The world is not the same place that it was three years ago. There have been many drastic changes in the world community. The changes in the Commonwealth of Independent States, formerly the Soviet Union, and the unmistakable rise of economic power in Germany and Japan have left some questions for the American people to grapple with.

The two main questions facing our country are "Where are we as a nation?" and "Where are we going?"

The first question that should be addressed is "Where are we?" The answer to this, like everything else, has two sides. Some believe that the United States is in decline because of significant economic problems. Others hold that the United States is in a position of strength that we have not seen for a very long time.

The truth probably lies somewhere in between.

The school of thought holding that the United States is in a state of decline suggests that the United States' standard of living will fall. They believe that the present economic situation will hurt American effectiveness at home and abroad, because money is the new international weapon. In the days of the Cold War, the United States enjoyed vast power because military might was the key tool of international influence. This need for military strength enabled the United States to keep the economy afloat through defense contracts and other government programs.

With the breakup of the Soviet Union, economic -- not military -- strength will now bring international influence. If the United States is not economically sound, then its influence will dwindle.

The other side of the fence agrees that there are some major problems seeping into the United States, but that America is still the ultimate power on earth. Economic power has its benefits, however the United States -- as the world's lone major military power -- will have some profound effects on the international community.

Military superiority will enable the United States to maintain its effectiveness by being able to efficiently preserve peace.

In the past when a region became inflamed, the United States was ineffective at calming the area. This was because we had to be sensitive to the Soviet Union. The necessity of political sensitivity and the fear of war between the two superpowers enabled weaker countries to resist pressures applied by the United States. This fear of war also allowed small, weak countries to exploit funds and military support for projects and actions that would not have otherwise been supported. The elimination of the Soviet Union will not allow these countries to play on the threat of war. Without the Soviet Union, the United States can ensure peace with a confident hand.

So where do we stand? It depends on how you define power. If power is military might then we are set. If power is economic might then we are in sad shape. If power is a combination of the two, then the United States is probably in OK shape but falling quickly.

Where are we going? Nothing scares me more than this question, not because I have some bleak picture of the future condition of the United States, but because I have no view at all. I cannot forecast where we are going because the means of deciding our future has collapsed -- American participation in politics.

We as Americans have lost many things, not the least of which is our sense of civic pride. Civic pride brings about a sense of national community. Community is the sense of being tied to a common place with friends, strangers, neighbors and family. In the past when someone said they were an American it meant something. We all shared our land, common goals and common dreams.

Where did the sense of pride in being an American citizen come from? It came from elections. Elections used to be an important part of our society, now they are just stuff we skim over in the newspaper to get to the comics.

Elections are important because we as a nation decide where we are going, not just politically but as a society. We create our own identity during elections by retelling and reaffirming our old principles as well as creating new ones.

Now, a cynic might say, "No way, elections don't mean a thing. I get one vote out of millions." OK. You're right, your vote probably will not change the outcome of the presidential election, but if you do not vote you will do substantial harm to the American community. Electing a president or a congressperson is indeed one of the outcomes of elections but it is by no means the most important.

As Richard Kordesh, a University professor of political science, said: "Politics is not just about policies, it is who we become while we participate together to decide who gets what."

Once every few years we as a nation decide who we are and where we are going. Elections with less than a 50 percent voter turnout severely harm our national identity. When voter turnout is not representative of the people then we are incapable of obtaining a concensus of direction, so we don't go anywhere at all.

Remember America, it is up to us no one can do it for us.