Fighting Political Apathy Depends on the Next Generation

Written by Darius Beckham

The current state of American politics feels broken. At a time when millions are at risk of losing healthcare, when vital local programs, from afterschool enrichment to housing assistance are being cut, and when political debate has morphed into a culture war where logic is optional and division is expected, it’s easy to understand why so many people feel powerless.

But we cannot afford apathy, not now.

Darius Beckham speaking to Dayton voters.

The dysfunction we see today isn’t new.

Throughout history, every generation has faced a choice: to accept the status quo or to fight for a better future. From freedom fighters who rejected the normalization of slavery, to suffragists who defied a system that excluded women, to civil rights leaders who stood against segregation, progress has always come from people, often young people who refused to accept the world as it was.

The challenges we face today demand that same clarity and courage. The rising cost of living, a broken healthcare system, underfunded schools, climate disasters, gun violence, and the erosion of democratic values are not abstract policy debates, they are the lived experiences of working-class communities, people of color, and the most vulnerable among us.

In response, we need leaders who will fight.

I believe our future depends on the next generation stepping up, not just to protest, but to govern. To run for office. To write legislation. To build coalitions. To demand budgets that reflect human dignity and demand equity.

Young people bring urgency to this moment, not because we are naïve, but because we are unburdened by the cynicism that often paralyzes progress. We ask different questions. We see around corners. We are not loyal to the same old way of doing things. That kind of idealism isn’t a weakness, it’s our best shot.

Complacency is dangerous. It's a threat to people’s lives on the ground. It not only forces local governments to stretch shrinking resources but leaves working families to fend for themselves.

But imagine a politics where equity comes first. That future won’t build itself, it requires a new generation to fight for it.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about age, it’s about energy. It's about the resolve to build something better, and the willingness to do the work. The next chapter of our country will be written by those who refuse to sit still in the face of injustice. That responsibility belongs to all of us.

Fighting apathy means offering hope. And hope looks like taking action.