The presidential election cycle is over now, and many people have turned off their TV sets in an attempt to de-stress. And, frankly, I don’t blame that inclination.
As a politically engaged 20-year-old, I can tell you firsthand that politics today can be an ugly affair. Leading candidates disparage opponents as “low-IQ”, negative ads distort the reality of political positions, and social media algorithms feed us a steady stream of outrage.
While it seems as though politicians, partisan hacks, and social media networks are constantly fighting for our attention, our engagement rarely leads to understanding, let alone action. While it’s always been the case that most popular political discussions are beyond what our daily life is affected by, there’s a far more insidious element to all of this in the age of short form video content and news headlines making your smartphone ring.
Today, big shot politicians and multi-billion dollar media companies have realized that what gets them the most engagement is feeding into the outrage machine.
“Did you see what Marjorie Taylor Greene said at that oversight hearing? Isn’t she insane?”
“I can’t believe Jared Moskowitz wore a Putin mask to Congress. What a moment!”
“Donald Trump really showed Jim Acosta at that press conference. He’s an American hero.”
It’s not that we shouldn’t be paying attention to politics or taking bold stances on important issues; it’s that our political dialogue is dumbed down when theater is our focus. This level of attention on stupid shouting matches or funny moments leads to politics becoming more toxic; less about the issues and more about attention. Frankly, it’s a politics that isn’t sustainable; it turns good people away from getting involved and keeps everyone complacent with a broken system.
So I’m asking you to turn your attention elsewhere.
Do you know what your city council has been working on? A few years ago, I certainly didn’t. Since then, I’ve been made aware of several of the initiatives that my city of Norwalk has been working on.
For example, a “Complete Streets” ordinance was passed just a few months ago. Because of this, Norwalk will have safer streets that allow for greater bike and pedestrian access. On the state level, State Sen. Ceci Maher is working to guarantee every child in our schools a free lunch so they can learn on a full stomach. State Reps. Lucy Dathan and Anne Hughes have introduced a bill to, among other things, make it so credit rating agencies can’t consider medical debt to calculate a consumer’s credit score. These initiatives matter, and it’s important to learn about them.
Local press plays a vital role in digging into what municipalities are working on. I was able to open the Norwalk Hour, Nancy on Norwalk, or the Coastal Connecticut Times to understand what’s happening in my own community. And, frankly, it’s pulling me out of the cynicism that my generation so often faces and getting me excited for the future.
Our generation faces unique issues that require an engaged citizenry. From the quality of our education to a devastating housing crisis that threatens to box us out of the American dream, they aren’t small and won’t solve themselves. However, many of these issues can be worked on at a local level if we get organized and put in some elbow grease.
In addition to the massive potential for community impact that you could have by understanding what’s happening in your town, showing up to city council meetings, and working with advocacy groups, it’s also personally rewarding. Making your voice heard feels great, seeing changes around you based on your work is exciting, and meeting new people that live in your community is a joy.
I know that what’s happening in the world can be scary. As young people, we’re often told that we have to fix what’s been broken by those who have come before us, that we’ll “save the world,” whatever that means. A lot of responsibility is placed on our shoulders, and I don’t blame young people for getting cynical in the face of all of this.
However, doing something as small as lacing up your shoes to knock doors for your state representative can be infinitely gratifying in times of anxiety. While talking heads and flashy headlines depend on your cynicism, your community depends on your engagement.
Politics today can be an ugly affair, but, at its most basic level, it’s the work of creating a better society. To do that, we’re all going to have to pitch in.
Jack Pavia of Norwalk is an undergraduate student at American University.