How is it important to keep up with current affairs?

There are two main reasons why one ought to keep abreast of current affairs: firstly, current affairs can affect us and our lives; secondly - despite how often it is bandied about - knowledge is power. The most common reason that people have for ignoring current affairs is because they believe, perhaps subconsciously, that the things happening in the rest of the world are outside the boundaries of their own lives. There is no true and definite boundary between our own lives and the lives of strangers; they can and will overlap at some point or another. A political campaign, for example, may seem distant enough from our own affairs that we may feel that there is little need to vote or scrutinize the future leaders and lawmakers. But the outcome will reflect on the nation soon enough, and inevitably, on the private, individual lives of the people in it, either directly or indirectly.

The second reason for keeping up with current affairs hinges on the first reason. The rest of the world has the power to influence our lives and we have the power to affect the world, therefore, being aware of the happenings in the world, gives us the ability to adjust our actions to suit our desired outcome, regardless of what the outcome is. The old adage that 'knowledge is power' is no less true for having been worn out from being quoted. Spies exist for the sole purpose of gathering information. Whether that information-gathering is directed at an enemy nation, at criminals, at their own people, at rival companies, or for criminal purposes, the fundamental basis for spying is the same: knowledge is power. Awareness of current affairs allows us to make informed decisions such as voting for the right candidate, or starting the new lucrative career path, or even just simply preempting that predicted rainstorm by bringing an umbrella to work on a sunny morning.

The Darwinian concept of adaptation and evolution doesn't just apply to the mutation of DNA over long periods of time, it applies to our own ability to respond to the changes in the environment in an optimal way, so that we can live well and comfortably. The world is constantly changing and by being aware of what is happening around us, we can adapt and change to suit our environment.