Avoiding Politics?

As Elizabeth Theiss-Morse and John R. Hibbing suggest in "Citizenship and Civic Engagement," voluntary associations are a means by which individuals can avoid the difficulty and the conflict that are inherent in the political decision-making process. Furthermore, voluntary associations actually have a negative effect on civic participation for a number of reasons. First and foremost, voluntary associations typically attract individuals of similar backgrounds; whether it be race, socio-economic status, or geographical location as the unifying agent. Such homogeneity does not promote the democratic values that are essential to society's success. Tolerance, for one, cannot be achieved if the members of a voluntary association share similar beliefs, attitudes, etc. Open deliberation is an essential aspect of democracy because it allows for a multitude of opinions to be heard. Without it, the same viewpoints will continue to dominate the political sphere; viewpoints that belong to those in positions of power, thereby negating the main function of a democracy. Secondly, voluntary associations seemingly offer an alternative to the conflict and discomfort that is associated with political decision-making. Individuals join these associations in order to pursue goals that will benefit the community, a selfless act given the time-consuming nature of such associations. However, voluntary associations do not offer a "Free Pass" with respect to political involvement/participation. Helping those in and around one's community does not mean you are exempt from your civic duties as an American citizen, and a main function of civic duty is political participation. Democracy is not a right, it is a privilege: The United States had to fight for its independence, while other countries are still subjected to cruel and unusual forms of government. Therefore, it is necessary for individuals to engage in political activities in order to ensure the success and sustainability of our democratic system. Lastly, voluntary associations are not "good" by nature. Some, such as the Ku Klux Klan, even promote the outright intolerance of certain racial, religious, and political groups. While such groups are a minority, they do not foster a positive environment, political or otherwise.

While I agree with Theiss-Morse and Hibbing given the persuasiveness of their argument, I also believe that voluntary associations can lead to increased citizenship in America over time. Groups like the KKK are on the decline, making room for groups that can actually motivate political participation within its members. Appropriate student organizations at any level tend to be informative and positive with respect to citizenship. At UVa alone, there are countless voluntary associations whose sole purpose is political discussion and deliberation. In high schools across the country, there are students participating in Constitution Teams, etc., which travel to nearby schools and engage in political discourse. Therefore, I do not agree with Theiss-Morse and Hibbing when it comes to their assessment of younger generations. For our parents, politics was almost a taboo-like topic that was not to be discussed in social settings. They grew up in a society where social conflict was to be avoided at all costs, much like the society that Theiss-Morse and Hibbing describe in "Citizenship and Civic Engagement." However, there is no indication that our generation has experienced any such limitation when it comes to social conduct. If anything, there are more individuals now willing to speak their mind, at any cost, than there were during times of civil unrest in United States history.

On the other hand, the decline in political participation over the years clearly indicates that the younger generations are not committed to good citizenship. Difficult decision-making is not only required as part of one's civic duty as an American, it is the very foundation of democracy itself. Without it, there would be no political parties, or even majority rule. The democratic system itself arose out of a lack of decisiveness following Andrew Jackson's presidency. Individuals were either opposed to Jackson or for Jackson; therefore, when Jackson's presidency came to an end, the people had to find a more solid polarizing feature on which to cast their votes. We need difficult decision-making in order to foster a political environment in which fair, unambiguous majority rule reigns supreme. Therefore, if voluntary associations do, indeed, lead individuals to avoid politics, then they are a detriment to American society.