Ignorance Isn’t Bliss

Yes, You! Stop pretending politics does not matter.

Let me start by saying something that makes my blood boil. People often tell me, “I don’t really care about politics; it doesn’t affect me.” And I sit there, trying to smile politely while a deep fire of fury boils up inside me. How can someone so willfully blind exist in a world where politics literally shapes every aspect of our lives? Not only is this ignorance frustrating – it’s dangerous. It’s the kind of thinking that allows inequalities to persist and the kind of mindset that lets issues go unchecked. And, frankly, it enrages me – sorry (not sorry) to my friends who know this applies to them 😉

So here’s the blunt truth: politics matters. You matter. Your opinion matters. And whether you realise it or not, politics is already affecting you.

First, let’s remind ourselves why even the possibility of being politically active exists. Women – countless women – died, were imprisoned, and endured unimaginable abuse fighting for the right to vote. The suffragette movement was a revolution that secured the ability for women to shape the governments and policies that govern their lives. Their struggle was a visceral, bloody, and real one which you now decide to put aside because you think it doesn’t affect you!? To even suggest that your voice doesn’t count is, in a way, an insult to the sacrifices made by those who fought for your ability to speak, to vote, to demand change. Even if you’re not of voting age yet, you should still be interested. You should still care. Because the policies, debates, and decisions made by those in power affect your life now and will continue to affect it as you grow into adulthood.

I hear it all the time: “Politics doesn’t affect me.” And that is just objectively false. Let me break it down. Education, healthcare, housing, climate policy, student loans, university funding – these are all political issues. They are discussed, voted on, and decided in Parliament. Even before the next general election, policies can reshape the landscape of schools, colleges, and universities.

For instance, a party might promise tuition fee reforms, increased support for mental health in schools, or changes to apprenticeship schemes. These things directly impact your life. Even if you’re blissfully ignoring the news, your friends, your family, and your community are experiencing the ripple effects of political decisions every day.

And yes, even if politics somehow doesn’t affect you personally, you still need to care about the world around you. I’m not currently discriminated against for my race, but I care about debates surrounding racism. I’m fortunate not to live in a society where women are forced into arranged marriages, yet I care deeply about women’s rights globally. Politics is about society, justice, and the future – not just for YOU. If you have the privilege of being unaffected by political turmoil, that gives you even more reason to be aware, to advocate, and to care for those who are effected.

Now let’s talk about the anger. I’m going to be totally honest, I am livid at people who claim they don’t care. There’s something profoundly enraging about watching people sit back and pretend they are unaffected while the decisions of politicians shape the very air they breathe, the money they earn, the safety of their communities. It’s ignorance on steroids. And it’s contagious. Apathy becomes a cycle. When one person says, “It doesn’t matter,” it emboldens others to believe the same. And that’s exactly how we get unaccountable governments, failing policies, and societal injustice. The truth is that it matters. It matters for society. It matters for our future. It matters for everyone.

Now you might be thinking: “But I don’t have time. Politics is complicated.” That is nonsense. It doesn’t take hours of study or a political science degree to be informed.

• Spend 30 focused minutes reading a few party manifestos. You’ll already have a sense of what’s being promised.
• Spend 5 minutes reading the news in the morning and thinking critically about how it affects you.
• Have one conversation with a friend about it. That’s enough.

Caring about politics is not a full-time job, it’s a responsibility. It’s about being awake, engaged, and refusing to let others decide your future without your voice in the room.

The consequences of political apathy are immense… Imagine if no one voted because they thought their voice didn’t matter. Policies would only reflect the interests of a small, often elite, minority. Social inequalities would widen. Climate action would stall. Public services would deteriorate.

And here’s the thing: your vote does matter. One person deciding to act can change everything. Look at the Green Party in recent elections. For years, people voted strategically, believing voting Green “wouldn’t do anything.” But when one person took a leap of faith, voted according to their beliefs, others noticed. Slowly, steadily, more people followed. A movement grows because someone dared to act, to care, to challenge the notion that their individual voice was meaningless. Change does not happen through complacency, but through courage and engagement. Your inaction, on the other hand, allows the status quo to continue unchecked.

I can tell you from experience that caring does make a difference. When I started my blog, I didn’t think my voice would reach anyone. I didn’t think I’d impact anything. And yet, I’ve received multiple messages from people saying I’ve given them a fresh perspective or taught them something new. One voice inspired others to think differently – and that’s the essence of politics.

Even at a larger scale, statistics show that a single vote can indeed swing elections. In a first-past-the-post system, marginal constituencies are decided by sometimes hundreds of votes, not thousands. One person choosing to care, to vote, to speak out, can literally change who governs and therefore what policies affect millions of people.

If you think it’s okay not to care, ask yourself: “Is it right to sit back while others are denied justice, opportunity, or basic rights?” The answer should be obvious. Political engagement is part of being a decent human being. It’s about refusing to ignore injustice, whether it directly touches you or not.

So, here’s the simple truth: stop pretending politics doesn’t matter. Stop thinking your voice doesn’t count. Stop assuming your apathy has no consequences.

Start small: read the news, read a manifesto, ask questions, talk to your friends. Let your opinions form. Discuss. Challenge. Vote. Advocate. Care.

Because one person who dares to care can ignite change. One person who refuses to be indifferent can shift a movement. And collectively, a society of people who care – that’s how justice, equality, and progress happen.

Politics isn’t boring, and it isn’t optional. It’s the blueprint of our lives. And if you still think it doesn’t affect you, I hope by now you realise that ignoring it is not neutrality – it’s complicity.

So yes, I’m shouting this at you because it enrages me that anyone could be so blind: care. Care deeply. And then act. The world won’t wait for you to catch up. And neither should you.

Now for all my PT fans (I know you are reading this), I will leave you with a quote that I feel sums up this notion perfectly: 
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have often chosen the side of the oppressor” – Desmond Tutu