Are you tired of politics, too?

“I hate politics”. I often hear that comment, especially in today’s divisive political environment and after yet another ugly primary season. And it is apparent from the disparity in the number of “likes” I receive on my political Facebook posts as compared to my “happy” personal posts, most people would be content to never see anything pertaining to the world of political issues.

Perhaps you also think that “social” media isn’t the place for political posts. That’s fine, but please remember that social media was the driving force in the last two presidential campaigns, so while conservatives shy away from its use, those on the left solidly embrace it.

Because I have a love/hate relationship with politics, I really do understand the sentiment. But there is far too much at stake for the very survival of our Republic for me to disengage from the process.

What I have a harder time understanding is why an overwhelming number of Americans seemingly fail to recognize the enormous impact of public policy that touches each of us on a daily basis.

One of our SGP state coordinators shared the following from our recent Smart Girl Summit:

“Politics derives from policy. Policy WILL control your life. If bad policy…as you see with Obamacare, as you see with the immigration reform…if those issues take hold of your state, your communities, you’re going to care. The fact that maybe you’re not political, you’re not a TEA Partier, you’re not a grassroots person, you don’t want to be involved with Republicans or Democrats…it’s irrelevant when policy gets hold of your community.”

Policy is foremost in my mind right now, and particularly our current foreign policy. I face my article deadline the day after American journalist James Foley was savagely beheaded and videotaped by Islamic State terrorists for the world to see. I will not watch the video – the photos are a sufficient reminder of the evil that exists, a level of evil that I cannot possibly comprehend.

Almost immediately, threats and taunts to the U.S. from ISIS erupted, promising the shedding of more blood. As we mark yet another remembrance of 9/11, our southern border remains wide open and we face a national security crisis that very possibly exceeds what we experienced that horrific day. Is the policy of the Obama administration prepared for these threats? Earlier this summer, our president referred to ISIS as the JV team, essentially ignoring the ISIS threat in Syria regardless of intelligence sources revealing otherwise.

But are Americans seriously paying attention, or is this just something happening so far from our own backyards that the alarms have yet to be heard? From my Facebook and Twitter feed, I know that many of my activist friends are very awake and engaged, but because I mainly interact in a politically-aware environment, I don’t have a good gauge of whether the outrage and recognition of this crisis has extended beyond that segment of the populace.

Mid-term elections are a short two months from now. There are key U.S. Senate seats which could shift the power structure of Congress and give conservatives a viable means of impacting national policy. Smart Girl Politics has committed to educating voters in these states as to the issues and it can be done from the comfort of your home. Will you consider investing some time with us to help make a difference in these races?

My husband has a favorite maxim that he often shares. There are three kinds of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch what happens, and those who wonder what happened. When it comes to politics and policy, we simply cannot afford to have any more citizens who fall into the last category.

Marcia Chambliss is the Alabama State Coordinator of Smart Girl Politics, a 501(c) (3) non-profit dedicated to the education and training of activists and candidates, and Smart Girl Politics Action, http://sgpaction.com/, a 501(c) (4) which focuses on conservative issues. She can be reached at: Marcia@sgpaction.com. Her views do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Smart Girl Politics Action.