Purpose

Why Advocate for Advocacy?

It is my sincere belief that the most important thing that the United States needs right now is the increased civic participation of all citizens. Regardless of any identifying factor or demographic, there is a dearth of active civic participants in America. This is a problem that has to be addressed, and it has to be addressed now.

People choose not to be civically active for a number of reasons, many of which are find sympathetic. Some are turned off by the rank partisanship that has infected governments throughout the country. Others do not believe their vote makes a difference, that one vote cannot change anything. There are people who do not see their beliefs and values reflected in the public servants designed to represent them, and feel at a loss for how to have their voices be heard.

Regardless of the reason, this disengagement is troubling. Only 57.5% of eligible citizens voted during the 2012 election. Barely half of those who could, chose to vote. For a right which people have fought and died for, when the right to vote is now transforming developing democracies, this is an unacceptable level of civic participation.

The blame for this civic disengagement does not belong to anyone in particular, but the decision to vote or not rests with each individual.

That is where there needs to be Advocates for Advocacy.

This persistent civic disengagement harms the American electorate, and ensures that people who otherwise may have inspired positive movement in the United States are kept out of the decision-making process.

I firmly believe that the best way to combat civic disengagement is through education. That is what this blog is about: discussing the political issues that are shaping America’s future, analyzing and reviewing the media that attempts to influence how Americans view themselves and their government, and presenting enough information to inform readers about their options before encouraging them to be active in shaping their country.

To that end, I will make the following promises:

• All political issues will be presented in a non-partisan fashion. Every effort will be taken to focus on information over opinion, so that readers can make their own decisions about the issues confronting America.
• All personal opinions, including but not limited to political issues, endorsements, and reviews will be tagged with ‘Opinion’. My personal opinion is designed only to inform my own biases, and present personal arguments – it is not meant to end debate, but add another point of view to it.
• All debate will be encouraged, so long as it is polite and constructive. The marketplace of ideas is most robust when all speech is provided the opportunity to be aired. I will not react negatively to constructive criticism, nor will I prevent a debate from taking place. I actively encourage everyone who wishes to comment, engage me or others, and add their views to a discussion to do so. That being said, I reserve the right to remove negative content, or content lacking any constructive value, if necessary.

I leave you with some final thoughts. Hillary Clinton once said that: “If you leave all the decision-making to others, you might not like what they do, and you will have no one but yourself to blame.'”

I agree with that statement. If you do not participate in shaping your government in whatever fashion you feel called to – running for office, assisting a campaign, fundraising – then you are ending the possibility of change before it has the chance to flourish. Most of all, if you do not vote, then you are surrendering the paramount bastion of protection for democratic self-governing, and leaving yourself to the whims of fate.

Engage yourself civically. Push past the cynicism, doubt, and challenges. Embrace the idea that the American government is yours, and you play a vital part in it. Educate yourself, and engage others.

Find your passion, and advocate for it.

Advocate for Advocacy, because change can only occur when it comes from all of us.

We have a long way to go to, but there is no better time to start than now.

~ John Isidore