There have been many posts written about the lack of voter participation. Studies have shown we have among the lowest rates of voter participation of most of the industrialized world. Why is that?
IMHO, part of it is because we(the general US population) have had it relatively easy for most if not all of our lives. I’m 61 years old and experienced the gas lines of the 1970s and numerous recessions but nothing like my parents and grandparents experienced during the Great Depression. Our understanding of war is through the sanitized lens of a TV camera.
No draft, no general threat that one’s life will be disrupted for even a limited time in government service. We’re content to let less than 1% of the population risk their lives in protecting this country. We’re even content to let non-citizens serve in our military in hopes of earning citizenship, but when their service is completed we’re content to let the bigots deprive the non-white immigrants of even that hope. Anything is okay as long as it doesn’t interfere with mommy or daddy taking little Bobby or little Annie to soccer or swimming or Johnny’s birthday party (because little Johnny’s mom or dad is Mr. BigshotWhateverTheFuck).
My generation has been bad enough, but the ones that have followed have become more and more self-centered, shallow and selfish. Often they talk a good game, but their follow through is lacking.
Currently we appear to have an awakening, but how much of an awakening is to be determined.
There are many factors to overcome. Among them would be a lack of knowledge or understanding of history. Another is that politics affects everything you do. If you’re not paying attention someone is making a decision about some aspect of your life that you disagree. When they were running for the office that’s making that decision, they told you what they were going to do, but you were too busy to listen. Or vote. Or get involved.
The mere fact that you’re reading this means you’re probably above average in your knowledge of history. And your understanding of civics is more than likely better than your next door neighbor, after all that’s part of why you’re here. But we have to do better. We have to reach out.
I’m not talking about reaching out to the bigots or the intentionally ill informed. I’m talking about making that uncomfortable effort to talk to the ones on the sidelines. The ones who think that what’s happening on the field doesn’t spill over into their lives. Help them remove the filter they’ve been using to watch life. Help them see that a vote on their city council may cause them to have to move from their dream house because… A decision that affected them could/would have been different if they and their neighbors had bothered to vote.
And let’s not even get into health care. Health care is about politics, money and power. It’s not about people’s lives, although that’s exactly what it should be.
Climate change… OMG! How boring. “It’s unsettled”. No the fuck it’s not. Pay attention. (Again, I’m not talking about you guys.)