General Elections are quickly approaching, and before we realize it, Tuesday, November 7, will be upon us, with every candidate clamoring for our vote, stating he or she is the best person for the job.
Lately, politicians have established a new precedent of giving us not even an inkling of what they stand for, where they come from, what issues affecting us as voters they support or don’t support, what policies they agree with or don’t, what makes them stand apart from the herd of political wannabes that crop up around election time making promises, shaking hands, kissing babies, visiting senior homes and centers,
throwing out first pitches at little league games, dragging out the family lineages to prove to potential voters they’re the person for the job.
Speaking with some young women from Philadelphia’s inner city gave me even more of a perspective on how many Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z feel about candidates currently on the ballot in the city. Constituents, especially the younger generation, feel that in many cases, they’re just pawns in the political system, that politicians only come around when there’s a photo op or they want your vote. Otherwise, they’re normally unavailable. They feel that it’s the same group of people running for offices who covent those offices as if the seats were a lifetime appointment.
Constituents are looking for change. The younger generation is a more racially and ethically diverse group that is more sophisticated, socially and politically aware, and is looking for honesty, accountability, and a sense of morality in the candidates they elect. These Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zers don’t care to read or hear the standard political rhetoric of the past. They want candidates to be honest and to the point about who they are and what they stand for. They want candidates to not be out of touch with issues that affect them, their families, homes, communities, and their livelihoods. Constituents are sick of the do-or-say-anything-to-win attitude! Do you know that disingenuous quality in some candidates that implies it’s okay to tailor their narratives to suit different demographics to get their vote?
During the Primary Election season, no less than 40 candidates were vying for various political offices in the City of Philadelphia, and only six candidates shared their narratives with any of our readers at ScoopUSA Media. Going into the General Election, it’s looking to be more of the same. The adage about believing someone when they tell you who they are is true. These political personalities are telling us just who they are. Believe them! Communication is key, and our candidates have just communicated that they really don’t care what we think.
As someone whose job it is to share information, I found it extremely disheartening that candidates felt it wasn’t necessary to share a narrative with the very constituents whose votes they were clamoring for. Our role is to be a conduit in getting candidates’ messages out to the constituency in hopes that they’ll be elected and uplift the quality of all the city’s residents.
I’ve always known that politics was a somewhat dicey game, and I’ve long been aware that political figures, in general, were not always the most honest bunch of individuals who operated with the utmost integrity- -but I did feel at least some of them had the best interest of the public at heart. Now, I don’t feel that there’s an interest in the public at all. It’s all about winning at any cost, accountability is non-existent, honesty is at the discretion of the individual, and there appears to be an overall air of untrustworthiness that makes me understand drastic changes are necessary. Most voters, as do I, realize that we are the demographic these political candidates need to reach with their messages. I wonder if they do.
Questions We Should Ask Ourselves:
* Is this candidate prepared to meet me where I am and willing to share his or her narrative with my demo- graphic?
* Is this candidate concerned about issues that affect us, our families, businesses, neighborhoods, and communities?
* What can you do to change the face of politics as usual for our younger generation? and
* How do you intend to engage our younger generation?
In the interest of self-disclosure and as a person who values honesty and embraces integrity, I am compelled to let readers know that I am a potential candidate running for a seat on the Chester Upland School Board in the General Election in November.
I’ve been voting since I was eighteen years old. I don’t take this privilege lightly; I put quite a bit of research and thought into my selections before I vote, reading community, mainstream, and other media platforms. I find this a sad situation.
