Sean Dengler.

It would be an understatement to say this upcoming presidential election does not have the electorate fired up. Each candidate has their flaws, and neither feel like a once-in-a-lifetime, straight-from-central-casting presidential candidate. With it being a runback of 2020 no one was clamoring for; the excitement is next to none. The 2020 election felt like it lasted 10 years. It is easy to feel down and out about the prospects of the United States of America. By looking back on history, it provides a lesson. Politics has always been messy. In the present day with social media and clickbait headlines, it makes the worst part of politics stand out. It is sad when hearing from others who are checking out of politics because it is too overwhelming or discouraging, but who can blame them?

This is cliché, and it will not convince everyone but voting matters. It is the most important civic duty Americans have on this planet. When people choose not to vote, it can lead to power going unchecked. While this is not to say put one’s morals to the side – and it is necessary to vote for presidential candidate – it is more about voting in local races.

Seek out the new generation of people choosing to make the world a better place. Find the newer candidate running for local office who can impact one’s life more than the presidential candidate. Living in Iowa, I have felt the impacts of the Iowa Assembly more than what President Biden has done in the last four years. Not to say I have not felt anything from the federal government, thank you for the stimulus checks, but the parts affecting my life the most have come from what the Iowa legislature has done for better or for worse.

Take stock of what matters in the community and vote for those candidates who wish to help take care of those matters. Be realistic about it as well because no one candidate is going to fix every single issue. That is an impossible task but find the one who can help the most. A perfect candidate does not exist, but a good enough one hopefully does.

If voting for a candidate who holds your views is too tough to find, get involved in the community. Volunteering is a worthy cause. If the cause one wants to volunteer for does not exist, be the one who starts it. Doing the work instead of sitting in the cheap seats and complaining is the best option for a person and society.

Life is meant to be in the service of one another. A community is only as strong as those who work to build it. Strong communities leads to strong societies. As much as the capitalistic view of society wants to push everyone to a “me” way of thinking, it is a “we” way of thinking which will save the day. While the two running for president make most people not feel good, be the one who does good by voting for the candidate who will help their community the most and/or be the one who most helps the community. It is that simple.

Sean Dengler is a writer, comedian, farmer, and host of the Pandaring Talk podcast who grew up on a farm between Traer and Dysart. You can reach him at sean.h.dengler@gmail.com.