Participation In The Democratic System Essay

The importance of participation in the democratic system was instilled in me by my family. I remember playing in the living room in the late summer of 2000 while my father watched the news, then dominated by Al Gore and George Bush. I remember liking Bush. My parents did too. He seemed warm and friendly, like someone I would enjoy meeting; a complete contrast to Gore who was calm, calculated and confident. At the age of 4, I began to grasp how important the election was, constantly hearing Bush’s and Gore’s names at home, the store and on TV. I began to wonder who these men were, so I asked my parents what they thought about the candidates, and while I don’t recall their answers, they furthered my intrigue in Government. When election day arrived, I went with my grandmother to the local …show more content…
In the mind of a child, government seemed far removed and commanded a godlike us, but as I grew, so did my understanding of what government is. I realized that status wasn’t controlled by a far removed power but by the American people. Government is the only thing that all Americans belong to, and the only thing that belongs to all Americans. Government unites us, yet the decisions it makes divide us more than most matters. My desire to pursue a degree in Public Policy Leadership is driven by a yearning to see a country that is united rather than divided. Because we are the government, I believe that policy is the best avenue to make that yearning a reality- a goal that I plan to see actualized in my lifetime. Today, America faces far too many issues for our society to be so fractured. These issues are great in number and diversity, ranging from stagnate wages and a rising cost of living to radical religious terrorism that has instilled in many a great sense of fear. I believe, as Franklin Roosevelt famously declared, that “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” However to fight this fear, we must dismantle