Nation needs voters to be well informed

There is no job more important to a citizen than to be informed. Today, we have more information literally in our hands than ever. Just 20 years ago, we had to actually open up a newspaper or watch a nightly news cast to see the latest news. Now, breaking news comes right to us the second it happens on our phone.

So if we have more information than ever before, why is it that we as a society are so uninformed about current events? We have a growing problem in America, where people follow the majority, or if they hear a good idea, they follow it. Less and less people know the real story behind what is going on.

There is a reason that Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have substantial support. It's because people don't bother to know their facts, and think it's actually realistic to deport 11 million people, or have free college for everyone. If we are going to enact any change as country, we must have informed citizens.

The power of an informed voter still matters. In 2016, we have a very big choice, possibly the biggest in a long time, about the direction of our country.

If this country is going to go in the right direction, we are going to need informed voters to make that happen. And that starts when the American people are willing to find out the facts and make an informed vote.

Ben Szalinski

Mundelein