This article is about politics. Personally, I have an interest in politics, but that is not the case for scores of my classmates and colleagues. There is a growing population of individuals who just don’t give a damn about politics. I refer to all types of politics: municipal, provincial, federal, international, and even the politics that are present on our own campus. More and more, people have turned a blind eye to the issues that surround them and it is damaging the very fabric of our society and our practice of democracy.
Apathy is a dangerous reality. It can allow small groups to effectively control the agenda and actions of associations, governments, industry, and academia. Lobbyists at every level of government exist to persuade the individuals in power to take certain actions — whether it be how to spend money, what stance to take on current issues, how to award government contracts, or where to conduct public works projects, to name a few. If the public takes a disinterest in these types of issues, it allows small minorities to speak on our behalf, sometimes with dire consequences.
Compounding this issue is that many members of the public have no knowledge of the very existence of these issues. I was shocked to hear that a great majority of my friends and colleagues were not aware of the controversy regarding the Canadian census changes that dominated the headlines in early August last year. Never mind not having an opinion, they hadn’t even heard about it! Issues like the morality of Wikileaks releasing classified diplomatic cables, our country’s commitment to the war in Afghanistan, and the town hall meetings regarding student housing in Waterloo are not on the forefront of our conversations and they should be. Our opinions and discussion greatly shape the actions that our elected representatives eventually take, and this would be the case if everyone was actively engaged. This is why being informed is so important. It takes the power away from the lobbyists and the social elite and ensures that the public has more say.
There are many instances when citizens become outraged at actions that their representatives take. Many times, politicians and organizations are accused of pushing through proposals that cater to a small minority of the population, or that actions were taken without consultation of affected individuals. However, in many cases, this information was available long before the local media sensationalizes it with a front page story. Information is usually available; you just need to know where to look for it. Policy makers routinely hold town hall discussions and consultations before developing proposals. Unfortunately, turnout to many of these are low and the discussion is shaped by the few who actually attend. For a local example, the Federation of Students on campus routinely sends out surveys to all undergraduates regarding their services and events. Your decision not to participate in this discussion essentially limits the association’s ability to cater to your opinions.
So where does one find information of interest? There are many different places you can read up on issues. You are not just bound to national or local newspapers. Magazines, blogs, and forum discussions are excellent places to find views on popular topics. The Internet is probably the biggest repository of information and discourse that we will ever know. You can find wide-ranging views on everything and anything-it just may take some time to sift through and find something of interest. It’s also useful to talk to other people about specific interests. There is no reason why you can’t email your Engineering Society Executives to get more information about a specific event, or your local Member of Parliament to request clarification on a controversial bill. I have emailed my local MP two times in the past three years, and both times I received a very prompt response.
So, I implore you. Take some time and read up on current events. Read a newspaper every now and again. Find a source of information you enjoy reading from and check it regularly. Even more importantly, don’t be afraid to engage others in discussion! Inform and interact with the people around you. You will help spread knowledge and awareness of current events and gain different perspectives on many issues. Remember, knowledge is power.
Mostlymercurial
Great article!