How YOU can make a difference

"Be the change you want to see in the world" 

-Mahatma Gandhi

This small idea is so underestimated, but it's really true. There are thousands of ways one can make a difference and it just takes one person to start a movement that can promote this change. When it comes to American democracy, I think some (especially the liberal democrats) feel like there's no more hope, however this isn't true! For those that feel stuck in a democratic rut, I've provided a short list of three ideas that one can do to make a difference in shaping American democracy.

1. VOTE. 

This idea is possibly the most underestimated of them all. Every American who is 18 or over has the ability to vote and just by exercising this, you can make a difference. This is a democracy after all...In the 2004 Presidential elections only 60.7% of the population voted and this was the highest voted turnout since 1968. If you really care about our democratic environment voting is a great opportunity to have your voice heard. People say that their one small vote can't make a difference but it can! The 2004 elections are a perfect example with the incredibly close race between Bush and Kerry. Luckily in the past few years the media has gotten much more involved in getting people out there to vote. MTV's Rock the Vote campaign targeted teenagers and toured college campuses encouraging new voters. For this past election they even held their own debates that aired several times on both MTV and VH1. 

2. Utilize technology. 

In this day and age technology has taken democracy to a whole different level. Websites like moveon.org are aimed to get news out there with a different emphasis then one might see on Fox or CNN. I am a subscriber to this website and they send me monthly informative newsletters following the current campaigns and rallies and encouraging me to show up to their many events that they host. By keeping yourself up to date on the current political issues you're one step further than many other Americans. If you're well informed then when that opportunity arises, you can rise to the occasion and embrace the change. 

3. Speak Out. 

Say what you feel, protest, write to a local paper, get involved in school government, help work on a campaign...By starting small and dreaming big you WILL make a difference.