When I was a kid, I saw democracy in an entirely different light. Teachers instilled in me that we, the United States, were an almighty, powerful, and righteous nation - above all others. Our textbooks hailed Christopher Columbus as a savior, proclaimed that the government was by the people for the people, and that communists, socialists, and everyone different was wrong.

Now, as an adult, I'm completely confused. Turns out, Christopher Columbus was a slave trader with bad navigation skills. Communism collapsed in the Soviet Union, the Berlin Wall came down, and China is still doing their thing - and now they are the sugar daddy of the USA.

But the biggest kick in the head is all this nonsense about democracy. I excelled at Political Behavior and Social Studies during school because I loved the law. I thought that running a country through collective bargaining was the most ideal way to go; my very notion of Utopia. I had a copy of the Declaration of Independence on my wall, and there wasn't a day that I didn't look at it. I was recommended for a position as a page with the House of Representatives during my Junior year of high school. I was crushed when my parents told me I couldn't move hours away all by myself at the age of 16 - but now as a parent, I understand their concern.

When I turned 18, I was so excited about voting that I actually set my alarm for 8:00 am, even though the polling precinct was right behind the building I lived in. Some of my candidates didn't win, but big deal. That's democracy. I didn't whine, complain, demand recounts, or act like a child. I merely paid attention to the newly elected officials, and stayed up to date on the policies they did or didn't endorse. By paying attention to the laws being proposed, debated, passed, and vetoed, I was able to make an informed decision when election time came around again.

Sometimes it's as if people only realize there are ongoing problems and an upcoming election when campaign slander ads begin interrupting their favorite television programs. Sadly, that very information is what most people use to make their decisions when electing public officials. During the (sometimes not so brief campaigns) of potential politicians, citizens are up in arms until Election Day - then a majority don't even vote.

Don't believe everything you hear. If I am told something, I check the fact with at least three different sources.

I would also like to mention that I'm proud of the non-violent protestors standing up for their beliefs. I'm glad to see that someone, somewhere, is shaking the conscious of this sleepy nation. I've read vicious dialogue about the protestors, and the protestors don't have anything nice to say about their haters. GOOD! At least there is dialogue.

Over the course of the next year, I ask everyone to please take the time to validate the slew of facts that will be thrown in your face by news personalities (which should not be confused with NEWS REPORTERS, who are unbiased conveyers of fact). If you see an ad proclaiming that Republicans want to eat your babies or Democrats want to kill senior citizens - don't just blindly believe it. Everyone hated the daunting task of compiling facts for research papers in school, but now we have the luxuries of Google and Wikipedia. Since there isn't a teacher, no points will be taken off for cheating. As Americans, we have no excuse for being completely uniformed citizens. 
The power you yield with your vote affects millions of other people.