Elected officials cannot move a city, county, state, or nation forward without knowledge of what the people need; however, it is up to the people to be heard. Just electing someone to office doesn’t end your civic responsibilities. The people cannot complain if they don’t get involved in the process. It’s our responsibility as the people, along with our elected officials, to get together and find ways to improve our communities.

This month, I learned that my fellow peers believe that the people have no say in politics. They doubt that they could make a difference and that one vote could bring change. Adults and children alike are oblivious of their surroundings. They need to know that despite race, religion, or ethnic group, they cannot be silenced. Local and national governments ought to know what the populace has to say, their opinions on things, and how they feel about what is going on. To be without comprehension of politics is to be devoid of life.

Our government is made for and by the people, whether local or national. As a people, it is our obligation to ensure we are aware of everything or we’ll be left behind. We shouldn’t feel as if we were taken advantage of by the government if we never take it upon ourselves to listen to our elected officials during their campaign speeches.  We must take responsibility for our actions. It is our duty to learn about our local governments, voice our opinions and fight for what we believe in, regardless of age.

We must grasp the truth and embrace it, with the aim of becoming well-informed citizens of the United States. I realize that politics may be ruthless, but ours is the best system in the world. We can improve our system when it is incongruous with our needs and expectations.

Mayor Eisinger and her team are wonderful people and very sensible. Mayor Eisinger, fellow ambassadors and I toured the Broward Government Center. You would be surprised to learn what we have in our backyard.

We met the Supervisor of Elections.  We learned about the importance of her job and exactly what she and her staff do for our county. We then visited the Property Appraiser’s department. It was interesting to learn how taxes are applied to homeowners. I learned that there are many different divisions to help people if they feel they are being cheated. We later went sightseeing and saw the swearing in of traffic hearers and the robing and swearing in of a judge. In one day, I learned so much and experienced many things that I never would have if it wasn’t for the position I acquired as a student ambassador for the Broward League of Cities.

Here are several quotes that are particularly inspirational to me:

“A house divided amongst itself, cannot stand.”

-President Abraham Lincoln

“Ask not what your country could do for you but what you could do for your country.”

-President John F. Kennedy

“Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without neither freedom nor justice can be permanently sustained.”

-President James A. Garfield

By: Carlos Mondesir