Confusion twirls like a dancer in all her grace. Even when she stills, the head doesn't stop its spinning immediately as equilibrium hurries to catch up.
So the political scene this year demands our attention, yet the spinning sensation sometimes takes over.
With candidates promoting themselves earlier than necessary this election cycle, some of us may already feel bored or tired of hearing about the race for the presidency even before we dive into the facts and research for ourselves.
Or maybe that's just me.
Each presidential candidate brings a platform to this race, and just as platforms jut out higher than the surrounding ground, so these political platforms strive to extend above the existing political, economic and moral landscape of today.
The decision of which platform you'd like to see raised above all the rest is a individual one that we all must make, whether publicly or privately. I believe it's every citizen's responsibility to do this publicly through voting.
The race for the presidency this year promises to keep all of us on our toes with the closeness of its runners. I'm not writing to tell you who to vote for _ not at all. I don't know who you are or what you stand for and where your priorities lie.
I'm only stating the obvious by saying it's going to be intense, with runners dropping out, and almost dead ties between others.
I must admit to you that up to this point I merely endured political talk and waved my hand at the issues controlling the news, thinking that it mattered little what I thought or even did about the government that rules over me. Now, as I will be voting in this upcoming presidential election, I find myself shamed by this lazy and indifferent opinion. I am a citizen, and it's not only my right, but my duty, to be involved because I do have a voice to be heard whether it's in local or national government.
Although we should all treat governmental issues and elections with professionalism and class, we all succumb to petty slander or shallow backbiting about certain political figures.
I also believe that, because we are a democracy, we may have people in power over us whom we don't like or don't agree with. But someone does like them, or they wouldn't be there.
There's a movement going on right now to allow people younger than 18 who will be 18 in the next presidential election to vote in the primaries. I think this is an excellent idea because this year, for example, I and most of my classmates will be able to vote in the presidential election but couldn't vote for the candidates we wanted on Super Tuesday. Those of us who would be affected by this new law might have had an impact on the outcome of the primaries, if allowed to vote. This movement was founded by Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization devoted to motivating young people to get involved in their government. You can visit the group online at
www.rockthevote.com and see what it's all about.
My sister, who voted for her first time in the primaries, said, "It amazes me that someone as young as I can influence who my government leader will be. Ultimately the next president will not only have an impact on the United States but on the world as a whole because the U.S. is one of the world leaders!"
She's right in that astounding fact, that the we are linked to the world through our political decisions.
As this year's political race continues its dance across the pages of the news, there's no need for us to feel victimized if we dislike our new leader. Let's actively take ownership of our future and engage ourselves to bring about the change we desire.
Jessica Bailey is a senior at Lighthouse Christian Academy in Oneonta.
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