Aristotle once wrote, “Man is by nature a political animal.” However, if you talked to the average person in 2014, you would certainly call Aristotle’s assertion into question. At that time, it seemed like most people not only lacked a basic understanding of politics, but they also simply did not care about political issues aside from 2 or 3 that they could take a stance on without thinking.
Throughout the unorthodox 2016 presidential election, there was a definite uptick in people getting involved in the political process. Both grassroots campaigns of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders encouraged people who have never participated or voted to become activists and support a candidate who claimed to represent their interests. In early 2016, the issue of superdelegates and the differences between a caucus and primary entered many discussions as both Republican and Democrat races tightened. Following the general election, many Americans were forced to either defend or invalidate the Electoral College depending on who they supported.
As Trump took his unconventional style to the Oval Office and started to make good on his seemingly hypothetical campaign promises, almost everyone in America was forced to take a side and come into the political fray. Never before have I seen so many people have deep political discussions about such a wide variety of issues. So many people are genuinely interested in understanding civics and how government works in the United States. I have seen family, friends, and others who previously never discussed national issues debate limits of power, the Constitution, the different branches of government, and checks and balances. There may be a large number of Americans who disapprove of Trump’s presidency so far, but there are already so many people who now know the difference between an executive order and a bill passed by Congress. Senators are receiving an unprecedented number of phone calls and emails from their constituents urging them to make certain decisions on Trump’s appointments.
Political activism seems to be approaching an apex. From the tens of thousands of people who came out to Trump’s rallies to the hundreds of thousands of people who participated in the Women’s March across the country, Americans on all points of the political spectrum have been mobilized, either in support or in opposition to an issue or set of issues.
Whether or not you support Trump, this political advocacy is good for the U.S. The more informed we are, the more we can control our political system. The Civic Day of Action, held on February 14 in the UB Ballroom by the Hartman House, “in which students, staff, and faculty can stop by the UB Ballroom and contact their Senators and Congress reps about what is important to them and why”, is just one sign that more people want to be politically active and have their voices heard. Hopefully the trend of political participation continues upward and more Americans become informed.