If you haven’t been hiding under a rock lately, I am sure you know what is going on with the election. You are probably beset on every side by friends, parents, television talking heads, and so on telling you how important it is to register and subsequently vote. Now, I could use this space to tell you which candidate I think you should vote for, but there is more to being political than voting every four years. In fact, “being political” is a bad term for it. Civic involvement and taking an interest in your local community should be as natural and as much a part of everyday life as going to class, doing homework, or having fun with your friends.
If you truly want to achieve “hope” or “change” in this world, you have two options. You can vote for a politician who says that they will bring it and leave it at that, or you can go a step further and bring it about yourself. I am sure there is something you would like to see changed in the world. Is it the homeless population in Troy? Is it the lack of culture in your hometown? Maybe it is something right here at RPI. Whatever it is, if it truly bothers you, why would you wait for somebody else to fix it for you?
Try to find a group with the same goals as you and help them out. If such a group does not exist yet, do not be afraid to stick your neck out. If something bothers you, it is a practical guarantee that it bothers somebody else as well. Put up posters, organize meetings, make a Facebook group, get the word out about your issue in whatever way you can. Like-minded individuals will find you, and the more people you have, the more you can split up the work. Determine your goals, and, in solid and realistic terms, define exactly what you want to accomplish. Do not be afraid to upset people. Sometimes change isn’t popular, but it is very frequently necessary, and as long as you remain respectful, there is nothing anyone can do against you. Above all, keep your vision firm. Do not give up until you have improved the world to your vision.
Admittedly, this hands-on approach to improving your world is going to take a bit more effort than just pushing some buttons in a voting booth. With classes, clubs, work and maybe even the occasional party to go to, it can be difficult to add yet another responsibility to the list. With a little bit of effort in the beginning, though, it will become natural. You may be surprised at what a little bit of time and love can accomplish in the world around you, completely without the help of politicians.
Editor’s Note: Columns granted by the Editorial Board to the three political groups on campus—the College Republicans, College Libertarians, and Progressive Student Alliance—rotate weekly in the opinion section of The Polytechnic.
