During this month, I’ve spent a substantial amount of time at a premier debate institution, where I developed the skills essential to playing an active role in political activism. With a focus on public policy, my learning at the institution delved into public speaking, searching for the truth of the implications of public policy, and the importance of the dissemination of information into the community. I have given numerous speeches informing the public of the United States’ spending policies, the consequences both positive and negative of legislative budgeting, and about arming citizens with knowledge of how governmental institutions operate, in order to inform voters and scholars. The experience has thought me not only the value of my role as a recruiter of informed citizens, but also what the role of education and political understanding has on political activism. It seems the more information and better grasp of the issues the public has, the more willing they are to hear arguments for change or reform, as well as question the validity of existing policies. This is an essential principle of existing and ever-changing research on the science of politics and psychology, as many people have noted over time that knowledge power, and power is necessary to facilitate change.

Being an informed voter should be the goal of every citizen of the United States, since voting is one of the highest responsibilities and privileges granted to citizens of this great country. Striving towards this goal, Americans face many obstacles in their day-to-day lives. Although it would be idealistic to have a perfect world where every American knew everything about government, such ambitions may be unrealistic. However, we may make progress in the field of political activism by simply expanding easy opportunities for the average citizen of the county or even the state to gain a political consciousness and stand confident in the validity of the policies chosen by his or her elected officials. Moreover, I believe that complications and red tape to education-based programs can be easily avoided with a simple information session focusing on the facts rather than rhetoric and the truth rather than popular misconceptions. In the end, my recent experience has not only allowed me to play an active role in such education-based opportunities, but also demonstrated to me the people’s yearning for knowledge, the educators’ ability to deliver such knowledge, and the beneficial influence that proper base-line facts can have on political discussion and participation.

By: Alex Weiner