Ashley Basta, editor-in-chief, The Banner, WRHS

Everyone in the United States is at least slightly aware of a concept called "politics." As little kids, we wondered about the strange candidate propaganda on the television every fourth year, and why adults got so worked up about what they heard on the evening news. Elementary school shed light on the existence of something called the House of Representatives and the process it takes to pass a bill in Congress. In ninth grade, we take a standard government class, and supposedly become more aware of the governmental systems in place in our nation. After that point, our political awareness becomes our responsibility, and it's alarming how few take that responsibility seriously. My question is: in a country where the people supposedly hold the majority of the power, when did it become acceptable not to care?

Unless you have been completely burying your head in the sand, you are aware of the presidential election to take place in November of this year. The candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties are yet to be chosen, but the primaries are well under way and we are expected to know who will ultimately represent each party by the end of February. However, Feb. 5 is "Super Tuesday," and 15 primaries will be held within 24 hours. By then, we should have a good idea about our choices. For those of us who will be able to contribute, the occupant of the presidential office is a subject that should not be taken lightly.

So if we aren't planning on becoming lawyers or politicians, and if we aren't going to vote in 2008, why is it important to pay attention? Politics shape the actions of our government, and the government controls the actions of our nation. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, we are American citizens and what happens in our government will affect us in our homes, schools, and everywhere else. Why not pay attention to the things which will dictate the whole of our experience, and the experiences of our children?

Ignorance may be bliss, but it is also the relinquishment of any power we may have when it comes to changing our current state. The common assumption seems to be that people who are not policemen, politicians, or presidents, especially if they are minors, do not have any power at all. The truth is that our power lies in our brains and our voices, and most teenagers seem to have forgotten the existence of both.

The point is not to be an expert, but simply to be aware and to utilize the power we have. Many think that we cannot make a difference in the government even if we try. The fact is, the only way we can be sure that we won't make a difference is by failing to try. By at least being informed, we put ourselves at a higher level of political ability than all of those who aren't, including ignorant adults. Even if we don't have the ability to vote now, we should be interested in the actions of the government because they will dictate the position we are in when we are able to make a contribution.

For those of us who will have the ability to vote innine months, now is the time to start paying attention. The only way to make a legitimate contribution, based on our personal opinions and goals, is to be informed in our decision. Maybe I am going out on a limb here, but I won't allow my life as an American to be dictated by those who choose to participate. Instead, I will participate and I will make a difference. A quote by Hanna Arendt sums up the importance of interest and information when it comes to the intricacies of politics: "Education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to take responsibility for it."