Posted 8/13/2025

“I don’t do politics” is a common refrain. But politics does you—whether you pay attention or not. From education and fuel prices to internet rules and job security, politics shape much more of daily life than you may admit. This does not mean you have to vote or protest to count as one interested in politics; simply being a citizen, parent, student, or consumer makes you subject to political decisions.

In the case of the US healthcare debate, you may or may not have noted that when President Trump returned to office in 2025, one of his administration's goals for the first 100 days was to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)... Click Here. People who never followed healthcare legislation are now seeing changes in their policies, premiums, or access to care, with the states that rely on federal subsidies being the most affected. The Trump Administration has also been testing the limits of powers held by the executive branch by not seeking Congressional approval to bomb Iran and signing executive orders to circumvent Congress' "power of the purse." 

Politics also hit close to home. Zoning laws, tax rates, school funding, and healthcare access morph with every elected official. Each administration, be it local or national, has different priorities, which are usually aligned with the ideology of their campaign contributors. Some politicians seek to cut social services to reduce debt, while others increase spending to stimulate the economy. And the majority of politicians, if not all of them, have some new law they wish to propose. Either way, citizens bear the brunt of their experimentation. There are so many laws on the state and federal level, it's impossible to keep track.

In Europe, the rise of right-leaning governments in countries like Italy and the Netherlands triggered stricter immigration rules and changes to European Union cooperation. For instance, after elections in Sweden, the new coalition government reduced its climate spending, citing national interests over EU-wide green goals... Click Here. Back in 2023 this slowed the rollout of renewable energy projects, affecting jobs, prices, and international partnerships. You may not follow Swedish politics, but if you live in or trade with the EU, your energy bill may rise, and your company’s exports may be affected.

Politics also play a role in global conflict. The war in Ukraine led to the closure of Russian airspace, forcing airlines to abandon the faster trans-Siberian route... Click Here. As countries globally showed support or a lack thereof for the crisis, the closure of Russian airspace inconvenienced businesses with higher costs and longer flight durations. Therefore, you don’t need to become politically active to stay informed, but ignoring politics doesn’t protect you from its outcomes.