The natural state of Arkansas has been making headlines across the nation this year. We’re practically famous.

However, no one is talking about the beautiful scenery, the quickly developing technology market or the lovely people who live here.

The discussion around our state has instead revolved around the offensive politicians and lousy legislature we’ve produced.

Arkansas is a place we should be proud to call home, but for a lot of people, it’s becoming harder to feel that way.

I want to love Arkansas, but right now, I’m just embarrassed.

Belligerent words from our newest senator, Tom Cotton, and controversial bills such as Senate Bill 202 and House Bill 1228 have sparked negative perceptions from world business leaders and social justice groups, and the media are gobbling it up.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, tune in to your nearest 24-hour news station or pick up a copy of any national newspaper from the past few days.

Many people have expressed they feel the clock is running backward on social issues in our state. Rather than looking to our politicians and crying injustice, we need to look at ourselves.

Most of these politicians got where they are by winning a majority vote in a public election.

I’m a firm believer in the philosophy that unless we vote, then we have no right to complain.

Beyond elections, unless I actively voice my opinion in a way that counts, I have no justification to get upset by whatever governance boils my blood that day.

This doesn’t mean making a post on the social media outlet of one’s choosing and racking up Internet points.

Talking to your social circle and writing profound status updates means nothing unless something is done beyond the screen.

Taking action means organizing and attending rallies at the Capitol, mailing letters to legislators and picking up the phone.

It means following legislature and understanding the issues. And, most importantly, it means doing your civic duty to make informed voting decisions in the first place so we don’t find ourselves in these tangles to begin with.

Believe it or not, politicians will listen to you; it’s their job.

Though, unless you have educated yourself on an issue well enough to make a reasonable logic-driven argument, they probably won’t take you seriously.

As members of the Internet generation, we have access to incredible amounts of resources and people that can help us understand laws and decode legal language.

Everything you could ever want to know about the legislature is available on state websites, updated in real-time. It’s easier than ever to know what you’re talking about.

If we all did our research, voted and took action like we should, we would be unstoppable.

For journalists such as myself, taking action means providing the public with unbiased information for those who choose to consume it.

They’re doing their job, and now it’s time for you to do yours. There’s really no excuse for the armchair politician in this day and age. If you’re unhappy with the way this state is being run, do something.