One of Gen Z’s greatest strengths is our passion for creating change. We should want to feel accurately represented by politicians, but students should remember that there is a distinction between a candidate being trustworthy and a candidate being perfect. Politicians should be optimistic and get voters engaged, but they should also be realistic. Even though a politician may not be able to make the immediate changes you want, this shouldn’t disqualify them from your support.
Voters must understand the consequences of being disengaged from political campaigns and movements due to minor disagreements, and instead look at the bigger picture. Instead of demanding unrealistic changes, such as expecting every proposed bill to pass, voters should examine politicians’ receptivity to criticism and hold them to a higher standard once elected.
Many would argue that the issues they disagree with politicians on are fundamental and nonnegotiable. Although you may not agree with a politician’s stance on every issue, what matters most is voting for who represents values most similar to yours. Everyone should have a say in who they believe has greater potential to unite their community.
You might not perfectly align with either candidate on the ballot; however, not voting at all means giving up the right to use your voice. Recognizing what’s most important to you, and voting accordingly based on the choices available, is how you can make tangible change.
“I think that there is a tendency for all of us to want purity in our public officials or people that are running for public office, but rarely will we find a party or a person that is 100% aligned with who we are,” said Steve Adler, former mayor of Austin. “We need to find and support those people with whom we share the greatest common ground, or common ground on the most important issue to us.”
Remember that there is strength in numbers. Using your voice shows you care about what is happening around you and are an active community member. In order to progress, we have a responsibility to be politically engaged on a local and national level.
“There’s not going to be a perfect candidate for either side,” government sophomore Jordan Zheng said. “For the unsure voters, I would firstly tell them to look at the character of the person.”
Does this mean that we should not hold politicians to their word? No. We should absolutely demand that politicians listen to their constituents and work to live up to their campaign promises, but being elected is only the first step. As voters, we should decide which candidate is the better choice for our community and continue to hold them accountable in office, without ostracizing them for not being flawless all of the time.
A candidate may not be perfect, but their willingness to be a voice for their community is what matters most. By being informed about what is happening around you and making an effort to show up politically, you can help make progress in your community.
Sayed is a health and society sophomore from Frisco, Texas.
