Ignorance is no longer bliss

Why it’s time for college students to take a closer look at politics

By: Olivia Wile

 I can’t think of a better time than now for our generation to pay attention to politics.

Heck, what’s more millennial than a president who tweets his every action and thought and uses social media to feud with Snoop Dogg?

All jokes aside, with the constant controversies and potential policy changes that could directly affect us, I think it is more important than ever that college kids like ourselves start paying attention to what’s happening in the White House.

I’ll admit that I was never one to follow politics all that closely; it was a struggle to stay awake during some of my high school history and government classes. However, now that I am able to vote and have to pay government taxes, ignorance is no longer bliss.

Whether you support him or not, President Donald Trump continues to assert his dominance in Washington. From the travel ban he issued within his first week in office, to the controversial staff he’s assembled in the White House, as well as the healthcare bill he is so eagerly trying to bury Obamacare with, there has yet to be a dull moment.

If you are part of the group that wonders how a travel ban could ever impact people in any way, look around – diversity is everywhere. The ban obviously made a big enough impact to catch the attention of University of Findlay President, Dr. Katherine Fell. “We celebrate our diversity and understand that we are stronger by being a campus that welcomes and supports students, faculty, and staff from around the globe,” she stated in a mass email to the student body.

Now, I’m not here to shame you for not knowing the ins and outs of Obamacare. For instance, some of you probably did not even know its true name is the Affordable Care Act. But unfortunately for you non-politic supporters, Trump’s healthcare plans have the potential to affect your student health insurance at Findlay.

Findlay’s Director of Student Affairs, David Emsweller, confirmed that if the day comes when a new healthcare plan does get passed, it will affect your insurance plan.

“Whatever gets passed in Washington will impact it, we just don’t know how yet,” Emsweller stated.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking you to check CNN every other day like myself, but how about we pick up our smartphones from time to time, or all the time like President Trump, and look up what’s happening in politics.

If, after reading this, you are inspired to go so far as to download some type of news outlet app, I would be thrilled. But if not, please at the very least consider keeping up to date on what’s happening in our government. After all, aren’t “We the People?”