“Just because you don’t take an interest in politics, does not mean that politics will not take an interest in you.”

-Pericles

Over 40% of  eligible American voters didn’t bother to vote in the last presidential election. Only 42% bothered to vote in the 2014 congressional elections! A third of eligible US citizens aren’t even registered.  And the older, whiter and more affluent one is, the more likely they are to vote. This means that our state and national policies are actually being decided by a minority of the population who are aging out of the long term impacts of their choices, and better protected financially from them.

As Pericles points out, just because we are not interested in something, doesn’t mean it’s not interested in us. Ask the nearest rabbit. They don’t have the luxury of being unaware of what the foxes and hawks are doing. Those that are oblivious are not oblivious for long. They are lunch.

Now I’m in that demographic that tends to vote. But I don’t think that people who look like me should be making the decisions for the rest! So this election cycle, I’m not just gong to support my candidates- I’m going to support people in registering and actually voting. If we don’t vote, we don’t count- literally. If we don’t vote, we are saying “whatever” to our future. If we don’t vote, we are actually voting “I’ll have what they’re having” without having seen the food. I personally think that voting should be mandatory,  like paying taxes. But until it is, I have just one thing to say: “Vote as if your life depends on it- or it just may.”

How can you engage and get others to engage in our common civics today?

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Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BCE) was arguably the most prominent and influential Greek statesman, orator and general of Athens during the Golden Age— specifically the time between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars.  Thucydides, a contemporary historian, acclaimed him as “the first citizen of Athens”. Pericles promoted the arts and literature; it is principally through his efforts that Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural center of the ancient Greek world. Pericles also fostered Athenian democracy to such an extent that critics call him a populist.

Joe Laur is a father, husband, naturalist, executive, consultant, and a lowly rabbinic student. Send him your favorite teaching quote for commentary. He can be reached at joe.laur@godsdog.net.