When it’s dark and gloomy, look to a cartoon for answers.
Growing up in rural Pennsylvania in the center of farm country, I never gave politics much of a thought. That was a subject that was rarely spoken about at home and frequently trips to Gettysburg never truly just soaked in with its rich history. Sure, we had social studies in school, but the only really political thing stood out to me as a child was a three minute cartoon that had a song about a bill that first aired before I was born that had a real stronghold on me. A cute song about a boy that had an idea that lead all the way to Capital Hill. Just maybe he’s the inspiration we just need today in America.
I met a young boy with a question while doing volunteer work in an urban setting for college requirements that would change my perspective on politics. He had asked a fellow volunteer if anyone could become president and she told him without any hesitation that unfortunately a person has to have a lot going for him including money. I was always raised to believe that anyone could with good grades in college, but that really opened my eyes. And to think the little boy was a lot more of a lasting impact than my politic professor who could not get past Hanging Chads debacle of 2000.
I began reading books and watching documentaries as well as also listening to a little too much cable news when my husband served our country the first two years when we first invaded Iraq in 2003. I was not obsessed with politics, but more trying to figure it out better. Eventually my first career brought me to Capital Hill to meet with senators and house representatives to champion for more rights for people with physical disabilities. While that job did end with a layoff, going to Capital Hill left a mark on me and brings me back to our cartoon friend.
Between a popular social media ban, a new president term for a polarizing man and everything else like the economy, maybe all the answers we need to refer to go back to a cartoon character wanting to make a positive change by attempting to make a bill turn into a law. As long as we are have a democracy and hopefully always have one, we elect our presidents every four years, our senators every six years and our representatives every two years while our local government officials’ term limits may vary based on locality. When you have an idea or want to make a change, start local representative’s office and move your way up. Begin with your idea and depending on the local official, you may need to start with collecting signatures and you work to make that idea for a bill. Hopefully that bill becomes law and that change that you are looking for happens.
With the exception of the Supreme Court, we elect our government officials. They are to speak on your behalf and you have the ability to vote them in or vote them out based on how they serve your interests. Although the popular social media ban bugs me too, I know my next vote will vary based on how my government voices spoke on my behalf!
