. Now, I've only donated a modest amount, somewhere in the range of $30-$40, but still, the only other organizations to really get any donations from me in my life has been my local public radio station and my church.

     Secondly, I have begun writing my representatives in earnest. I have contacted senators at the State and Federal level, my Secretary of State, and others. I may or may not have called one of them a coward for appearing to cast his impeachment vote in public weeks before the hearings had even begun. His poorly formatted form response e-mail was enough to make sure that my vote will at least be going to someone more tech savvy in the future.

     Finally, I feel that I have done my due diligence by sharing all of this with my students. In education, we like to throw around the phrase "lifelong learner", which is normally the justification for some professional development and not much else. I'm taking it a step further to try and prove to my students that you can become a lifelong participant in this government of ours. If we really want to live in a country that is made for participation instead of patronizing, then we have to model that for the next generation. My students very clearly know that I am throwing my individual weight behind a candidate. Heck, most of them know what my voting record has been in the last two presidential elections. (Don't freak out, I voted for Gary Johnson both times, I'm allowed to be disgruntled).

     So for those of you raising or educating children; let them see who you are and what you believe in. If you can't answer the why of how you participate in government when they ask, then maybe you need to reevaluate your positions.

     For those of you wanting to get involved in government; take the leap. Be heard. By not voting, you are casting your vote for apathy. You are effectively claiming that you are not bothered by what happens to you or anyone else and I don't believe any of us are privileged enough to have that view.

     And for those of you who participate with no education; I could care less who you vote for--Democrat, Republican, Harambe, but please...please educate yourself on the issues and the people that you are voting for. If you are going to do something so sanctimonious as voting, shouldn't you at least know what you're doing and supporting?

Best,