The people’s engagement with government: An election season’s approach.
Phillip Torres
The presidential election season for 2016 has offered the people of the United States a host of concerns regarding safety, opportunity and honesty. While the spectacle that was the primary election was underway, the American people were introduced to presidential candidates that boldly represented their stance on what it means to be the more qualified contender; while every candidate bolsters their own traits as leaders, the candidates deftly fabricate an image of each other in unconventional ways.
Such rhetoric provided by the candidates can have an all-together obstructed effect on the voters’ perception of a candidate who is campaigning for office; with so many character-flaws surrounding the current candidate’s reputations, it is evident that people from different upbringing view governmental positions differently. I, Phillip Torres went to a community college to hear what students had to say about their engagement with this year’s election season.
TRACK: As I walked the halls of LaGuardia Community College, I found plenty of students who had a lot to say about their engagement with the election. Steven Roa, a Business Administration major, says he’s been keeping up with current events mostly through social media.
Steven: I’ve come across certain news sources on facebook, I’ve seen a couple of posts about the candidates on instagram as well, I’ve discussed politics amongst friends, and I’ve seen a couple of the debates on TV as well.”
Track: Not long after, I encountered Tony Walker, a Human Services major, who mentions he stays up to date with the election through major news networks.
Tony: “I’m very engaged. I watch CNN, MSNBC, and I even watch FOX to see anything I can about the candidates running for presidency.”
Track: Lastly, I interviewed Ashley Bullard, who is a Commercial Photography major, and she seems less certain of her engagement to the election season.
Ashley: “Honestly, I don’t necessarily connect the same way to the government as anybody else does because I don’t support the government the same way. I feel the government is very biased and corrupt.”
Track: After the initial inquiry, the students were asked their concerns with the election season. Steven Roa is a bit uncertain as to who is the better candidate.
Steven: “In terms of the election season, I’m not really sure which candidate to pick; I believe Hillary makes some good points, but then, in general both Hillary and Trump have views that either contradict or don’t sound too appealing to me. Otherwise, it makes me actually want to look at other parties that may not be as endorsed.”
Track: Ashley Bullard conveys her concern with ambivalence, yet is hopeful for the candidate’s goals, rather than party associations.
Ashley: “I’m very nervous. I can’t necessarily say I am more to one side than the other, but I’m probably in the middle, because I am still trying to learn about what they’re bringing to the table and how they’re going to go about accomplishing their goals.”
Track: Finally, the question that would assess the influence of people’s engagement to government was offered: “If you knew nothing about a candidate campaigning for office, would you vote for them if his/her opponent held beliefs that opposes your views?” Steven states:
Steven: “No I would not, because that would just be ignorant, and that’s just me judging by my will as well as my emotions as opposed to knowledge. If I don’t know about a candidate and the person has opposing views as me, I find out more about the candidate I don’t know about, and then I will make my decision.”
Track: Tony also stresses the importance to knowing the candidates when he states:
Tony: “I would have to make an educated decision on that. I would have to learn about the candidate that’s running, and I would have to make the decision. Is this another situation of voting for the lesser of the two evils? Voting for somebody that’s not going to hurt me, other than voting for someone who is going to hurt me, and that situation you have to weigh your odds with which one is more dangerous and detrimental to you.”
Track: Although those interviewed shared little between each other besides their alma mater, the students reveal a forlorn sense of anticipation for the incoming president. With the students’ expectation of altruism, transparency, and honesty on the line, I’ve learned that the students at LaGuardia Community College are actively aware of their engagement to governmental offices. For Baruch College, this Phillip Torres.