Schuyler Burke

I returned to my hometown of Belton, Texas, to vote this past weekend. I am honestly not too invested in the partisan politics of national elections and am privately critical of both parties. Nevertheless, I was inspired to vote because I care about my family, friends and local community. I voted because I want to demand more for them and for myself. 

Election season is its own American holiday, during which we all celebrate by turning a blind eye to our preferred politician’s failures whilst lambasting the opposition’s candidate. We split into two camps and hope and pray that our side will win. The media seems to raise the stakes every time, or perhaps it is true that politics is getting increasingly extreme and they are reporting it all dutifully. 

I am not so awed by the power of the presidency to believe all of the campaign promises and claims. I want to demystify our politicians. They are humans too, and despite how they may gleam and glitter in front of cameras, they aren’t any different from you and me. 

That is not an excuse for them — they must be held to the highest of scrutinies. In times of crisis, a stroke of the president’s pen can alter the course of human history. Instead, I consider their mortality as a comfort. Maybe it’s macabre, but their natural lifespans are their true term limits.  

What I care about more than national politics are the local elections that impact us all and afford us the opportunity to impact just as much. The state, the county and the city are always what comes to mind when mentioning local elections. But what I must stress is that there is a political game happening every day in the workplace. 

The nature of labor, the lengths of shifts, the size of paychecks and the personality of the boss; all of these affect us. Whether as employees or consumers, the quality of a workplace affects our lives most directly. The difference is that these details exist beyond the reach of our vote. 

Instead, our attention is redirected toward the so-called “more important” trends of national politics. No doubt the policies of the federal government can impact us all and for that alone, I encourage everyone to vote. In the same way, I encourage us all to “vote” for the communities we believe in. As consumers, it’s as simple as preferring another product or vendor. As workers, it is more challenging. We have to believe we deserve better, organize coworkers for better and recognize that the boss is just like us. Why should we not demand more from them too?   

Castro is managing editor and head of recruitment for The Texas Orator from Belton, Texas.