How to Get Involved in Politics

One of our responsibilities as citizens is to get involved in the political life of our democracy. Let's face it: without our involvement it ceases to be a democracy. And with democracy go all sorts of things like individual rights and the freedom to criticize or change the government. Not everyone needs to run for office to keep our democracy alive; but there are things we can all do to keep it healthy. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Media
• An adult attention span
• Patience and a little persistence

1. Pay attention. Read, watch, think. There is so much "spin" added after a political event that it's hard to tell what really happened--or, sometimes, what happened at all. Try to see debates first-hand, read material written by the candidate, not about the candidate by the opposition. Only by knowing what a candidate stands for can you make an intelligent choice. If you're thinking of running for office, attend meetings and participate before you file your papers, not just after.
2. Interact. Don't just listen. If you have questions, ask them. And don't stop asking until you get an answer to your question, not the one the candidate (or the candidate's representative) wishes you'd asked. Go to rallies, candidate coffees--whatever's available--and participate. It's not just your right, it's your responsibility.
3. Make a choice. Compare the candidate's opinions to yours. Decide what personal traits are necessary for someone to effectively fill the office you're voting for. Sometimes integrity, flexibility and problem-solving ability is more important than how much business, legal or social experience someone has. If you could do the job better, don't just grumble, run for the office!
4. Start at the bottom. Local politics is more accessible--and easier to influence than national politics. It's also generally non-partisan, so if you're the only Republican or Democrat in town, nobody need know. As you get to know your local political scene better, opportunities to participate in county and state campaigns will present themselves and all you need do is choose wisely so your political activities don't eat up all your spare time.
5. Accept responsibility. Register to vote now. Vote knowledgeably and often. Find out where and when to vote instead of waiting for "someone" to tell you where to go. Turn out for local elections and primaries as well as that quadrennial election that gets so much publicity. Our local officials probably have more effect on our everyday lives than the people in Washington. Help a neighbor get to the polls. Sign up to call voters and remind them to vote.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't worry about making a mistake. This is a democracy: we have elections every couple of years. Nobody gets elected for life here. Courageous Americans have been remaking their democracy for over two hundred years.
• Lots of business people--and others--worry that taking a strong political position will hurt their business or lose them friends. The truth is that sometimes that happens. But more important truth is that it is your responsibility to participate responsibly and if you do, you'll probably win more respect than you lose.