"I find it interesting how you say that you spent a half hour researching the other slate but have shown no evidence of research about SGA as an organization. I would start there and see that a lot of your questions can easily be answered by what the organization does as a whole. In regards to your ridiculous and unnecessary derailment of one section of a larger whole without reading everything else initially, you'll find that 1. a platform is not a step-by-step instruction guide for what they are going to do, it's simply big ideas that will be further explained if elected and 2. you'll find questions you asked are elaborated on in other platform points. As someone who has seen all of the work SGA has done and had to research it myself to further understand everything, I hope you take the time to sit down with the students who are working diligently on these ideas and get a better grasp on them so you can write a much better piece for your next installment." [Emphasis added to highlight what I think are important points]I did have a problem with one thing anon said but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
I thought anon had brought quite interesting and good points to the table, so I don't think I minded the fact that anon called my questions and post a "ridiculous and unnecessary derailment of one section of a larger whole."
So, in the wee hours of Friday morning, as I lay in my bed trying to simultaneously sleep and figure it out, the answer softly floated above my head, and I was finally able to grasp it. "...a platform is not a step-by-step instruction guide for what they are going to do, it's simply big ideas that will be further explained if elected..."
I have a problem with that. A big one.
Not just here but in all aspects in politics. I don't want to vote for someone who is either so vague that I don't understand what they plan to do or says things like (liberty taken so as to simplify real statements down to their actual meaning):
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"I'm pretty sure these are good ideas, but I'm not sure how they'll work out and I know people will go against me, so I'll just say we'll all work on them together once I'm in office."(That's what already happens, and look where we are today.)
"This is a good idea here; I think I could do better once I'm in office though." (Really? Tell me more! ...no?)
"This is my idea: [insert idea here]. Not sure how I'm gonna achieve it, but you don't need to know that." (Soooo, what?)
"This thing here is bad. It needs to change. We all need to change our views on it, and the only way that'll happen is if I'm in office!" (Why? How? Are you the avatar of change?)
"I promise that [arbitrary group] will get what they want(!) regardless of need, consequences, logistical problems, and my actual intent in fulfilling this promise because logically I know the senate could totally be against it. I do know that these people will vote for me if I say that I promise this though." (Wait... what?)
"I have this cool idea, and I wanna do it, but I'm not gonna share how to do it or my thoughts on the matter unless I'm elected." (Why not? Is this some sort of form of extortion? How are you gonna do these things!?)
—
You might say this is unreasonable. You might say that I don't know how politics works. You might be right.
Meh. If I had started writing this blog a month ago, maybe two, I would've thought that student politics were more trouble than they were worth, chucked this blog into my bin of side-projects, and waited for the storm to blow over.
 |
| I would've been like, "Nope, C'y'all later." |
You can take my thoughts with a grain of salt.
You can tell me that I'm wrong. Cool. You can spam me with outrageous outcries against humanity. It's all good. I might not respond to it, but if it helps you solidify your own ideals, go for it.
You should feel free to comment on my posts, I encourage it because that's what I'm after.
I want you to ask questions about my questions. I want you to do your own search on the things that I've searched. I want you to disagree with me.
If I'm always right, life is so boring. I want to be wrong! If we're all asking questions together, eventually we'll come to the right one. (Then we won't end up with an answer like 42...)
So, I thought anon had a valid point on learning about Student Government Association, so I searched up a storm.
Let me tell you, it wasn't easy find; I kept on running into dead ends, so in that end (punny, I know), I headed to the Office of Student Life, dropped in on the SGA office, and got the information that I wanted on budget and minutes. I'll write up what I learn from those notes in another post (if I feel inspired).
Now, throughout last Friday, I was asked a lot of good questions by a lot of people (no, not all on this blog, I have a life too!) and the one that struck me the most was, "What is more important to you; platform or person?"
That stopped me for a moment. I had to think about it.
Platform is important, yes, but was that really why I was suddenly so passionate about SGA? Why was I asking all of these questions about their platforms? Why was I so... vindictive(?) about these things?
Anon, I must thank you for helping me realize that honestly, I don't care about what the standard definition for the term 'platform' is; if they want my vote and my voice, they're gonna have to give me something worth getting behind from my point of view.
Don't just spew cool ideas and promises at me, past achievements and titles thrown in my face with catchy music, then expect me to agree with everything you say.
Don't use the buzz words of the day (diversity, transparency, etc.)
Give me the whys. Give me the hows.
Give me someone worth following.
If you're running for the position of leader, tell me why I should follow you. This isn't just about you. I don't care about your pretty words. I don't care about the catchy music (well, I do, but it makes me even more suspicious). Are you someone trustworthy? Are you loyal to the people you make promises to? Are you worth my trust?
Give me the deep and personal experiences as to WHY YOU'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
Why is this meaningful to you? Is it because the title looks good on your resume? Is it change you're after? Are you trying to use the position for your own personal gain? If you have things you want done just because they benefit you, tell me. I might support that but I need to know.
Who are you?
Another, part of the reason I'm writing these posts is because I want to try and understand what the slates are trying to say without their personal interpretations or getting caught up in the 'hype.'
It's kind of like the successful study habit of reading the textbook before class to see if you have any questions. (buuuut... it's hard... and I'm a student. And I have other homework.)
This is so when you finally go to class, you can actually ask the right questions rather than sitting and staring at the other students (and decidedly NOT at the professor so you won't be chosen), silently begging them to speak up so you don't have to.
After that, everything the professor has said sounds good, and you think you have questions, but it's all so new so you're still trying to wrap your head around it. Then once you've left class, you realize exactly what question needed to be asked, but now the moment has past.
I want to have those questions ready. Sure, I'm posting it on social media, but it's not out of spite; it's because, like I said before, I think these are questions that need to be asked.
These elections are so quick.
Are most people really going to have enough time to ask questions (the right questions) or get to know the candidates and their real goals?
Signing off (for a bit).
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