We all have the responsibility to educate ourselves on matters that not only affect us personally but also those around us. Most current high school seniors will be able to legally vote in the next year’s presidential election, and being informed prepares us to participate in a democracy and know who we want to be represented by.
Therefore, we must read the news, research, and ask questions to better understand our world.
According to “The Youth Vote in 2022” on the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement website, statistics show that the national youth turnout was only 23% in the 2022 midterm elections, whereas the 2018 elections had a turnout of 28%. Considering how polarized our government and society have become regarding political parties, it is now more crucial than ever to educate ourselves and vote.
Teens being afraid of expressing their disagreements about political issues is inevitable, but being involved in politics is necessary to benefit the state of our world. Otherwise, avoiding difficult conversations and topics may lead to a government that doesn’t accuratey represent the majority of Americans.
For example, one of the most concerning problems is our country’s contribution to climate change,
which has become significant as temperatures have risen and natural disasters have dramatically increased. However, this topic is not talked about enough among students due to the avoidance of political discussions. According to the National Resources Defense Council article “Why the Willow Project Is a Bad Idea” by Jeff Turrentine, the Willow Project, “a massive, $8 billion ConocoPhillips oil drilling operation on federally protected land on the North Slope of Alaska’s Brook Range,” was recently approved
by the Biden administration. The Willow Project “would release an additional 9.2 million metric tons of carbon pollution into the atmosphere each year,” according to Turrentine.
The government is failing to take effective measures regarding climate change, and this ultimately serves as another reason for us to educate ourselves on current issues and take action, such as by voting or signing petitions.
Additionally, issues prominent in other countries cannot be neglected, such as the Israel-Palestinian conflict. We as students should make an effort to utilize the news and inform ourselves about tragedies and problems. Even if these issues don’t directly affect us, we must be informed to spread awareness and try to help those in need. As teenagers, being too young to care about politics is an irresponsible excuse. Some may argue that politics is too complex or serious to understand at this age, but in actuality, this is
a harmful mindset. Being able to hold nuanced conversations and opinions connects us to others and builds a sophisticated society.
In the face of injustice and corruption, an educated public may protest or vote to enforce change.
Thus, mass ignorance caused by a lack of understanding of issues in the world enables people to continue abusing their power at the expense of others.