As the fall semester winds down, it seems appropriate to summarize and re-visit the themes and lessons that have consistently reared their enlightened heads these past few months. In true ASU fashion, this column can serve as a "Cliff's Notes" for the body of ranting I have contributed in this space throughout the course of the semester.
1) Civic engagement is a moral imperative.
Engagement in public life is a virtuous thing. While most individuals discussing the virtue of engagement in public life praise the virtues of our democratic, republican form of government, or by voting, these tactics usually neglect the top reason for engagement in public life.
Shared nationhood or shared philosophy should not inspire civic engagement; rather, it should be shared humanity. Civic engagement is a moral imperative, just like helping our fellow human beings. And civic engagement should not be about attempting to develop and improve the lives of people with a common heritage (like Americans), but should be about improving the lives of everyone to the greatest extent possible.
2) Elections, especially ones that matter, are more unpredictable than conventional wisdom dictates.
Conventional wisdom dictates that elections are generally determined by the amount of money spent or by party lines. While this may be truer of high-profile races like presidential and senatorial elections, the races that have the greatest effect on our daily lives tend to be far more unpredictable. The dedication of volunteers and the right combination of events can be the determining factor in races for state and local offices, yet these elections are the most pertinent to daily life.
3) Principle, more than anything else, impresses people. Politicians should learn this.
Anyone who remembers fables and fairytales from their childhood would find a consistent theme booming throughout these works: the importance of having principles, especially in the face of adversity. However, politicians seeking election haven't learned this lesson. By simply demonstrating a commitment to principle, politicians can win over voters across the ideological spectrum.
4) Ideologically, public officials would best serve their country by adopting a consistent commitment to investing in the financial integrity of our public institutions.
Conservatives in the United States are unfortunate precisely because of the very reasons why conservatism is inherently successful over history. Throughout the course of history, conservatism has been a winning formula in the face of rapid change.
However, rather than investing in traditional public institutions, the current right wing seeks to undercut them. By relying on the "traditional" institution of the free market, which has only a history of a century or two, they undercut institutions more deeply rooted than the peculiar experiences of the United States. Rather, they cut the institutions and functions of the state as an entity that cares about its citizens.
It is my sincerest hope my columns this past semester have been thought-provoking, interesting, enraging or in some other way worthwhile to those of you out there. I appreciate your readership, whoever you are.
Joaquin Rios is a political science sophomore. He can be reached at joaquin.rios@asu.edu.
