On Wednesday afternoon, former Indiana senator, Evan Bayh, visited our school to talk to our AP government classes in the theater auditorium.

Students were able to ask him questions they wanted answers too and hear his opinion and his inside look on how our government works. Although Bayh had to catch a flight back to Washington DC in two short hours, he made the time to come and speak with the students.

Bayh has accomplished a lot during his life time. He graduated with honors from Indiana University Kelly School of Business with a degree in business economics but also acquired a law degree. He was a senator from 1191 to 2011, the secretary of state for two years, and the youngest Indiana governor at the age of 33 from 1988 to 1997.

During his term as governor, he created the 21^st Century Scholars program, which to him is one of the many things that he is most proud off. He explained that there is a growing gap in social classes and a college education is what’s going to help close that gap. He’s very proud of all the students who are in 21^st Century for taking that opportunity to have a better future.

“We have a future together so we need to work on that future, so it can be the best it can be for all of us,” Bayh said.

Bayh had many great stories to tell. He spoke about his visit to the war hospitals and his family history but what he focused on the most was the issue of unity and compromise in the government system and why it’s important for us to go vote. He explained how this country was made on a huge compromise and that somewhere along the way that understanding of a need for compromise was lost. That is the main reason why the House of Representatives can never agree on anything and nothing ever gets done.

“Only one out of five people voted. Don’t let that one out of five decide who your politicians are going to be. Be involved in the process and make the decision for yourself,” Bayh said.

Bayh explained how the most conservative, angry, narrow minded people are the ones to come out and vote and they usually vote for the same conservative, narrow minded politicians to make the decisions that want to be made. That is why there is never any common ground found in the government system. Everyone one thinks that you have to be 100 percent Republican or 100 percent Democrat and that is not the case.

“We got off different boats, but now we are all on the same boat,” Bayh said.

Bayh extremely encourages people to vote. He wants people to make their own decisions and help make the change that they want to see happen. We have the right to be active citizens and help make this country all that can be by voting.