Don't Just Vote for the POTUS

To start, this post is acting as make-up for a quiz that I missed due to the American Forensics Association national tournament, held in Peoria, IL from 3/28 to 4/4

After the events of November 8th, 2016, many millennial voters were saddened and scared for their futures; myself included. Whether it be you disagreed with some of President Elect Donald Trumps' policies or were even scared for your own existence, this election will go down in history as one of the most talked about election processes. And whether you agree with Trump's ideals or you do not this election left many young voters felling as if their voice will never be heard. That is not the case.

After getting my foot in the door with local legislation I have come to realize that not only does my vote as a citizen on the national level mean something, but also on a local level. Don't get me wrong, voting for the POTUS is important and is a life-changing experience, however, only voting for the President can be detrimental. Rhetorically, we often tell ourselves that our voice will not be heard or that our vote won't make a change, and as a result, we believe it. But, we can make a difference and have our voices heard. The soltuion is, vote and get involved right here in Lincoln.

A big topic of discussion in the current political sphere is that of the Affordable Health Care Act and the funding of Planned Parenthoo, and whether you support them or not, many may not know that potential financial cuts to these programs is happening right now, right here in Nebraska. Recentely, LB 127 was proposed by the Governor. The language in this bill is attemping to change funding for Title X funded programs (i.e Planned Parenthood, Federally Qualified Health Centers, etc.). This is detrimental because it would cut programs to people living in Grand Island, Kearney, Crete, North Platte, Omaha, and even right here in Lincoln (nearly 14,500 patients). It is critical that we look into local legislation becuase these are the things that are effecting people all around us. We cannot get stuck in our own bubble and just believe that everything will be alright, becuase there is a chance that it won't. We have to rhetorically analyze how we can have our voice be heard, and what we can do to make that so.

With all that we have talked about in class, with things like Anonymous and civil disobidience, many feel helpless and that the only way to make your argument is through extreme means, and in some cases that may be true. However, when it comes to the things that we can change it is critial that we look at how to. We can make a change as young people, and we can have our voices heard. We just have to look around and see how.