Is political apathy morally defensible? Most people are apathetic so are they immoral?

Answer 1

Political apathy is defensible, because it can be morally traced to those who accuse people that don't participate of immoral action.

What is apathy but the name we give to the condition of not seeing a meaningful difference between the choices offered? Who makes that so if not the people that declare that we only have two parties and that we have to choose the lesser of two evils?

I can't speak for everyone, but I can certainly understand the Libertarian point of view that can lead to apathy.

Imagine you were in a restaurant where everyone will be given the same thing for dinner, after everyone votes for the choice on the menu. Imagine the menu has cat food and dog food.

Now, to a Libertarian, the Liberals want dog food, and the Conservatives want cat food. Since what Libertarians want is to demand more choices from the restaurant, can you not see that we'd be "apathetic" about the choice given, but VERY enthusiastic about getting more choices?

Apathy is when you don't care about the difference between the choices, and since half of America's eligible voters usually don't, I think it's more common that wanting one of the choices given.

It's the "two party" system that's to blame, not the apathetic voters. If you think the problem is the apathetic voters, then the problem is YOU.

Answer 2

Yes, it is. Political apathy merely means a person is taking the "default," and trusting that they can live with what others decide. There's no harm in that. Let those who care one way or the other vote, and let those who are apathetic be accepting of whatever happens.

However, I think many people get apathetic when they find the Republicans and the Democrats both so flawed they cannot see a significant difference between them. They make the mistake of believing that no one else can win, and they stop caring which of two unpleasant alternatives is less unpleasant.

There are more than two parties in this country, and both of the two major parties were once minor. The civil war era and reconstruction shaped the Republican and Democratic parties of today, with major changes around the time of the depression and FDR's lengthy administration. The political landscape changes all the time.

Vote Libertarian for a change.

Answer 3

It is not immoral to be apathetic, it shows ignorance of the reality of our world. So many are uninformed about today's problems, due to lack of desire to know, and the systematic attempts to keep us in the dark by the powers that be. The Prime Minister of England gets on TV and tells the world that the science he sees shows how much danger the world is in if we continue to ignore Global Warming. There is a drought across the globe, and yet our president recommends we burn more coal to cut costs. We can no longer afford to remain uninformed. Those that do have no excuses anymore. And they certainly can't debate the issues of today and expect anything but derision from those that know the facts. We must find a way to wake people up from their dreams before we all suffer terribly, and the children and grandchildren have no future at all.
vote for change.

Answer 4

Yes it is immoral to be apathetic. Politics effects every aspect of our life. When the Church tells it's congregation that "a vote for a Democrat is a vote against God" then we had better all take a interest. Immorality starts with not understanding how much the Church can effect our life. It is immoral to not seek the truth.

Answer 5

Political apathy is a result of the poor choice of leaders we have to vote for! When we go to vote we are left trying to decide the best of a really pathetic lot. The only people who get into power are the power hungry who abuse the power that they have gotten by supporting those who already are in control and being influenced by bribes and kickbacks. Sure there are crusaders in politics but they don't make it very far before being corrupted by the system. And anyway, how can we make an informed choice when the only information we have at our disposal is the disinformation and propaganda that we are bombarded with everyday by the mass media?

Answer 6

People have a right to be as informed, or as uninformed as they choose. I personally believe you should attempt to know as much as you can about your leaders and vote accordingly, but not everyone agrees. While I don't agree with the less informed choice I do not find it immoral in any way. Nor do I feel I have a right to judge these people on that basis. I do however believe that if you don't vote you shouldn't complain because voting is your ticket to the show. In short, if you don't vote you are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Answer 7

No, apathy is created by people who actualy want people to vote for them, most people are now aware that their cries are not heard,politics has its own agenda. voters are just something to be manipulated and the realisation of that is growing, apathy is inevetable, when the importance of the word of the people is treated with such contempt. The crime is when those who lead turn a deaf ear to those who are being lead.

Answer 8

It certainly isn't immoral, but it is a ridiculous waste. How can people complain about the administration when they were the real idiots for helping to put him there by not voting? If I could vote I certainly would not forget about it. It is a sacred right, so to speak, to be able to vote. In two years, when I can vote, mine will not be thrown away needlessly. I will certainly help to shape this nation's future.

Answer 9

It's not really defensible, but I would describe apathetic folks as lacking in moral fibre rather than being immoral. (Semantics, I know...)

Answer 10

Its not immoral, but it is sad. Often the issues get complicated and it would be easy to ignore them, but rational people who care about the way we live endeavour not only to be aware of whats going on,but to act on issues upon which they feel strongly.