...of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
How long has it been since you last read the Constitution? Have you ever read it? Or did you just read the "important" parts in high school so that you could pass the tests? I honestly can say that I fall into the latter group, and I'm betting many of you do as well. Its nothing to be ashamed of, at least I don't think so. For the typical American teenager, it holds very little appeal (except for the inevitable "freedom of speech" arguments with their parents). It's safe to assume that most don't bother to delve deeper into it than learning what each article generally refers to, if that. I would guess that most people haven't bothered to revisit it later in life either. This is rather alarming when you stop and think about it. How many Americans have actually read the constitution? If they haven't read it, what exactly do they know about the way our government is run? Without this foundation to stand on, how can they be expected to make educated decisions when the time to vote comes around? Do people even bother to go and vote anymore?
These are some of the troubling questions that have been swirling around in my head as we lead up to election day. I am not eagerly awaiting the latest political scandal. I'm not wondering how other people in my party might be voting on different things. And I certainly am not saying, "Screw this! my vote doesn't count anyway." Unfortunately these are exceedingly common ways people approach politics today. You don't have to even follow politics to recognize when campaign season is rolling around. Just watch your regular news hour, or turn on the radio, or stop by the yahoo homepage. The media practically shoves information down your throat at every turn. This creates a perfect storm for controversy and confusion. We get sucked into whirlwind of stories and opinions, while the important issues are largely ignored. Ask almost anyone on the street tomorrow what Herman Cain is being accused of, and likely they will know down to the smallest details. However, try asking what his views on foreign policy are, and the answer would probably be they don't have a clue. Again, I must ask, exactly what are people basing their votes on?
We as a people need to reverse the trend of civic ignorance. Our country and our children's future might very well depend on how well informed we are on the issues at hand. Lack of knowledge will lead you to either make baseless choices, or give up all together. Take the first step. Read the Constitution and it's Amendments. Go take a Constitution Quiz and see how much you really know. When choosing a candidate, don't just mindlessly absorb attack ads and pick accordingly. Go and research what they stand for, and how they voted for on different issues. When you are bombarded with scandals and rumor, keep in mind that most people will do anything to get on t.v. Even if you only get to the basics, don't be discouraged, just get out and vote!! The only bad choice you can make is the one that happens the most often, so whatever you choose, just Don't Do Nothing!
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