How Politically Aware Are Americans

 Did you ever think that Americans are dumb and don’t care about politics? Or you might think that Americans overly politicize mundane stuff. Well, they both can’t be right. Let’s take a look at how politically active are Americans in the present and were in the past.

A politically active person will have an interest in government and politics; have their own ideas about policies, laws. Such a person might have a candidate that they would like to hold office. They might run for office themselves, study the law of the land. They can also keep up with the news—not just the ones that concern them but also about other related issues such as foreign intervention, relevant industries; legal rights not related to their gender, sex, race, or beliefs, etc. And most importantly, they have to be interested in voting.

We can look at the participation in the American elections to get an idea: if the population is politically active or not.

We can see from the infographic that every year the percentage of the population that votes increases. Though it has never reached 50% yet.

What’s the reason for this slow but steady increase? It’s because Americans were always going to become more aware gradually. The fact that America was fighting wars in other countries was always going to be significant news for its citizens. It would be natural to think that if America remained stable, with no new movements or conflicts, they would be less active than they are right now.

The recent 2020 election had the most voters. It was to be expected after Donald Trump’s polarizing reign of four years. It’s unrealistic to expect the same turnout in the future. One of the big surprises of the recent American elections was Barack Obama’s victory. It was a record turnout. A black man’s victory changed the American political era. On one hand, it proved that a black man can achieve the highest position this land had to offer. But on the other hand, he had a tremendous responsibility to live up to. All of America was watching him as if he was the representative of all the black people. No man can live up to such expectations. The reason for such turnout was because the American population as a whole wanted to prove how far they’ve come by voting for Obama. And of course, we cannot forget to mention Obama’s charming personality.

If we compare the American situation to some other countries, we can conclude that America is in the middle of the pack. Countries like Australia have a very high voter percentage. On the other hand, Japan and Turkey are two of the lowest voter turnout countries.

But why should you vote and be politically aware?

That is because politics has an impact on your life whether you like it or not. Besides, your fellow humans that are in need, would have a very real need of you exercising your political rights. You can save them from terrible tragedy and in turn, they can save you when the need arises. With voting or being politically active otherwise, you can hold your senators accountable.

·         Being politically active motivates people.

·         The only real change can come from it.

·         Without exercising political rights, you put democracy in jeopardy.

·         You can make better decisions about your future by being politically active.

How to be politically aware

In the past, it was hard, buy newspapers, have a lot of time in hand, discuss with peers. Nowadays it is quite convenient. You can still do things that were done in the past. But you can also go on the internet, social media. Be aware social media is for engaging people, do not get your information from social media.

To be effective at the local level—know your candidates. Follow them and ask them to explain how they will improve your community. Also, talk to your current government officials who won and are now in office. They are obliged to explain your rights to you. So hold them to it.

If you would like to help your community/state yourself, then learn and read up about things. Do some case studies and talk to real people. This might seem like pointless anecdotes, but as humans, developing connections and getting to know real people is important. Naturally, you should still rely on evidence and research.

My prediction about the future

It’s hard to tell. So many things can happen. But mostly I think things depend on the big events. Generally, I think the steady rise in voting may continue. But if something big happens. Like something with China, Israel-Palestine situation, or perhaps American social breakdown, which we are seeing signs of early stages, then the voting percentage may jump and usher in a new era of political activity.

My takeaways

American population’s political activity is certainly rising. It’s a good thing. A global country like America becoming politically literate will help out the entire world. It’s also good for Americans to fix issues that have been ignored for too long. All of us, Americans and non-Americans alike should learn from that.

So please vote and be politically active, or at least keep tabs on your local policies. Because at the end of the day it affects you regardless of your wishes.

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