How to Get Involved in Politics: 2017 Edition
With the Trump administration’s plans underway, taking action is more important now than ever
By Jackson Littlewood
The Progressive Teen Staff Writer
TO SAY THAT THE 2016 ELECTION WAS CONTENTIOUS is an understatement. With the Trump administration already at work, many Americans who didn’t vote for Trump have been feeling powerless. The good news is that nothing could be further from the truth. If this past election stirred up your inner debater or policy wonk, there is a lot you can do in the coming years. Here is a step-by-step guide of the many things you can do to get involved in politics, especially in opposition to the new administration.
Subscribe to media outlets that will keep you informed and armed with the facts
According to Politifact, during the campaign, about 70% of Donald Trump’s statements are varying degrees of false. When fact-checked, Trump often accused the press of libel, even though they were just doing their jobs as journalists. He even went as far as to say that he wants to “open up the libel laws” so that he can sue the press. It is now the job of the electorate to financially support national and local newspapers as well as online publications. Along with being able to press Trump’s officials on the issues, the press can also do a great job of keeping the people informed. Being informed on the issues makes you care about them even more, and you’re more likely to take action.
Donate to advocacy groups
If you’re busy and there’s not a lot you can do at the moment, that’s okay. Advocacy groups all over the country are working hard on the issues you care about. If you are worried about the Trump administration’s policies regarding a woman’s right to choose, donate to Planned Parenthood or NARAL Pro Choice America. If you care about issues regarding race, donate to the NAACP. Get involved with the Secular Coalition of America, the American Civil Liberties Union, or the Southern Poverty Law Center. Find the issues that matter the most to you, and then donate to help the grassroots organizers succeed.
Organize, march and volunteer
If you have the dedication, time, and energy, it is absolutely critical for citizens to organize. The Women’s Marches across the country resulted in truly impressive attendance numbers. The cities of Washington, New York, and Los Angeles drew crowds of 500,000, 250,000, and 750,000 respectively. The United States federal government simply cannot ignore those kinds of statistics. When people spend days marching in the streets to peacefully protest for the issues they care about, there is bound to be some kind of response from the legislators and even from the President. Earlier, I mentioned that donations help grassroots organizers succeed. If you have the time, become a grassroots organizer. Organizers are desperately needed both by local, state and federal campaigns, as well as issues-based campaigns. To become an organizer, the best way is to start doing volunteer work, such as getting petitions signed, registering voters, and recruiting people to attend political events.
Vote in elections, especially midterms
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter as much what the grassroots organizers do if people don’t vote. Unfortunately, only a little more than a third of the country votes in presidential elections, and even fewer vote in midterms. It sounds like a simple idea, but it’s so important that you vote for the candidates that will represent you on the issues you care about, otherwise you’re likely to have to work even harder on the issues you care about once you take office. For example, if you care about abortion rights and you don’t vote, someone who has the abortion philosophy of Mike Pence could win, and you’re going to have to fight against him as an organizer. Voting is something that all Americans should do, regardless of their level of interest in politics, because the impact that politicians have on our laws affects all of us.
Run for office
This last step isn’t for everyone. I personally am intrigued by politics, but I doubt I’ll run for political office. However, if you think you have the passion and the energy, it would do a great deal of good for you to run for political office, especially lower level seats, like school board or state legislature. At the end of his 2016 presidential campaign, Senator Bernie Sanders announced a call to action for all Americans. He called for ordinary citizens to run for political office. This may be the most impactful thing you can do if you want to be more involved in politics. Whether you’re voting or organizing, the goal is to hold politicians accountable, and make sure that they represent their constituents.
