It seems that the term politics has become a dirty word. Whenever you think of politicians, and often government in general, it can bring a bad taste to your mouth. It seems that the presidential race has become more of a popularity contest. And if they can’t convince you to like them, they will tell you why you should hate the other guy. On the other hand, without government, what kind of world would we live in?

According to the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, the world would be bleak and full of chaos. The reality is that government is vital to a civilized society. Our world is dependent on its government to function properly. We are the lucky ones; we have the freedom to choose, yet we don’t seem to care. We sit around and complain about our leaders but don’t take the time to study them and vote. It is frustrating for me to watch as new generations grow up with a complete lack of understanding or comprehension of the voting process and how government functions within our society.

Though I too have found myself disillusioned by many of our leaders, I realize that the only way to make changes is to become active in the process. The way I understand politics is the analogy that politics are like cooking. You can complain that the food tastes bad and continue eating. Or, you can learn what the ingredients are and try your hand at cooking the dish yourself.

Now, I’m not saying you have to become a politician. Just get your facts. The first step is to decide what you believe in. Really think about what you believe in, not what your mother and father have told you to believe, or what your friends say they believe, but what you believe in. Next, learn the policies that each candidate stands for, and see how they measure with your own personal beliefs.

If you want to see the war in Iraq end, you wouldn’t vote for a presidential candidate that promotes ‘winning the war at any cost’. If you believe abortion is immoral, you wouldn’t vote for the candidate that holds a pro-abortion stance. If you believe capital punishment is cruel, you probably wouldn’t vote for the candidate who claims to be ‘tough on crime’ and promotes the death penalty. If you believe in stricter gun control, you probably wouldn’t vote for the candidate who is an avid hunter.

But the reality is that each candidate may have different ideals than your own. You have to determine what is most important to you, then check your candidate’s political and personal history. Are they the type of candidate who just tells the public what they want to hear, or do they follow through with a plan of action? Do they keep their promises? Have they flipped their stance in the past? Can you trust them with your future or that of your children? Because, the reality is that the decisions that we make today will affect tomorrow.

Once you’ve made your choices, you can decide how involved you want to be. A great way to understand the process is to become part of it. Apply for an internship or become a volunteer and help get your candidate elected. It is a great experience and you can walk away with a greater understanding of the entire process, as well as something to add to your resume.

If you don’t want to go that route, then some other options are to attend presidential rallies, join the assosiated student government or sustainable action clubs here on campus, or check out the site www.youtube.com/democraticdebate and add some questions of your own. You have the power to be informed. You have the power to make a difference. The choice is yours; you can just keep eating or start cooking for yourself.