While the hottest political talk continues to be centered around Donald Trump’s every move, my columns have been directed to addressing the policy and the platforms, as well as motives of various actors.
It’s not like I have completely ignored the Republican frontrunner; I have noted how his campaign aided in a proposed Michael Bloomberg presidential campaign (the former mayor backed out, thankfully) and have criticized his stance on eminent domain.
Regardless, my topics are not always what people are talking about, especially college students. From the flaws of North Carolina’s education system to problems with the General Assembly’s recent redistricting efforts, my focus has been set on tackling sizeable issues with little immediate impact here on campus.
I put the blame on myself for this. I have always been interested in politics and have found most items to be worth my two cents. Often, I pick topics either out of need, such as the effects of redistricting, or whatever is on my mind at a certain moment, such as the benefits of libertarianism. To use a phrase coined by one of my friends at the journalism school, I focus a lot on “boring stuff.”
Yet I feel alone when it comes to wanting to discuss these matters. While there may be a push to vote every election season, there is not a similar drive in discussing politics under normal circumstances.
When I bring up policy questions with friends or peers, I usually get one of two responses: the first being that they simply do not care about politics, or the second stating that they fear of the possibility of Trump becoming president, ignoring other pressing matters in their remarks.
But while the topics I write about tend to be overshadowed by Trump or simply overlooked, I feel that my words do serve a purpose. The issues I bring up often have an impact on us, as well as how we as a community, a state and a nation go forward.
What really are the issues that teachers have to deal with in regards to their classrooms? What could happen if Bloomberg was president if he did run? Why should political identities be limited by the letters “R” and “D”?
These are by no means simple issues, yet things that affect our everyday lives. Laws impact every single one of our actions, from regulations concerning the food that we eat to whether or not the government has the right to capture one’s personal information. These matters cannot be limited to jargon between a select few. Rather, they need to be discussed by everyone to better understand conflicts and to discover solutions.
