Written by Chris Herrmann

In today’s day and age of politics, most politicians strive for the perfect sound bite. Most of the time said sound bite is on a highly controversial or divisive topic: Abortion, Immigration, DEI, etc. Rarely, if ever, are these about actual issues facing every day citizens such as: Healthcare, Affordable Housing, Education, Income Inequality, and a whole host of other issues. These leaders use fear-filled rhetoric to stir up a crowd and distract them from their disastrous policies.

In my high school two posters hang all over the school, and every school in the district, titled: NKY Homeless Facts and NKY Hunger Facts. Both of these posters are filled with information about the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area. Some information provided is:

“80,000 kids may not know when their next meal will be”
“25% of the Cincinnati area does not have easy access to nutritious food”

“Between 21,000-26,000 high school students in KY are homeless, making them 87% MORE likely to not graduate high school”

These numbers are shocking and deeply saddening. Instead of addressing these issues, politicians in Frankfort, Columbus, and Washington D.C. spend the majority of their time creating issues out of nothing. They demonize libraries for being an opening and welcoming place for all. They demonize immigrants for coming to this nation in the hope of a better life for them and their family. They demonize schools for teaching students history and how to think for themselves. For most of these politicians, their entire identity is based on being against these institutions that help people, and have been propped up by their hateful and fearful rhetoric.

Think about how much of a better world we would all live in if all of these politicians put as much energy and effort as they do with these non-issues, on solving actual real problems. They could invest in affordable housing, provide universal free meals to K-12 students, put monopolies and trusts in check to make sure they aren’t exploiting us, and investing in education and environmental care. They could do all of this, but they don’t.

These politicians have managed to convince so many people that they are in danger from Immigrants, DEI, and all of these other factors that the people don’t even care what their other policies are. Mr. Trump campaigned on their fear and hate, and, now that he is in office inflation has skyrocketed and the economy has been reduced and harmed.

My one plea is that next time an election happens, do your research. Look into the candidates and what their actual policies are. And make sure that our elected officials keep the people in mind, make your voices be heard through whatever means you can.