Sean Dengler. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

The beauty of the United States of America is we are an amazing country. Like other countries, the United States is not perfect, but no American should be ashamed of the United States. We can all strive to create a better country, to hopefully undo the sins of our past or do the best we can do. Being from the United States is better than being from one of those autocratic countries.

While we have more similarities than differences, we come together to figure out these differences through compromises. These may never be perfect, but we can agree to disagree. This is the beauty of the United States. Not one side can always get their way. An argument can be made to have more than two main parties, having two is better than one.

Neither party is perfect, nor is any candidate perfect. Neither of these options represent anyone to a perfect degree, but these parties and candidates form coalitions. They are full of diverse types of individuals drawn to them for several reasons. If they do not reach out, they lose voters, or the voters may not vote. Split ticketing voting also exists while limited compared to the past.

For those who want their candidates and parties to do exactly what they want is wild. That is why it is important to keep advocating for what one wants because there are many others pushing for their narratives. This is how through time and the battles in between, certain policies win out for better or worse. When as many people as possible are advocating for their cause, it will create the best scenario for society. Having these differences are key instead of only having one way of thinking.

It is likely not everyone in an autocratic country will agree with the policies put in place by their government. While the political system can feel tough at times in America due to various issues like all the money involved, it still is better than other countries. It takes all of us to stand together to fight for what is right. Sitting on the sidelines or in the cheap seats, throwing stones about what could be better without doing anything about it is worse than any scenario. When the public stops participating in the political process, society declines as well. Everyone is in this together.

This is why lobbyists are paid big bucks to hang out with politicians. Their employers know their values are worth paying someone to hang out with the politicians. While most of us are not able to pay ourselves millions to hang out with politicians, it is important to still make contact as much as possible. If your values are not being represented, it is a necessity to get involved in the political process.

Holding politicians and the government accountable is important. The government works for the United States citizen, and it will only work for as long as we provide the checks and balances. The government is not the big bad. The government deserves to work for us, and we are the ones to hold it accountable. When it is not held accountable, stories like the City of Clutier happen, where a former employee committed wire fraud to steal from the city more than $107,000 and was sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison. This is why it matters for citizens to be involved. The United States of America may not be perfect, but we are a beautiful country. As a citizen, we can help make this country better than the last generation.

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.