“Listen, strange women lyin’ in ponds distributin’ swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.” A quote from one of the greatest comedies of all time, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” But it makes a point, a point that a certain “nationwide” effort seems to have forgotten, and more specifically our generation has chosen to sit out of.

First things first, I’m 100 percent for the #occupy movement pending some form of specific objective or leader that comes forward. The protests actually translate into votes at the ballot box, not to mention votes that aren’t just wasted on our two “political parties.” But those are two things I don’t currently see happening. I know the government is corrupt, I know that the richest 1 percent control 40 percent of the wealth, I understand the concept of the 99 percent, but none of that matters if no one cares.

And that’s what I think is the truth. I point out to you Exhibit A: #OccupyIowaState, a group of people that took to campus two weeks ago. I call it a group of people, not a group of protesters, because it wasn’t a protest. It was more like an extremely loud town meeting. There was just over 100 people, but what are you going to do with 100 people? Maybe you can go occupy the UDCC or something, because you know, as well as I do, that’d annoy at least a few people, but that’s about all it’d do.

And that’s just it, where was the support? Where’s that political activism that we all claimed to be back in 2008 during the presidential election? Back when politics was “kind of cool.” It’s fascinating how riled up people become when it comes to the presidential campaign, but are oblivious to the politics here at home. Did you know the retention rate of the U.S. Senate is about 84 percent? Congress is about the same, with 85 percent in 2010, down from 94 percent from elections before. If you want to change something, change the people who make up the congress because they’re just as guilty as Wall Street.

But let’s be real. We’re in Iowa, and we have a 6 percent unemployment rate, one of the lowest in the country. What exactly do we have to complain about? It’s getting cold soon? We’re used to that. Maybe it’s more of a national problem and we’re the exception? After all, nationwide unemployment is at 9 percent, which is right on the border of bad and terrible. It’s at this point that I present Exhibit B: #occupywallstreet. The heart of the protest movement and where it all began.

Guess how many occupiers showed up on Oct. 15 for their “big protest?” About 5,000 protesters took to Times Square. Keeping in mind a good amount of them being a bunch of scene kids who were bored, this movement has almost become a joke. Any idea how many protesters show up when they want political change in Egypt, Yemen or Tunisia? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not in the thousands. Someone called it the WhinyWhinePercent, and I think that speaks some truth.

You could argue that most us are too entertained with Facebook, the Jersey Shore and the NFL to be concerned with political issues, but I hope that’s not the case. Of course there’s always something to complain about, but I do think that this issue has some merit. Let’s not waste our hype for nothing. Let’s actually get this ball rolling. If change is truly in the air, then let’s go full force on this mother. I want to see some serious Facebook events, some real student leadership, and just a pinch of peer pressure to make this political change possible. #occupy