How to Engage in Politics

I have never been particularly interested in politics. Growing up, I have never felt that I needed to. I was under the impression that government was so much bigger than me, why would my voice matter? Sure, I learned about how our government works in secondary school. I wrote current events for my American Government classes, but I really did not care. At one point, I told a classmate in high school that I was learning about the government through the T.V. show 24, and she scoffed at me. I do not blame her; it was ignorant. I grew up in a wildly conservative family. I always felt that I had to agree with how my parents voted. I am sure that I am not the only person that could say that. I remember conversations where I would present a different argument to my parents about something political, and they told me I was wrong. Yes, they would soften the blow by acknowledging that people think differently, but at the end of the day an alternative perspective was wrong. Disengaging with the political spectrum was a fairly easy thing to do.

Woman posing as if she's thinking deeply When I was in college and turned 18, suddenly politics seemed important because I could vote. It was the middle the Romney/Obama campaign and I did not know who to vote for! I had no idea how to figure out where I stood on the political spectrum. I did not know how to research. And, unfortunately, I was at BYU-Idaho, so you can imagine that 99% of the population wanted Mitt Romney to win. You can probably guess how I ended up voting: for Mitt Romney. I did no research. I did not know how. The task seemed so daunting. I had not been following politics my whole life, let alone the conservative party I apparently associated with. I felt that the research to figure out where I stood was just too great. So I listened to friends and family express all the reasons why Obama should not be in office and settled with voting for Mitt Romney.

Fast forward a few years to where we have an incredible election before us: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. I would argue that it is one of the most important elections we have ever had. It could have been the mark of the first female president or the mark of the first celebrity businessman president. Suddenly, understanding where I stood politically was extremely important. I couldn’t go a single day without hearing about either party, whether it was through social media platforms, with my classmates, or from family. Everyone was talking about it! I felt very lost as to how to base my vote. This was even before a lot of the dump came from Trump. Even during the campaign for who to nominate for both parties, I was at a loss. But, I was paying attention. And I started to realize issues that resonated with me and how I wanted our public sphere to operate. Voting for the right leader to align with my views was paramount. I was able to find ways to be informed by both political parties and make a solid, intellectual decision not based on my parents’ vote or the Mormon bubble I am STILL living in. God help me escape! Just kidding. Anyway, November 8th came and Donald Trump was elected president. The nation went crazy to say the least.

man speaking into a megaphone I have decided to write about ten ways that someone who has not previously been engaged in politics can do so in order for them to more fully participate in activism. Considering that, I am reminded of an experience I had the day after the election results. Upset about the results, a classmate brought up how she had very strong points of view that she would often post on social media about, but she realized that she actually was not doing anything to perpetuate some of the changes that she wanted to see in local and national government. She was letting all of us know of a local town meeting where we could go and be involved in what is going on locally. I was really struck by that because she was taking ownership for actively engaging. Participating in such an active way can bring about social and political change. Even people who do know where they stand politically might not actually be engaging much in the public sphere. Posting and trolling on Facebook does not always cut it. That experience is has really helped me to determine writing about this issue. Below are the ten ways that someone who has not previously been engaged in politics can do so in order for them to more fully participate in activism:

(I got some of these from a website that will be displayed [in the left column].

1. Identify issues that you care about

It [helps] to know the things you care about. Ask yourself questions such as “what is your stance on abortion?”, “what do you believe about gender and marriage equality?”, “What should the role of women have in the workplace?” These sorts of questions will help you distinguish where you align yourself. When you identify those issues, naturally, you will align towards a point of view that reflects how you feel. It will then be easier to do more research about whichever political party you are aligning with. (For overviews of major political issues in the United States, check out ISideWith..., which also offers overviews of political parties' stances and a quiz to determine which candidates you should vote for based on who aligns with your views. -Ed)

2. Conduct research on issues you care about from both political parties

Man researching on laptop Once you know how you feel about different social issues, take the time to research them. However, do not stop only at researching your side. Make sure you research both angles. Your argument will only be stronger when you understand the other point of view. It will help you to be intellectual and understanding. Plus, you never know that there might be something on the other side that resonates with you. (ProCon.org is a great nonbiased resource that describes multiple points of views on various political issues. -Ed)

3. Know who your local government leaders are

It seems pretty easy to become aware of major federal leaders i.e. the President, Supreme Court judges, Secretary of State, etc. . . . Yet, knowing who represents the states we live in is not as well known, at least that is what I have observed. I suggest that learning government officials such as your state’s House of Representatives and Senators can help you to navigate your political affiliation. They are crucial in how bills are passed in our country – bills that address the same issues stated in the first point. (For more information on how bills are passed in the United States, see How Laws Are Made on USA.gov. -Ed) If you can learn about them and what party they represent, you can better participate locally in voting to keep someone you agree with in office or elect someone new. Try to get in contact with them if you are taking part in activism.

