Why aren't more of our youngest generation (RE: Millennials) involved in politics? Why does it often seem as though they have simply given up? A great many are willing to ascribe a great many titles and denunciations to them, but few take the time to ponder what could be the driving force of modern momentum.
The answer to these questions, though, lies--at least in the U.S.--in the fact that there are only two options presented to them--and only two options the system will ever endorse. Republicans are, for lack of a better term, evil incarnate, devoid of shame or sense of irony. They only care only for enlarging their personal pocket books at the expense of all others--and some outright detest anyone of differing color, religion, or creed. Democrats, on the other hand, are the party of willful incompetence. They are complacent to evil through inaction. Even when they have support, they are paralyzed at the thought of doing anything without at least a little backing from their foes on the Right, even if that means going against their core tenets. Moderation at the expense of all else. They undermine their own efforts, ignore important races, and take their own base for granted. Republicans use fear to stoke and manipulate their base, but they rarely just accept their support as a given. Democrats operate on a, "Well of course the poor and minorities will vote for us, because we are not the other guys," and they move on with their days. The Republicans court big money at the expense of all others. Democrats court big money and act like they do not.
Corruption or Complicity? These are the options.
There are those who have attempted reform. They are crushed utterly or made to cave to the system they once preached against. Look to history and see its repetition: Henry Wallace, forced out of an administration he once fought so hard for because he refused to cease seeking change in the methodology of society; Hillary Clinton, once an avid proponent of health care reform, crucified by the health care industry until she could see nothing but big dollars and care less for the liberalized agenda she once sought.
Even in the case of that most modern example--Barack Obama--who was swept into power on a message of change and reincarnation of societal hope that gave rise to a popular groundswell, the nation ended up being left to ask: is the best we can do couched in drone strikes, prosecution of whistleblowers, and deportations? Is this change to be believed in? Basic humanity was pushed in his image--but is that the best that can be asked?
Then there is the case of the mad and degenerate sitting president, Donald Trump. How does one convince people to vote when 3 million more people can vote to keep a man from office and he is still given it anyway? Where comes the old adage then, of "every vote counts"?
Of course, there is a third option in all this, though not one accepted in the established political structure. Someone, somewhere, can be relied upon to cry out about watering liberty in the blood of tyrants. It has been a long time since the world has seen a successful revolution lead to real progress. The Turkish coup. The Arab Spring. Thailand. The Philippines. So often revolutions are inspired by ideas, by ideals--but due to lack of leadership, organization, or the sheer force arrayed against them (not to mention the paradox of people without guns confronting those with guns), or the perversion of the movement after the fact, revolutions more often tend to lead to death. Often, it is the revolutionaries doing the dying.
The fear is real and it is a weapon in the hands of humanity's enemies. Yet change is unarguably necessary. Soon, if not immediately, each and every person must ask: what do they want change to look like? And for that matter, how far are they going to be willing to go to achieve it?
The current generation knows why it isn't involved in politics. But it can no longer afford to let politics go on as usual without them.
The answer to these questions, though, lies--at least in the U.S.--in the fact that there are only two options presented to them--and only two options the system will ever endorse. Republicans are, for lack of a better term, evil incarnate, devoid of shame or sense of irony. They only care only for enlarging their personal pocket books at the expense of all others--and some outright detest anyone of differing color, religion, or creed. Democrats, on the other hand, are the party of willful incompetence. They are complacent to evil through inaction. Even when they have support, they are paralyzed at the thought of doing anything without at least a little backing from their foes on the Right, even if that means going against their core tenets. Moderation at the expense of all else. They undermine their own efforts, ignore important races, and take their own base for granted. Republicans use fear to stoke and manipulate their base, but they rarely just accept their support as a given. Democrats operate on a, "Well of course the poor and minorities will vote for us, because we are not the other guys," and they move on with their days. The Republicans court big money at the expense of all others. Democrats court big money and act like they do not.
Corruption or Complicity? These are the options.
There are those who have attempted reform. They are crushed utterly or made to cave to the system they once preached against. Look to history and see its repetition: Henry Wallace, forced out of an administration he once fought so hard for because he refused to cease seeking change in the methodology of society; Hillary Clinton, once an avid proponent of health care reform, crucified by the health care industry until she could see nothing but big dollars and care less for the liberalized agenda she once sought.
Even in the case of that most modern example--Barack Obama--who was swept into power on a message of change and reincarnation of societal hope that gave rise to a popular groundswell, the nation ended up being left to ask: is the best we can do couched in drone strikes, prosecution of whistleblowers, and deportations? Is this change to be believed in? Basic humanity was pushed in his image--but is that the best that can be asked?
Then there is the case of the mad and degenerate sitting president, Donald Trump. How does one convince people to vote when 3 million more people can vote to keep a man from office and he is still given it anyway? Where comes the old adage then, of "every vote counts"?
Of course, there is a third option in all this, though not one accepted in the established political structure. Someone, somewhere, can be relied upon to cry out about watering liberty in the blood of tyrants. It has been a long time since the world has seen a successful revolution lead to real progress. The Turkish coup. The Arab Spring. Thailand. The Philippines. So often revolutions are inspired by ideas, by ideals--but due to lack of leadership, organization, or the sheer force arrayed against them (not to mention the paradox of people without guns confronting those with guns), or the perversion of the movement after the fact, revolutions more often tend to lead to death. Often, it is the revolutionaries doing the dying.
The fear is real and it is a weapon in the hands of humanity's enemies. Yet change is unarguably necessary. Soon, if not immediately, each and every person must ask: what do they want change to look like? And for that matter, how far are they going to be willing to go to achieve it?
The current generation knows why it isn't involved in politics. But it can no longer afford to let politics go on as usual without them.