While the country’s two main political parties are polarized, two former Congress members from opposite sides of the spectrum are overcoming the friction to encourage students to get involved and lead.
Former representatives Bill Sarpalius, D-Texas, and Dan Miller, R-Fla., visited the University on Monday and will continue today to encourage students to vote or possibly run for public service. Sarpalius and Miller’s goals are to inform students that everyone’s voice is important, because many students don’t believe this.
So far during their visit, Sarpalius and Miller have conducted classes, held community forums, met informally with students and faculty and had interviews and talk show appearances.
The former lawmakers offered ideas on how to “fix our nation’s broken political system.” They said it will fix itself in some cases, such as the extremes of the political parties.
Sarpalius and Miller said these days, fewer people are labeling themselves as a Democrat or a Republican, and the parties are becoming weaker.
“I have confidence the system will work itself out,” Miller said.
But Miller said not everything does, and that’s why people need to take a stand and make a difference, even if it is as simple as voting.
Miller and Sarpalius said part of the broken political system is due to lack of leadership, which is where making a stand comes into play. There are “good government ideas but bad governing,” Miller and Sarpalius said.
Miller and Sarpalius said many people could help the government by being in office, but people are too scared to run because of something they did in the past that could place them in a negative light.
Students and others should not be scared to get involved because of their past, Miller said.
Miller and Sarpalius urged students to get involved, with internships being the best way.
Have high expectations, Miller said, but know that it may take a while.
Sarpalius said students should learn from the bottom up, get involved because “you may learn it’s not for you” and that once involved, get surrounded by capable staff.