DISCLAIMER: This is my first diary entry. Pop!
Being one that is constantly in search of an answer to the collective American apathy, I was struck - however marginally - by a short article I just read on the SF Gate.
The article contains two examples of what I consider to be behavioral - or cultural - examples of what motivates the average American to leave said apathy behind - direct, personal, monetary hardship. The collective American apathy, it appears, is only a byproduct of the collective American selfishness. Not that this is some kind of revelation, at least for the relatively informed.
Case in point #1:
The public's view of the nation's direction has grown increasingly negative as well, with nearly two-thirds now saying the country is heading down the wrong track.
"As a nation, we are pretty well stretched," said Barry Allen, a political independent from Reed City, Mich. "I approve of some of the things the president has done, and disapprove of others. Overall, I disapprove."
Allen said but has been dissatisfied with the president's economic moves in his second term, his Iraq policy and his handling of gasoline prices.(emphasis added)
Putting aside the fact that the SF Gate seems to be a perpetual day behind the rest of the media...
Case in point #2:
For Bill Kane of Kingsland, Ga., the government's slow response to the hurricane "was terrifying to see in our own country. It made you mad, because it made you think where's our money going?"(emphasis added)
OK. So, these Americans are respectively dissaproving of and mad regarding Bush's America because it has negatively affected their personal finances. Nevermind the thousands of Americans and Iraqis blown to smithereens in arguably the most ill advised war in recent history. Nevermind the neglect created by a boys club government that has led to the Katrina disaster. Rather, the outrage is inspired by the rise in gas prices and the misallocation of public funds. Not that those aren't valid reasons to be displeased and "mad", but Christ, what does this say about the relative intelligence and sense of responsibility of the majority of Americans? Not much that could be construed as good, from my perspective.
What it says to me is that, largely, Americans are fat, happy, complacent and oblivious to the internal and external effects of government policy until it hits them in the pocketbook, which of course is a disgusting, discouraging thought.
The immediate point seems to be that, even in the face of disaster after disaster, the most effective way to reach the average, uninformed American is to let them know how current events and policy will effect their ability to purchase movies on demand or a tank of gas. I browse comments on this site every day, and inevitably happen upon many that discuss boycotts as means to influence and educate but, where are they? Would they even be effective unless on a gargantuan scale? Is there a better way to expose the economic truths of the current policies? Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing. I haven't done didley-squat to help, but I sure would like to figure out an effective way to make a difference. Even human disasters only seem to present in the average American's consciousness for a limited amount of time. Americans, in general, have no idea how their lifestyles, consumption and political allegiances effect the country and on a larger scale the world. Americans seem to lack a personal sense of injustice unless it is in a personal context.
So, I suppose the point of writing this is, how do we create a more effective way of communicating the personal economic consequences of political allegiance to these people? Sadly, it seems retention is something Americans are poor at developing.
It's a hard question to answer, considering negative self reflection is something these kind of people perceive as a threat and personal attack.
That said, I'm tired of walking on egg shells. We can't coddle the population the same way many of them seem to coddle this president. I wish the dems would realize that.