School politics is characterized as more of a conflict about the popularity of people than a question of actual political acumen. While this is at times, good, as the popular are more able to get things done, in the hands of the self-servingly ambitious candidate, it is nothing more than tyranny. The popular always win, above either the intelligent or the pretty. While these qualities are found in many, it remains a truth that the far-teaching bounds of friendship are much better vote-getters than the cold manifesto of politics.

This needs to change. Perhaps, most startlingly, is the general apathy of student governments, as while they are representatives from the class, it is only the most politically active who ever join. Probably the most common criticism against student government is the lack of actual things done. While supporters counter by saying that student council raised money for new clubs, in a place as politically active as Harriton, if student government disappeared, it would be a given that some new clubs would arise to deal with these issues, hypotheticals like the Club Finance Club. These institutions are fundamentally service industries, replaceable at a moments notice.

Government by the people, for the people, as echoed by Lincoln, is an issue of voice more than an issue of providing something so banal as club finance. Voice is what people need. In the past, voice is what people lacked, and for that, revolutions occurred through the Industrial Era with the singular point of providing voice to the unheard. Such is the responsibility of student governments.

For the sake of voice, we must then ask, what can Student Council do? Its constitution, a prideful, happy document, says, “the Student Council President shall compose a written agenda of topics to discuss or proposals to be debated and voted upon.” Such is why the office of president is important, and with recognition of the body’s general lack of action, the election of presidents should and must be changed for the betterment of students everywhere.

From last year, I noticed the total lack of issue-based campaigning. While one campaign did promise escalators, I am confident that the instalment of such will never occur without an absurd grant by an alumni association, a method of granting which happens to be why we have a ton of HD televisions hanging around the school.

For progress’s sake, this must change. Since every single person running effectively runs on the platform of “I’m a great person, so vote for me!” we must begin to differentiate candidates by having them disseminate what is effectively a manifesto, a page or so on changes each candidate would make. This would solve all the problems of differentiation, voting, and the question of progress.

Student Council’s point is to give voice to people. In this, I invite all of you, people on the Council and people not, to inaugurate a new age of political action. Action is necessary. There are injustices and rule changes, which we can fight for today. Change these electoral processes and elect a president who will do it. The age of popularity must end. Without candidates who actually have real plans, our fledgling democracy will become nothing more than another representative body without leadership or portfolio or worse, a rubber-stamp parliament.