Political ignorance will harm your future

I n today’s time most people of all ages should have access to an extensive pool of knowledge on any subject matter. With gaining information, individuals should share and exploit their knowledge with the intent of creating awareness or causing a change to help develop others. Everyone should know their rights to help challenge situations that are not being handled appropriately in a productive way. Two sayings that are often commonly stated and understood by many people “knowledge is power,” and “to know is to grow. “Do you know your rights? Do you believe that you can make a difference with your knowledge?

The bible reads in Hosea 4:6 – My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee. When people are not learning how to become better at becoming more than what they are, how can anything change? Using knowledge that already exist will save you time, provide you experience, help you know what documentation you will need and processes to choose for you to address involving certain issues or concerns about various subject matter. While there are many causes for the current American political situation, one among those is the ignorance of basic American politics. A high percentage of the voting-age population is simply ignorant of basic facts, knowledge that is necessary to act reasonably and rationally in the political process. Is the public’s limited knowledge about politics someone else’s fault? How can the U.S. have meaningful elections if its citizens have no knowledge of political, and civil history that might allow them to make informed decisions?

James Madison wrote a letter almost 200 years ago, to W. T. Barry: “A popular Government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy, or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” The American people are not doing this today, and the results are obvious with the current condition appearing in the nations democracy. Most Americans can identify with a famous singer sooner than learn about the Bill of Rights or the U.S. Constitution.

Voting patterns will prove that the lack of knowledge concerning government matters are often overwhelmed by other social and economic interests within the public. When processes or issues are not transparent voting individuals feel that they are being excluded from the government system and will start to believe that there is little or no chance for them or their children to live a quality life in their communities, because the government refuses to take action on matters that are important to them. Not all but most government officials will take advantage of voters not knowing or understanding the language of the political processes. Is political ignorance the result of stupidity or lack of available information? With the internet and other media outlets making political information more widely available than ever before in human history there should be limited excuses for political ignorance. The problem is not lack of information or intelligence, but laziness or fear of learning about the government system. Past voting choices will prove that many voters are not using their resources to learn and process the political information that is available. The system must have voters to seek knowledge of political matters that provide them with critical-reasoning skills and many other factors that could influence their decisions.

When political ignorance reaches the level of presidential and other government official candidates, it should give Americans a gasp for air. Where does the political ignorance originate? Should the lack of knowledge about politics be contributed to the education system, social class, and not lack of interest? The problem of ignorance has no easy solution. But to help alleviate it voters can learn how to limit and decentralize the government. Everyone should understand possessing knowledge about politics has many benefits but unfortunately the average individual remains ignorant. Knowledge will give you power!

Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County and has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her neighbors. She serves on the Marion City Council.

Sherry Holliman