How much do you think the average American keeps up with politics?

Question

I would wager to say that the regulars here in the politics section keep up with politics more than the average American. How often do you think people who aren't political junkies keep up with what is going on?

Answer 1

I would say the *average* American pays more attention today than they did prior to 9/11. Prior to 9/11 most Americans went through their daily lives oblivious to what was happening around them. I don't mean that as in insult to Americans. I mean that up until that moment in time when we were attacked we felt pretty safe and that our basic needs were being tended to. Everything changed though.

I am going to take a wild guess and say 10% of the voting age Americans pay attention on regular basis as to what is happening nationally, internationally and locally. The reason I say that is the Cable News Networks usually draw viewerships of approximately 12 million people on a regular daily basis. That isn't taking into consideration those who stick with network news. If we are a country of 300 million and you divide that figure in half for folks who traditionally don't watch news broadcasts due to age and other commitments that leaves you 150 million. If you figure that networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS probably grab another 3 or 4 million that leaves approximately 15 million total who regularly keep up with issues.

I would agree, the percentage of people here probably do pay more attention than the average citizen. People who aren't political junkies, as you call them, pay attention when there are issues directly affecting them in their daily lives and in their immediate surroundings. Again, I don't mean that as an insult. Families are busy with kids. Working multiple jobs and with their lives in general. It is when an issue pops up that is going to affect their quality of life that they get involved and want to know more.

Answer 2

Not enough!

Some people have no idea what our leaders are doing. This is very sad and a bit disturbing to me.

There are some who somewhat follow politics, but there numbers are very low. Either you do, and you know a lot; or you don't, and you don't even know who the President is. If half of these people, who know nothing, learned the basics of politics & the structure of government, then we would all be better off, and all question all of our politicians closely.

Answer 3

properly, I accept as true with you 100% that folk in different parts of the international are a lot more suitable attentive to the political themes, no longer purely interior of their personal counteries yet also on the international scene. rather frankly this bothers me immensely and that i'm no longer advantageous what it particularly is yet i imagine the shortcoming of cultural togetherness has probably something to do with that. because the literacy element is way larger interior the U.S. as compared to different parts of the international, you would imagine that human beings will be more suitable attentive to what is going on interior the international yet they don't look to be and they don't even look to care! it is rather nerve-racking actual. it is this as lengthy "i'm chuffed and that i'm getting my expenditures paid and performance a chilly beer, it really is all that concerns" wondering. it is this unusual type of indifference that shows lack of pastime in different countries and cultures. partly, it is monetary protection yet i imagine, extremely it is only a cultural element that human beings purely are not as politically inspired as another countries are. traditionally that fashion has replaced throughout severe circumstances which include WWI, WWII, the melancholy era, 60s flow and the Vietnam conflict yet those waves are very short lived. i have self belief the WWII era and Vietnam generations were more suitable conscious than the generations after them. perhaps it is purely monetary protection, once you do not ought to artwork too not person-friendly to get a meal and there is prosperity interior the country, you purely purely do not care! it really is what i imagine.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, I think the average American is only tuned into politics when a particular policy or event directly affects them - or, at least when the media tells them it will directly affect them. Otherwise, it's the daily grind as usual.

This is sad because there's an old saying I like:

"In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve."

How true.

Answer 5

Not very much judging by the idiotic statements that people post on these message boards. It seems like most Americans would rather follow Entertainment Tonight news. We've become a sad people by where our priorities stand.

Answer 6

Not much.

People have low opinion of politicians.

And I have an even lower opinion of politicians. I worked for state government for 30 years and eventually came up with the saying "Small crooks go to prison. Big crooks are in public office or penthouses."

Answer 7

Some Americans actually try to keep up with politics 24 hours a day by listening to Viagra Rush and Sexual Predator O'Reilly

Answer 8

Considering that a majority of the country believes what CNN, Al Franken, and John Steward tell them, I doubt that the average American follows politics closely.

Answer 9

The average nosepicker I see at the store couldn't tell you who the vice president is.

Answer 10

Very little to none. At most they catch a few minutes of an evening newscast.