Every time I hear voting is your civic duty, I cringe.
The platitudes traditional politics offer feel so oblivious to the constant political buffoonery people are expected to endure.
Just look at the experience of being a young person in this country right now.
Saad Amer and climate activists march during a thunderstorm in Washington, D.C. on April 22, 2023.Alejandro Alvarez/Sipa USA/AP
Across the United States, we see books being banned, as if this fascist-hallmark was a hobby.
Children are told to hide in corners during shooting drills as they prepare for yet another massacre.
Attacks on our democracy have been consistent.Dozens of stateshave passed restrictive voting laws since 2020.
Our current system is set up to abandon the young voters we need to get to the polls.
For me, that issue is climate justice.
Its why I am launching the Climate Movement for Democracy.
Things have been far from perfect, but right now, we have a stark choice to make.
I want to live in a country where it no longer feels like our government is falling apart.
Communities that were once disenfranchised are empowered and we can make decisions with our own autonomy.
Being a citizen of this democracy should not mean social instability.
Eight million young people are aging into the voting process this election.
I know how all-consuming this conversation can be, and how disconnected our government can feel.
Thats not a platitude, thats a fact.
