Introductions: a Conclusion

We the People, sounds good doesn’t it? That phrase, We the People, is the axel around which our country moves. It is a stunning preface to a document written when monarchies were the standard. Something to the effect of, “JOHN, by the grace of God King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, and Count of Anjou, to his archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justices, foresters, sheriffs, stewards, servants, and to all his officials and loyal subjects...” (translation of the Magna Carta, 1215 courtesy of the British Library) was what the People were used to hearing; they were always below authority never in control of their own lives, much less policy. Now, suddenly we, “The People” had been thrust to the forefront of decision-making. And we embraced it. We created a country where we have the right to do and say almost anything, the greatest nation the modern world has ever seen. We built a country where people had the right (and one could say the duty) to rail against injustices in the streets, to speak out on oppression and greed. What happened to that country? It’s still here but the majority of its occupants have given up on making a difference.

Israel had its lowest voter turnout in the history of its democracy. 63.2% of individuals of voting age. Just to put that in perspective: the US has not tickled a number that high since 1964 (61.9%). From the time of Israel's re-founding, their lowest turnout is almost identical to our highest. We are a nation of the apathetic, especially the 20-somethings. Most of the individuals in my age demographic with whom I have contact let government happen to them. We forget or don’t care that we are the people in We the People. We forget that it was people our age and younger who wrestled this country from the British. We forget that 18-25s threw British tea into Boston Harbor. We forget that the founding fathers were not that much older than us when the seeds of revolution were being sown. It is time to remember, to take action.

It is time that We the People stand up for the country We founded. Find a cause and work toward the fulfillment of its mission. When you finish, find a new one. Research your candidates and get to the polls on Election Day, and make sure they do their job. We the People put them in office and We the People have an obligation to make sure they serve it correctly.

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It is important to mention that the three contributors to this site come not only from different sides of the political aisle but also from vastly different parts of the country. RythymMission lives in north Florida, in a swing state (swinging more to the red side in recent elections); Drunken Rogue lives on the buckle of the Bible Belt in Northern Louisiana (oh, so red); I (the Stereotype) live in rocks-throwing distance of the semi-deserted, partially-devastated New Orleans, a city whose mayoral election doesn’t (at this point) even have a republican candidate polling in double-digit percentages (a decidedly blue region). That along with our separate ideologies gives each of us perspectives that the others do not have and should make for interesting discussion. We also welcome you to add your input. We are by no means authorities or experts; we merely seek to be informed and active American citizens and to, hopefully, inspire others to stop using apathy as activism.