This summer's debt-ceiling debacle caused me serious anxiety.
Every time I turned on the news, I thought I might need therapy. And I held Congress solely responsible.
When I was venting to one of my friends about the situation, she asked, "What's a debt ceiling?"
It was then that I realized just how much therapy I might need.
What stressed me out more than a colossal financial crisis teetering on the edge of an economic collapse was someone not knowing about said crisis.
Ignorance may be bliss, but ignorance is also irresponsible.
The college-aged crowd has a significant stake in current events. Changes in our government and world will affect us for the rest of our lives--and our adult lives are only just beginning.
When I go to the gas pump, I don't watch the price ticker as I'm fueling up my car. I know watching it will stress me out.
I've let myself slip into apathy.
Some people similarly ignore the news to avoid the stress that comes with it. They think goings-on in Washington are out of their control.
Citizens can take control by voting responsibly, which begins with being well-informed.
It is essential to watch the metaphorical price ticker (and deal with the accompanying stress) to form an opinion.
Elections are a year away--just around the corner in political terms--making the next year a crucial one for voters to follow.
Some college students will be first-time voters, unaccustomed to paying attention to the field of candidates.
Uninformed potential voters may even be tempted not to vote, which sacrifices a great privilege of living in the United States.
Being informed is easy.
In the age of social media, it takes more effort to be uninformed than it does to be informed.
Journalists, hosts and news organizations tweet about current events day and night. (I eventually had to unfollow Piers Morgan because of the excessive frequency of his tweets.)
If you have yet to jump on the Twitter bandwagon, stick to television. Or Internet news sites. Or newspapers and magazines. Or news apps for smartphones. News sources are all around.
It's OK to watch "Jersey Shore" or "Real Housewives." You will lose brain cells. But if you watch an hour of the news afterward, you might break even.
Be informed so you're not embarrassed at a party when someone brings up Keynesian economics, and you have nothing to say. (If this has never come up at a party, your friends are not cool.)
Be informed so when someone asks what you think about Gadhafi, you have something better to say than, "How is that cooked?"
Be informed so you can make a responsible, educated decision when it comes time to pick your leaders in Washington.
Don't shield your eyes at the gas pump.
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