Are you a part of the one percent?

The one percent that controls everything in this country and state, including policy, what laws will get passed, who gets their taxes raised or lowered. The one percent that decides whether we deficit spend or save for a rainy day. The one percent that decides how much schools get in funding, and whether our tuition at UT goes up or not.

There’s a 99 percent chance that, if you’re reading this, you aren’t in the one percent. But I am.

No, my family doesn’t own oil wells, or have millions saved away. But we vote, and according to many pundits, voter turnout this week and next Tuesday for the Texas Primary runoff will amount to a mere one percent of the voting eligible population. And that one percent will determine who represents Texas in the United States Senate, possibly who controls the Texas State Senate, and a handful of House races, both state and federal, across Texas.

The saddest part about all this, no matter who wins or loses on Tuesday, many people will complain about the primary process.

The primary process works, but it requires that everyone participate. Many conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans run in their respective primary, but in the end, with such abysmal turnout, we the electorates are left with the fringe candidates. Today, only 15 percent of the voting eligible population vote in primaries, even fewer in the primary runoff.

So yes, the one percent does control everything, but that’s because in this case, the 99 percent let them control it. Go out and vote, if you’re worried that politicians in Austin and Washington don’t compromise enough, and listen too much to the extreme ends of their political spectrums, purposely vote for the more moderate of the two candidates this Tuesday.

Above all, let your voice be heard, and send politicians and policy makers in your district, state, and country, a message: you care!