We as a nation are quick to blame political parties, politicians and Presidents for issues with our nation. But I am going to state something pretty unpopular: the actual blame should be on us, the citizens of our country.

We have the greatest resources to information twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, yet we either do not know how to use the resources we have to find factual data, or we are too lazy to try. I had a teacher in elementary school that explained it as either “being ignorant or just plain stupid.” So we continue to blame without responsibility to change.

We have become too reliant on what cable news pundits telling us what we want to hear, too reliant on our family and friends with similar backgrounds and interests – that agree with us on our views, allowed the church pulpit to become political and given the politicians the pulpit to preach. We now live in fear more than for calmness and confidence.

Because we relinquished our civic duties to being fully educated, healthy and productive citizens in our communities, we now have less ability to reach our full potential individually, and as a nation. In many ways we have given up on our future to become an “at-will” society to an oligarchy nation of politicians, corporations and the extremely rich.

I often hear how change happens too fast! We have been an ever-evolving nation since we declared our independence as a new nation. We grew from an agricultural society full of hope to lead the world’s Industrial Revolution and to go places no man truly has gone before. We have been the nation others seek to fulfill their dreams from our inception. Yet, we have become too worried about restricting the freedoms of others based on the politics of god, gays, guns, abortion and immigration than seeing the value in a nation that is diverse and inclusive. We have become objects. We no longer have any empathy or compassion for our fellow citizens or humankind.

We have forgotten that we are a nation of immigrants from across the globe, with often vastly different religious backgrounds that have been passed down for generations and are deeply personal. We are afraid of the person behind the makeup reading to our children while promoting a false narrative that superhero’s in makeup and flashy outfits can save the world. We sacrifice the living for the life of the unborn, just as we value military-grade metal barrels with triggers more than life itself- in the name of safety. We are scared of those who do not look, speak, act or have the same abilities as us yet, we will trade hours of work in pay to see the person of a different race, gender, or sexual orientation that is at the top of their game as an athlete, performer, or in a public career, especially if they are part of our winning home team. And we pay into a system of governing without accountability and then complain when we are left out.

We have to decide what type of nation we want to be in the near future. We can continue on the path we are on now, which distracts us from our ability to freely cast a vote for a future that provides hope, and the opportunity for future generations of early childhood imaginations to become the adult reality, or we can educate ourselves in the best ways possible to ensure we are electing candidates to serve their constituents with humility, empathy and compassion. Candidates at all levels of government understand that power only comes when we are all successful and that to be successful, often means the personal hard work of actively listening, writing, debating, and accepting that the best outcome for the greater good over self-interest, self-power or party comes from bipartisan compromise.

But, we have to do our part as citizens. Our civic responsibilities do not end at the end of our tv remotes or social media posts. We have to participate in town halls, township meetings, school and park board meetings and we have to know who we are electing and hold them accountable. Protect your right to vote freely, fairly and be educated when casting your vote.

Sincerely; Ben Brady, Williamsburg, OH