Given the fact that less than 50% of those eligible to vote actually exercise that right...?

Question

Given the fact that less than 50% of those eligible to vote actually exercise that right, is it realistic to expect that citizens will want to become more directly involved in politics even if they have the opportunity?

Answer 1

Yes it is, with the caveat that we, as a society, actually value civic involvement instead of giving it lip service while the evidence all around us gives that lip service the lie. Are there any (fictional) civically involved or politically active characters in popular TV programs who are NOT portrayed as weirdos or buffoons? Is election day a national "non-essential businesses will be closed" day? Do we legislate a similar "non-essential businesses will be closed" afternoon and evening every other Tuesday so that pretty everyone much in town will actually be able to attend town meetings? Do we shun people who fail to be involved in the political process the way we shun people who abandon or neglect their family responsibilities?

Societal attitudes can change. In my own lifetime I have seen a HUGE change in the general attitudes toward tobacco, domestic violence, racial/gender discrimination and more. If we have the WILL to make the change it will happen. My suggestion for a starting point is a grass roots organization protesting the way political involvement is characterized in television. A few thousand letters telling advertisers that you will no longer buy their products because the "My Zany Neighbor" TV sit-com treats the politically active "Jenny" as a joke, rather than as a good citizen -- such letters have an effect.

If anyone knows of such an organization, please eMail a link.

Answer 2

You will find that more and more citizens who are over the age of 50 will stop voting because they understand that their votes no longer count. PACS, Lobbyist, Corporate America who has the money to buy whatever candidate they want are the "people" who are controlling what goes on in every election and leaving us with our "choice" in each party. What would be a real shock for our country is for every one who is eligible to vote to cast their votes in the primaries for one of those candidates who isn't being bought!

Answer 3

Those who do not participate in democracy are ripe for the plucking of the totalitarian. However they do have the right to participate or not. Isn't this a great country? No one is forced to participate in their own government unless they want to. One thing for sure it that if one doesn't vote one has no right to complain about those who are in office. If one votes and their candidate doesn't win at least they voted and have the right to complain.

Answer 4

The really sad thing is that that 50% is made up of nearly 100% of the simple-minded fanatics and a relatively small percentage of the intelligent voters. The people smart enough to understand what's going on are discouraged because they feel like they're not making a difference. We need to turn that around. If we could get all of the intelligent and educated people out to vote it would make a big difference.

[edit]
Ah, I see I got a thumbs-down from a simple-minded fanatic. Thank you for proving my point better than I could on my own.

Answer 5

It is sad. The real question here is do we want the uninvolved and uninformed voting in the first place. I've seen many incentive ideas to get people to vote but I, personally, don't think we should encourage morons to vote for the sake of voting. As someone else noted, we have too many single-issue/no-issue voters already.

Answer 6

Interesting.

Answer 7

It may not be realistic to expect all people to participate in their democracy, but people must still be afforded that opportunity.

Answer 8

I dont believe so.
I am one of the 50 percent,...that no longer votes, ...i feel after all these years....Nothing ever CHANGES....
The government in dc....and even in small towns such as mine...No matter what the people vote for or against....more often than not, ...its just all politics.... and the politicians get what they want.. They are all a bunch of "crooks" in washington....They promise , promise , promise, year after year, and yet our country is in the worse shape.......and we're at a war that shouldnt be.....so whatever, ...everyone has their own opinion.
...so i dont believe so.

Answer 9

My daddy used to say,

"If I guy complains about the Government, ask him if he voted for them... If he says yes, then he has a right to complain. They're not doing what he wanted.

If he says no, he also has a right to complain, 'cos they aren't doing what his guys would have done.

If he says he didn't vote...tell him he has no right to complain, cos he did nothin' to stop them gettin' elected.

Answer 10

I wish we would ALL vote, but the FACT remains that people find stories of Brittney Spears more interesting and its the same people that watch American Idol. It doesnt bode well for our intellingence