4. Read about American history and civics

I find this very helpful. There are so many ways to access information these days with all of the technology that we have. We do not need to go back to our sophomore history textbook to learn about American’s history. For example, USA.gov contains a lot of [information on] American history and civics. Seeing trends in history can also influence how you feel about certain issues. Places such as USA.gov are more reliable than Facebook [or] Twitter to understand how politics have worked in our country.

5. Subscribe to media outlets and publications to get updates

While there is a lot of “fake news” or “alternative facts” out there, it is through the media that we learn what is going on in the world. (A fact-checking site such as Snopes.com is useful for identifying fake news. -Ed) Find the media outlet that you enjoy the most and subscribe to it. I would also suggest subscribing to outlets that differ than your point of view to continue to get a bigger picture of what is going on. Watch the news! Do not get your information off of Facebook! Use it to learn what is going on in the world. Trust me, it is embarrassing to not know about a major world event!

6. Engage in respectful debate

Engaging in respectful debate will help you to feel solidified in your points of view. It will also challenge you to consider other arguments. It will help you to articulate how you feel about the issues you are debating. I have found that debate actually helps me learn new things and my opinions have changed as a result of it. They are very constructive! You might also be able to influence someone else’s opinion changing. (NPR has a helpful article on "How To Talk Politics Without Letting Things Turn Ugly". -Ed)

7. Register to vote if you have not done so

Registering to vote is very important. Every vote does count. Registering to vote, if you have not already done so, also forces you to consider where you stand politically because you have to choose a party to affiliate with. Once you are registered, go and vote. (USA.gov has a page to help you with the registration process. -Ed) Voting extends beyond just voting for the president. You can also participate in local campaigns. (The process for finding information on local election candidates varies between states, but Ballotpedia has some helpful tips on how to do so along with its own growing database of local candidates across the country. -Ed) Those are important because they impact your live very directly. Even when the presidential election comes around, learn about all of what you will be voting for. I’ve gone into the voting booth and had no idea what some of the other voting options were and had to pick a random person that I had no clue about. The more informed we are, the better of a decision we will make to elect the leaders who actually represent the points of view we have. (The state and national election days differ each year, so make sure you know the deadlines for each election! -Ed)

8. Go to town meetings

I have not done this, but my husband has. It was something little, but he went to participate in a discussion about parking in our neighborhood. Overall, he said it was a neat experience to see what goes on at these meetings. This is a place where we can learn about the issues we are facing in our community and take an active role in change. It will also help you to know what you believe in for the betterment of your community.

9. Branch out of your identifying party

While this has been touched on within each of the points I have discussed, I felt that it is important enough so it needs its own section so I can emphasize it. I lived under a “conservative” roof my whole life. (The previous link leads to an episode of CrashCourse, a reliable educational resource, which defines conservatism and liberalism. They have an entire course on U.S. Government and Politics. -Ed) Had I never branched out to consider alternatives, I would have not gotten to where I am politically with ideals that are far different than how I was raised. Branching out was very enlightening for me and ended up changing a significant change in my life not just politically, but religiously and socially. Branching out also decreases ignorance!

10. In pursuit of your political standpoint, accept that people will always think differently than you

Two people shaking hands There will always be people that disagree with us. Trying to change how people think or feel is impossible. They have to make those changes for themselves, which is why respectful debate is encouraged. Challenges always arise when discussing sensitive topics and it can be hard to find one avenue that is completely aligned with your beliefs, so accepting that there will always be difference will cause less stress in the long run.

In conclusion, I find it crucial to know where you stand politically with where our government is right now. Now more than ever we need to be active in politics. That word seems to push people away. Politics are messy, but we have to be informed and involved. Many are disappointed with the election results and I wonder if things would have turned out differently if more people knew where they stood even prior to the candidate nominations. Having gone through an experience where I was very naïve politically and then discovered where I stood, I think it is an exciting task for people to try to figure out for themselves. The more we feel grounded in our political point of view, we can find ways to participate in activism so that we can make changes that America needs to see happen.

How to Engage in Politics if You Have Not Done So Before

By Madelyn Powell

Edited By Anna Taylor

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