The Voice of our Youth

Even before teenagers have a vote, they have a voice. It is the morning after the election, and I am sitting here thinking about how much work I have to do to get caught up in all my classes. One benefit to on-line schooling is that when other kids are sitting in a school classroom learning about the political process, we can be out participating in it. But now I have to make up for lost time, and past due assignments. What I have gained is much more than what I have lost. (Really, how painful is it not to do schoolwork?) I have gained a greater respect for our political system. I discovered by marching in parades, doing lit drops and making phone calls, I do have a voice. I am so tired of people who complain that the system doesn’t work and all politicians are the same but fail to do nothing about it. I have discovered by listening to candidates and issues that I have an opinion, and others agree with me. I have also discovered that I can have a healthy debate with people who don’t agree with me. I have discovered if you see something is wrong, you need to stop complaining and do something. But maybe the most important thing I have learned (which of course I already knew but didn’t really think about) is that the poorest person has the same number of votes as the wealthiest billionaire. Remember, if you don’t participate, you can’t complain. My time in the world of politics has also snagged me interviews with the next governor of Wisconsin and the next US Senator of Wisconsin. Not bad for a couple late assignments!