THE JEM DIGEST

In Association with POLOCK JOHNNY’S

It’s an election year (sheesh). In my lifetime it seems like these circuits have always been filled with dread. I think given recent events, it’s kind of hard to not have a bleak outlook on where we are going as a country. Here are some things to think about for the person who is feeling uneasy about this year’s election.

• The President doesn’t really effect your day to day life like that: There are certainly exceptions to the rule here, but for the most part your life, at least from a political standpoint are much more effected by your local politicians. The POTUS is still the most powerful office in the world, but your local votes are going to do much more to help your community. Vote for your candidate, but make sure you are paying attention to who is actually running the place you live as well.

• Even if the rules change, you still have to play the game: At the end of the day, you’re not leaving the US. A better use of your time is to strategize what you can do to put yourself in a better position in the next four years. Everyone has their agendas out there. Open Book. Read it.

• George Washington was right. The United States is built on an ideal, not parties: Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for every citizen. That is the promise for the “American Dream”. There is only one constitution and the ideals of political parties really mean nothing in the face of that document. The only sensible way to align yourself is American. Parties be damned.

• It’s okay to disagree: Disagreement and compromise is literally how democracy works. Anything other than spirited debate is just unacceptable. This might seem like common sense on it’s face, but I feel like the last 7.5 years prove otherwise. Remember that people are just people. For the most part, we are all just trying to live out life to the best of our ability.

• Every election has stakes, but we’ll be just fine: No president is taking us from a democratic republic to a dictatorship in a 4 year term. Keep your passion, but keep it all in perspective.