Americans Say Government Has the Power to Change Their Lives. Now They Have to Decide Who Should Have That Power.
A new Gallup-Bentley University poll reveals a troubling confidence gap ahead of the midterms.
Here is a number worth thinking about:
92%.
That’s the share of Americans in a new Gallup-Bentley University study who say the federal government has the power to change people’s lives.
Now here’s the number that should make every voter stop scrolling:
43%.
That’s the share who say they trust the federal government to actually deliver those changes.
That’s an eight-point drop from last year.
And somewhere between those two numbers is a very important question:
If you don’t trust government to change things, what do you do about it?
You vote.
THE FRUSTRATION IS REAL
Let’s be honest.
People are tired.
They are tired of political arguments.
Tired of campaign promises.
Tired of watching politicians debate while the rent is due, groceries cost more, healthcare remains complicated and neighborhoods continue to wrestle with issues that don’t disappear simply because an election ends.
It is understandable that people become cynical.
But cynicism can become dangerous when it turns into disengagement.
Because here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Not voting does not remove you from government.
You still live with its decisions.
You still pay taxes.
You still depend on public transportation.
You still encounter its housing policies, schools, healthcare systems, courts, economic programs and public-safety decisions.
Government continues.
The only question is whether you participate in deciding who runs it.
YOUR VOTE IS NOT A LOVE LETTER
Here’s something we should probably say more often:
Voting does not require you to love every candidate.
You don’t have to think a politician is perfect.
You don’t have to agree with every position.
You don’t even have to feel particularly excited.
Sometimes voting is simply a decision about who you believe should have the responsibility of making decisions that affect your life.
That’s democracy.
It isn’t supposed to be a popularity contest.
It’s supposed to be participation.
LOOK AROUND HARLEM
For communities like Harlem, elections are not abstract.
Policy becomes personal very quickly.
Housing becomes the apartment your family lives in.
Transportation becomes the commute to work.
Economic development becomes whether the neighborhood business survives.
Education becomes your child’s classroom.
Healthcare becomes whether someone you love can get the care they need.
Tourism becomes whether visitors spend money with local businesses.
Arts funding becomes whether a young person gets to discover music, dance, theatre or visual art.
Public safety becomes whether parents feel comfortable letting their children walk home.
These aren’t political talking points.
They’re everyday life.
And that is why civic participation matters.
DON’T LET FRUSTRATION BECOME SILENCE
Maybe you’re frustrated with Washington.
Maybe you’re frustrated with City Hall.
Maybe you’re frustrated with Albany.
Fine.
Be frustrated.
Ask questions.
Demand better.
Challenge candidates.
Read their platforms.
Listen to debates.
Talk to your neighbors.
And then vote.
Because democracy doesn’t require you to stop questioning government.
It requires you to participate in choosing the people who govern.
In fact, perhaps the most powerful response to political disappointment isn’t walking away.
It’s becoming more informed.
THE MIDTERMS ARE COMING
The midterm elections will determine who represents communities at multiple levels of government.
That means the decisions voters make will affect much more than Washington.
Local elections matter.
State elections matter.
Congressional elections matter.
Ballot measures matter.
And the people elected to these positions will make decisions that eventually show up in our neighborhoods.
So don’t wait until Election Day to suddenly wonder who is running.
Start now.
Find out who represents you.
Learn what they believe.
Look at their record.
Ask what they plan to do.
And most importantly, vote.
YOUR VOICE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LOUD TO MATTER
Maybe you feel like one vote can’t possibly change anything.
But elections are built from individual votes.
One person.
Then another.
Then another.
That’s how the number becomes a result.
The same Gallup study that reveals public frustration also tells us something important: Americans overwhelmingly believe government has the ability to make a difference.
That belief matters.
Because if government has the power to affect our lives, then choosing who holds that power matters too.
Don’t surrender your voice because you’re disappointed.
Use it.
Vote because you care.
Vote because you’re frustrated.
Vote because you want something to change.
Vote because you want something to stay.
Vote because somebody’s future depends on the decisions being made today.
And if you don’t like the choices in front of you?
Get involved early enough to help create better choices.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
If you believe government has the power to change your life but you don’t trust it to deliver, what would make you participate more: better candidates, better information, more accountability, or simply believing your vote can make a difference?
STAY IN THE MOOD
Don’t just complain about the future.
Help choose it.
Read. Question. Listen. Research.
And when Election Day arrives, show up.
Your vote is your voice in the room when decisions are being made.
Don’t give away your seat at the table.
Stay informed. Stay engaged. Stay involved.
And vote.
