Open Mic is the series on BLISTER where we invite various people in the outdoor industry to say what they have to say, and share whatever it is they feel like sharing at this particular point in time.
Today, we hear from Sander Hadley:
As a person who ties a lot of their identity to outdoor recreation, it’s easy to feel like the government doesn’t represent your interests. And with that, it’s honestly easy to find yourself in a hopeless, powerless state. Headline after headline about public lands being sold off, and water rights issues not being taken seriously, it’s easy to approach political conversations from a place of fear. But fear doesn’t foster constructive conversation or action. So here is something that can be constructive:
If all of us who love the outdoors come together and voted on issues that will protect the places we love, we can have a serious influence on elections — and from the elections, the future of our lifestyles, places we live, and the Earth.
When I say outdoors people, I’m not just talking about endurance athletes in all-too-revealing clothing racing their smartphone app for gratification. I’m talking about snowmobilers, casual hikers, dirt bikers, human-powered backcountry skiers & snowboarders, and even those who just enjoy walking around their local city park. Those diverse outdoor user groups can all find common ground on the importance of clear air, clean water, and access to public land. We are all in the Outdoor State, and we need to come together.
“At 50 million strong, those of us who live to play outdoors are the largest and potentially most influential voting block in the country. But to have influence, we must vote,” says Mario Molina, Executive Director of Protect Our Winters (POW).
POW’s Make a Plan to Vote tool provides personalized, behavioral, science-based nudges and planning actions that are shown to increase voter turnout by 9.1 percent — which equates to nearly five million people in the outdoor state. And that could easily be the difference in tight races, especially in regions where the outdoors are a central part of lifestyles and livelihoods.
As much fun as it would be to overhaul government, capitalism, and societal standards, that might take a decade or nine.
We have to work with what we currently have.
We cannot complain if we are not offering up or being a part of the solution(s).
Furthermore, there is math that backs up why outdoors people don’t feel represented by the government, aside from the age difference between the dinosaurs in office and the outdoor crowd:
The majority of young people (that is, under the age of 40) do not vote in midterm elections.
Did you know:
(1) In the 2014 midterm elections, only about 40% of eligible voters in the USA actually voted. This was the lowest turnout since the first World War.
(2) Of the ~40% of eligible voters who did vote, more than 60% of those voters were over 65 years old.
(3) Only 20% of people 18-29 years old that were eligible to vote actually did.
But it’s not all bad news…
Four years later in the 2018 midterm elections, 18-29 year olds stepped up their game, and increased their voter turnout from 20 percent (in 2014) to 36 percent. And turnout is looking to be even higher this year.
Let’s keep the momentum going. We must be present to make an impact.
All that said, I get it: you’re exhausted from the high-temperature political landscape that is the United States — it’s my team versus your team; one winner, one loser; and you must pick a side.
I have fallen into this ploy many times myself.
But moving forward, I’m no longer here to point fingers or draw division. Matter of fact, I think there are things we can all agree on as outdoor enthusiasts. Clean water, clean air, and, since you’re reading this on BLISTER, probably snow, too.
In fact, I’d be surprised if you could find a real person anywhere who, in a face-to-face conversation, was actually against those things.
Having an in-person conversation with someone often leads to common ground and understanding. Maybe I’m just a people-pleasing pushover, but more often than not, I find those conversations to be a reminder of the good in people. Banter allows you to understand the nuances of an individual’s opinions and values with the clarity that a bumper sticker or arguing on social media never will.
Now I know there is always more at stake in elections than just a couple of issues, especially in this election, where there is currently a 50/50 split in the Senate. Every single senate race will matter, and the House is also in play. So please do your best to think about what is important to you, not what someone else has you riled up about or in fear of. What do you really want for your future and the generations that follow?
Do some research. I personally prefer a mail-in ballot so that I can have as much time to research each candidate and/or issue I am voting on as possible.
But it’s not the end of the world if you forget to get one. In my home state of Idaho, you’re allowed to take your smartphone into the voting place and use it for research.
Talk with friends about voting. As people who love the outdoors, let’s normalize representing your values in voting.
And maybe, just maybe, this election will make you feel empowered and represented — not the other way around.
Sources:
About Sander Hadley
Sander is a professional skier from Pocatello, Idaho. To hear his story in his own words, listen to episode 207 of the Blister Podcast.
I forgot to include hunters and fishermen in the outdoor groups. They have long been the leaders of conservation in the United States.
Thank you for taking the time to read this piece!
He’s a phenomenal athlete and some good points; just wish he didn’t feel the need to dis on cyclists within the first three paragraphs.
It was meant to be a self deprecating diss. I am the aggro dude in Lycra racing my smartphone daily haha. I should have spotlighted that I was referring to myself. My mistake.
Thank you for taking the time to read it Isaac.
My bad. I’m truly sorry. It’s a great, thoughtful article. I hope people take it to heart; take ownership and pride in the gift that is our natural world, as well as continue to foster communication with one another. Anyone who loves the outdoors should feel empowered to protect it. And it starts with making your voice heard, finding common ground. Great job getting the word out.
Yes, I like that focus on the Outdoor Community/State as a whole.
And everybody else is also depending on clean air and water and the absence of droughts and rising sea level. So the voter base should be 8 billion…
I really appreciate such a clear and sensible essay. Thank you for using your platform as a professional athlete to encourage people to exercise their power by voting. Maybe you should run for office…