The problem isn?t the fact that 72 percent of BYU students approve of the way President Bush is handling his presidency. It?s the fact that 52 percent of the students who participated in Wednesday?s opinion poll don?t know whether or not Bush is doing a better job this year compared to last. If people know so little about the job the president is doing, how can they truly approve or disapprove of it?
Some might argue that the poll wasn?t scientific enough and the questions weren?t phrased well, but the numbers are large enough that the picture they paint probably reflects the BYU population quite well. Unfortunately, that picture appears to be one of general political apathy. It would suggest that while most approve of Bush?s character, many of those same people can?t say why.
It?s true that college students lead busy lives and have plenty of excuses for not knowing. For most people outside of the political science department, it is difficult to find the time for in-depth exploration of political issues. But everyone should take the time to at least get a basic understanding of current affairs in local and national government. It takes little time and effort to read a newspaper or turn on the TV news.
At the same time, many students haven?t grown up needing to be informed about political issues. Those were problems for adults to worry about. Well, anyone over eighteen is technically an adult, and that?s a large majority of the student body. It?s time for every BYU student to become informed and involved in the decisions that affect every day life in the United States.
The LDS church teaches that church members should honor and sustain the leaders of their respective governments. That does not mean passively letting those leaders do whatever they wish, especially in a democratic nation. While many LDS people may agree with the president?s stance on ?moral? issues, they may find, upon closer examination, that they don?t agree with his other policies. And oftentimes, it?s those other policies that have the greatest effect on American lives.
There is nothing wrong with somebody having a particular opinion. It is the respect for that difference of opinion that makes America great. But when it comes to issues of government, those views should be based on knowledge. After all, ?I don?t know? is not an option on the ballot.
