Politics isn't a spectator sport

It's understandable that people don't want to pay attention to politics.

The two-week barrage of sloganeering, accusations and promises that were the Republican and Democrat national conventions strained the patience of even hardened political junkies.

Particularly in this presidential election, when half-truths and political attacks have replaced policy proposals and honest debate on serious issues,  it's not a surprise at all that people just want to turn away.

But too often, people weren't paying attention in the first place.

There is a chasm of difference between becoming disgusted with the state of politics in this country and ignoring it completely.

A common answer to 'do you follow politics?' Is 'I'm too busy for that,' or 'I'm not interested in that,' as if what happens in Augusta or Washington is somehow tangential to everyday life.

But it is not.

Regardless of how much or little one thinks of politicians, the hard truth is that their actions have a direct impact on our lives, far more than does the  outcome of a football game or a televised singing competition.

We don't live in a dictatorship or a monarchy – our system of government relies on informed and active participation from individual citizens.

It's not necessary to be an expert on politics or policy to know what issues are most important to your life – realizing that politics has bearing on how those issues are considered and legislated, from the local selectboard to the Oval Office, is crucial.

We're all busy with our own lives and even though politics can often be distasteful, it is essential that we all pay attention and remained informed – it's a responsibility that, as citizens, we all have.

In a democracy like ours, ignorance and disinterest in the political process isn't just irresponsible ... it's dangerous.