Have we, as Americans, gotten lazy, politically speaking?

Question

It seems to me that we not only refuse to get involved in the government of our own country, but we don't even want to think about the issues at hand, so much so that we hand off all decision-making to elected officials and assume that, no matter what they say, it is in the best interest of our nation. And then we degrade others for their inability to support that which they think is really morally and ethically wrong. So... have we gotten lazy? Is all this support we're throwing at our elected officials in this country really just a result of our unwillingness to think critically and come up with solutions to the problems we've created?

If you dare, please try to keep partisanship out of the question and answer as an American, not as a Democrat, Republican or Independent.

Answer 1

Absolutely! There are also a lot of people who don't even bother to vote! These people often say either that their vote doesn't count or that they don't want to possibly be called in for jury duty, but then these same people complain whenever politicians do something they don't like! We all have to find a way to make our voices heard LOUD AND CLEAR!!!

Answer 2

I don't think it's lazy. It's more like we've been misled.
Just about every problem this country faces has been caused by our elected officials. But, these elected officials have done a great job of convincing the American people that the people have created the problems.
Take inflation as an example. During the 1970s, the government laid the blame for inflation on the general public's attitude for wanting more money. When in fact, inflation is always, I repeat, always caused by government deficit spending.
Today's high gas prices are being blamed on oil companies, when again high oil prices are due to devaluation of the dollar because of the budget deficit, or inflation. Did you ever wonder why gas prices are going thru the roof and nothing else is?
Without going into a lengthy explanation, oil, or the international oil trade, replaced the gold standard as the dollar's valuation in the 1970s. Whenever the government tosses more money into circulation than the economy is generating, it dilutes the dollar and gas prices go up.
Because oil is the standard support of the dollar, alternative energies will never be developed to any great extent. Because of this, when the government spends more money and doesn't raise taxes, you have to pay more for gasoline. Inflation is the hidden tax. It's perfect for politicians because they can blame someone else for it.
I can go into greater detail on this subject, but most people just get lost in the facts, which is something politicians also take advantage of. The fact is, politicians only need to dangle a red herring in front of the electorate and all common sense evaporates.

Answer 3

I think it comes from the change in News sources that we have today.
In the past, news came from Newspapers - and they were mostly supported by subscription, with some local advertising.

Television, on the other hand, is supported by large multinational corporations, and when a Television news department is considering how to cover a story - they make darn sure that their coverage will not be harsh over anything lest it cause a boycott against one of their sponsors. (they saw what happened to the Dixie Chicks and Dan Rather)

News has become entertainment. People can think they are informed because they know a bit about all the current events. Unfortunately, many political topics are complex and detailed, and only result in giving truth to the saying: A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing.

Answer 4

Your question is difficult to answer without some partisanship, but I will try. Americans, in general like to think of elected officials as having their best interests at heart. That is why we elect the people that we do. There are a lot of people that do not actually participate in the political process, i.e. by voting, that stand aside and offer endless commentary on events and decisions. These are the truely lazy. I find myself, all too often in political discussions/debates/out and out arguments with people thatI later find out are not even registered to vote. There are sadly, a few too many people that listen to the spin more than that question what they hear as sounding a bit overdramatic or overstated. Things get especially wierd when big numbers get bandied about. We can often get complacent and a bit too accepting.

Answer 5

I think you are quite right. And I will do my best to keep partisanship out of the answer.

Americans have become a people blindly patriotic to one party or another (both sides). They do not listen, with open minds, to the ideas or suggestions of the other side. They also let the media do their thinking for them. No longer do we hear facts reported...we hear opinions spouted...and we accept it as fact. Eveidence of this is the number of questions asked on this forum daily, that come directly from the mouths of O'Reilly or Maher.

The other evidence of your claim is in the lack of action with respect to allowing government to 'get away with' all that has occurred in the past few years. If you look at the 9/11 conspiracy theorists, as an example. The 'evidence' I have seen has been compelling, to say the least. And truly, I believe that it is worthy of investigation at a very high level. Yet all this 'evidence' is spewed all over the internet...yet NOTHING has been done with it. How can this be so...in America, of all places? If, indeed, people at all levels believe they have PROOF of Bush's involvement, how can they possibly stand by and allow him to get away with it? Where is the action, or the demanding of action?

Answer 6

I get the feeling I'm about to get hit with a blizzard of thumbs down, but here goes. To many Americans today are to lazy to inform themselves about the happenings in the American political system. These are often the same people who do not vote and say "what difference does one vote make". What the populace needs to understand is that the only way to change what you don't like about our government, is to get involved and educate yourself about the issues. You can't sit there and b**** and moan about whats wrong with this country if you are not willing to stand up and fight for what you believe is right.

Answer 7

regrettably, it truly is what's continuously going to ensue because, believe it or no longer, it extremely is democracy, or somewhat, what democracy has develop into. Its both that or have a dictatorship the position we doesn't be allowed to speak out in any respect via concern of being shot. i attempt to stay out of politics as a lot as accessible as i believe that it brings out the most disgusting area of people. i'm from the united kingdom and under no circumstances some time previous our new proper minister (whom i did not vote for) made a remark which stated that folk who artwork in the prevalent public sector (instructors, NHS medical doctors and nurses, that type of element) are not doing genuine artwork (they have in view that all had their pay frozen, while those who under no circumstances did something with their lives and ended up operating in a save and so on, are allowed as many pay rises as they favor). Its all disgusting. I favor lets do something about it yet we won't be able to.

Answer 8

I agree. Over the decades, we as Americans have come to accept easy...everything. Much of it provided or guaranteed by the government.

We have all drank from the same government teat at one time or another in our lives. Part of what we drank/drink drugs us and numbs us to the fact that we are free individuals with responsibility for our own affairs. The more we drink, the more we begin to believe that we need to drink.

This is what has made us lazy and to a degree stupid. It is a drug more difficult to withdraw from than nicotine or heroin. The withdrawal symptoms are terrible until that bright day when you suddenly realize that your life and your future belongs to YOU with no part owned by the government.

Only then do you find a return of energy and vigor to thought processes that result in indipendent conclusions.

Preach on brother!!

Answer 9

Americans have always been lazy politically. I remember asking my Daddy once why he voted one way every election. His answer to me was, "Son our family is yyyyyyyyyyy, we always vote that way. Scary, considering he was a Precision Measurement labratory inspector and a math wizard. Most people just won't take time to examine the issues and do the math. It probably will never change .....

Answer 10

hell yeah!!!!! I know people in third world countries who cannot read or write and no more about our politics then our own people. its a tragedy