Kira Schiavone observes that High School is a mere
microcosms of the real world and that perhaps Elections are over-blown
Popularity Contests in this new article.It’s election time at school, and I’m running for the Boarding Life Committee. This committee is the primary governing body of the boarding community at my school, although all items are still voted on by whoever decides to show up at boarding town meeting. (Depending on the issue up for discussion, the turnout can range from two people to all eighty-something.) And while these elections are not run the same way most are- there are no prolonged campaigns, just a speech on election night-, the issues I decided to cover in the writing of the speech, and my watching of the earlier class elections for the various other student government positions, have given me a deep insight into the process of elections.
If you think about it, high schools are a microcosm of the so-called “real world.” We have our elections, governments, work, and daily schedule. We each gravitate to little groups and clubs, our own circles of friends. Through watching this real world, I have come to the conclusion that elections are basically a popularity contest.
As an example, I will take the Activities Committee elections, held last week. The Activities Committee plans the weekend activities and tries to come up with things that are actually enjoyable. (For reasons that continue to mystify the adults, no trip planned without our input has been generally considered enjoyable. Hence, the committee.) The two people who won the election got up there and basically said “Vote for me!” That was all they said. They didn’t need to say any more. They were popular. There was no substance in the speeches, but they still won, because they have friends. That’s one reason I’m not optimistic about my chances at winning the election I have chosen to enter. The ideas and issues don’t matter.
Another insight I’ve been given into elections, one that has become the main basis in my speech, is that the elected official is there to represent the opinions of the populace, not his or her own beliefs. One of the promises I will be making later tonight is that if elected, I will base my decisions and actions on the majority opinion in the dorm rather than my own opinions. Given the tremendous public outcry about the actions of the federal government, one wonders why none of the elected officials there know that their first duty is to follow the will of the people. Perhaps it’s just easier to remember that in a smaller community like a school, one where everyone knows their officials personally and can easily censure them for decisions that aren’t liked. But I think the federal elected officials could learn something from my own campaign speech. Their duty is to the people of the nation, as mine will be to the people of the dorm should I be elected.
After all, what is the elected official but the servant of the people?
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