#CreativesVote is an effort to encourage a political voice for young people through social media.
To be honest, I guess I started it because I’m an idealist. I see the things that are going on in our world, and I can’t help but think there’s a better way. I’d like for things to be all good and worked out - world peace, everyone fed and all that, but for now I’ll settle for taking a step towards just being better. We will never reach a perfect place, but better is good. Maybe not perfect solutions to the problems that face us, but a step in the right direction, with momentum to go forward. That is worth the effort.
We aren’t going in that direction. We aren’t taking steps toward that ‘better’ at all, but running away from it as fast as we can. This may just be a temporary diversion from ‘better’, but it’s one that urgently needs to be corrected before permanence sets in. We are removing protections on natural places at an alarming rate, permits for offshore oil drilling are being issued as fast as they can, and some of the last old-growth forrest in the U.S. are up for sale to logging companies. That’s a look at environmental issues. We currently are in the confirmation process for a Supreme Court justice - a lifetime appointment - and the man appointed has lied under oath several times and is credibly accused of sexual assault. So theres a look at where our courts stand. A tax cut for the wealthiest people in America was passed into law, and millions of people, myself included, are unable to afford healthcare. College debt burdens almost every young person in America. We can’t buy homes. These are not things that indicate a move towards the better.
A voice from young people is what’s missing from the picture. Only 1 in 5 people age 17-35 voted in the 2016 elections. Policies and the government enacts effects all of our lives everyday, so why don’t we care more for it? From my experience, its because people don’t know where to start. They don’t know the issues that effect them. They don’t know who represents them in government. And thats okay to not understand, were all in the same boat - the political system is incredibly complicated. We can’t sit idly by because of that, so we must educate ourselves and we need to vote. Every single one of us. And we have to do it now.
I am doing all this because I believe in the power of us. It’s my idealism speaking that tells me we can all come together for a common good. It’s my idealism that tells me social media and it’s influencers have a powerful positive potential, to inspire and empower people, and not just to push sales of Irish Spring body wash to people. It’s my idealism that inspired me to try to build something bigger than any one of us to give people a voice.
I’ve had friends tell me I’m a good leader, but I’ll be honest, Im scared as hell to be doing this. I feel anxious, conflicted, and unsure. To take on a project this big with no prior experience seems more like an exercise in futility. But I’m still going because this shit matters to me. It matters to every single person in America. If I can fight through my reservations to take one step towards the better, then all of this is infinitely worth it.
I believe that we can protect wild places, see equal treatment of women across society, give people a chance at living in dignity, making sure people have access to affordable healthcare, ensure people can educate themselves without bankrupting themselves, and so many other good things. It’s time to step up and start building a better world that young people, and our children, will have to live in for another 40, 50, 60 years. That is why I’m doing this.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions, ideas, or want to get involved. Please check out the #CreativesVote page as well, found HERE
