Very relevant post. The question is, how to engage those who don't think their vote matters, especially, how to break through the lassitude of younger citizens. I don't believe it's because they don't care, the ones I know all care - I think it's just all too overwhelming for them to seriously contemplate with everything else that's goin…
Very relevant post. The question is, how to engage those who don't think their vote matters, especially, how to break through the lassitude of younger citizens. I don't believe it's because they don't care, the ones I know all care - I think it's just all too overwhelming for them to seriously contemplate with everything else that's going on. They've lost trust and faith in "leaders"which, given the mess we're in, is hardly surprising.
We have the time, have seen what happens when we don't pay attention, and have the motivation to go screw up politicians' worst laid plans because it amuses us to watch them squirm when we bring Big Flashlights into their Dark Corners. It's actually rather fun to do and like pushing on a tightrope walker with a couple of fingers, it doesn't take all that much to throw them off kilter as they are SO used to getting their own way. They have no coping skills to manage those of us willing to watch them flail around.
But I didn't start getting into politics until my career was pretty settled and my kids were adults - younger folks DO have so much going on with family and career. I don't think it is so much "overwhelming" (they aren't stupid) but BANDWIDTH and setting priorities.
Yes, holding Government accountable SHOULD be a priority but it has grown so much and invasive that it can be hard to figure out what to do next if you aren't used to political machinations. And here in the US, there are 4 levels of govt (town/city, county, State, Federal), there is a lot to have to monitor.
And yes, there's a reason to have lost trust - political leaders and institutions, the media, et al. It's almost to the point where used car salesmen are becoming the new paragons of virtue.
Not just politicians (who are as trustworthy as are lawyers) but also the media, science, medicine, and most everything else previous generations were taught could be trusted carte blanche.
When corruption goes unpunished, it becomes something tacitly approved of. We know how to solve this, but it's highly doubtful "the people" will be willing to accept those terms.
At least I'm of an age to know what it used to be like; I pity the younger people who haven't a clue what any of this means.
Very relevant post. The question is, how to engage those who don't think their vote matters, especially, how to break through the lassitude of younger citizens. I don't believe it's because they don't care, the ones I know all care - I think it's just all too overwhelming for them to seriously contemplate with everything else that's going on. They've lost trust and faith in "leaders"which, given the mess we're in, is hardly surprising.
Elders vote and vote almost religiously. Why?
We have the time, have seen what happens when we don't pay attention, and have the motivation to go screw up politicians' worst laid plans because it amuses us to watch them squirm when we bring Big Flashlights into their Dark Corners. It's actually rather fun to do and like pushing on a tightrope walker with a couple of fingers, it doesn't take all that much to throw them off kilter as they are SO used to getting their own way. They have no coping skills to manage those of us willing to watch them flail around.
But I didn't start getting into politics until my career was pretty settled and my kids were adults - younger folks DO have so much going on with family and career. I don't think it is so much "overwhelming" (they aren't stupid) but BANDWIDTH and setting priorities.
Yes, holding Government accountable SHOULD be a priority but it has grown so much and invasive that it can be hard to figure out what to do next if you aren't used to political machinations. And here in the US, there are 4 levels of govt (town/city, county, State, Federal), there is a lot to have to monitor.
And yes, there's a reason to have lost trust - political leaders and institutions, the media, et al. It's almost to the point where used car salesmen are becoming the new paragons of virtue.
Not just politicians (who are as trustworthy as are lawyers) but also the media, science, medicine, and most everything else previous generations were taught could be trusted carte blanche.
When corruption goes unpunished, it becomes something tacitly approved of. We know how to solve this, but it's highly doubtful "the people" will be willing to accept those terms.
At least I'm of an age to know what it used to be like; I pity the younger people who haven't a clue what any of this means.