You hear the word all the time in reference to behavior in the workplace. It's not something you like to see. On the other hand, you may hear about "politics" amongst co-workers...The other kind of politics I mean. You know, Presidential stuff and talk about the donkey and elephant. I prefer not to discuss either in the workplace, especially if it can lead to talk about morals and heated arguments that will make you temporarily or even forever hate your co-worker(s). This is why I have this blog...and I'm going to say what I want.
Not too long ago, a Twitter follower of mine posted something while President Obama was giving a State of the Union Address that basically said "y'all didn't care about politics before Obama." I thought to myself...maybe not. Then I realized why I wasn't as concerned before.
Before the age of 18 years (2006), I didn't know much about politics. I knew who the President was and I knew about certain laws, terrorism, and the then-President Bush's declaration of the War in Iraq, but before that age, there wasn't much I could do. One year, I served at my high school as a class representative, but I don't remember having the power to do much of anything...so I quit. We had certain awards and nominations we democratically voted for at school...but as far as politics of the United States, I was pretty ignorant.
When I went to college, I began to take classes, some politically focused, and my classroom experience did what it was supposed to do: it taught me. When I turned 19, I was still not registered to vote...but I was summoned for jury duty. Something about that moment and all that I had learned within that past year made me realize just how important it was that I become a registered voter. So I registered, and I became more involved.
I began to write about how the importance of voting. I was so excited that I would have the chance to vote for the next president of the United States... (a chance I clearly had never had before.) At the time of the election, I was taking an African-American political thought class...one of the most memorable classes I would ever take in college.
After carefully evaluating the candidates and doing my own research, I decided ultimately that I would cast my vote for Senator Barack Obama. I went to the campaign headquarters in Memphis (where I was at the time) with a couple of my friends close to election day and we held signs and stood on the corner of a busy intersection to campaign for the man I believed was best qualified to lead our country.
When Election Day came, I had to drive about three hours to Nashville to cast my vote at my home precinct. Since that day, I have never regretted my decision.
I have benefited in a few ways since that day in 2007 and am now directly affected in ways I can see...and I DO CARE.
-As a student and former student with student loans, I am very appreciative of some of the governmental changes that have occurred. Many students loathe paying back loans, but the 2009 enacted Income Based Repayment (IBR) plan has made it possible to me to afford the payments based on how much I earn. The plan was originally introduced under the Bush administration in 2007 and became effective in 2009. It has since been amended under the Obama administration, capping monthly payments as 10 percent of an individual's income, versus the previous 15 percent. It also forgives any debt remaining (after consistent payments) after 20 years, rather than 25, along with allowing borrowers whose incomes are less than $20,000 per year will pay $0 in monthly payments. Though it may take a while to pay them in the case that one has a low-paying job, at least they will be able to pay something without defaulting. http://business.time.com/2011/10/27/can-income-based-repayment-on-student-loans-save-the-economy/
-I will soon return to school, and as a 24-year old, I normally would not have insurance. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act-ACA (Obamacare), I can now stay on my parents' insurance until the age of 26, or until I can find a position that offers insurance to its employees before then. If in the case, I can't find full time employment with benefits, I will be able to pay for insurance at a much lower rate than before Obamacare, based on my salary (hence the term "Affordable"). I don't mind paying for my health...especially if it costs me a lot less than it would have in the past.
 |
| Me, a friend, and a fellow campaigner in Memphis before the 2008 Presidential election. |
-Under President Obama’s leadership, the government is trying to help students and recent graduates find job opportunities with the Federal government through USAJOBS with "Pathways." The programs are new still in progress, but they are a major step for someone like me who maybe doesn't have the full time experience a lot of jobs require right out of college. It's another great opportunity that directly affects someone like me.
There are a few other things I was going to list, but this post is too long at this point, so I won't.
I'm still young...but I know a lot more than I did when I was younger and with that knowledge, I care and pay attention. The fact that the President cares about policies and laws that affect people in my age group and women, (along with so many other groups that together comprise this country), makes me proud that I have and had the opportunity to get ever involved with POLITICS...and I still won't stop paying attention after him.
