It's generational apathy too. There isn't one reason. I think A. we are still a privileged nation. As an example, when people go to the grocery store, there is bread for sale. So, whatever wrong is done by bad policy, is a faraway concept to most people, since they can work and live in reasonable contentment. People are sedated. I asked a whole group of my peers last week, if they were going to vote in the midterms. And none of them said they were going to. I probed a little deeper, and said, okay, well you must like and agree with our Representative then? And none of them knew who he was. After I told them he's a Republican who supports just boiler-plate Republican stuff, pro-gun, pro-life, low taxes, etc. They took more interest. For example some of the young ladies did not like being represented by someone who was pro-life.
So, there is interest, after you've broken through the shell of normal life.
You just started a political party. At least a faction if not a bloc.
Notice how they sat up when realizing they ARE affected by what goes on. I wonder if the women who were squeamish about being represented by a pro-lifer, how comfortable would they be to see Trump's attitudes on women displayed for them. MY bet is they WOULD vote in the mid terms.
I don't know who said this, "it is astonishing what can be accomplished with a handful of dedicated people."
Quick story. After retiring from journalism a gay friend called and asked if I would be interested in helping a friend decide to run for public office. It was late 90's and "gay" still had it's edges.
We met, I was deeply impressed and so we went shopping for a riding to run in. The one I suggested was immediately rejected, being "working class" might not want to vote for a gay man.
That is until I saw the turn out. Below 45%. I suggested he go. They wondered why?
Because 65% of the people don't bother. It is easier to motivate someone to do something than it is to change their mind, we went after that sedentary vote and we got it. But the party in power got 39 more than we did. It was 11 on the first count.
Since coming to the American boards I have continued to butt heads with the idea nothing can be done, because you see, the turn out in America is horrible and it isn't because those people are satisfied, like your friends they didn't know anything and didn't realize they CAN make a difference and/or they are fed up.
But, loo down south, a handful of black women without $100 to their name took on a lifetime Republican 'Good Ole Boy' in ALA-****ing-BAMA...and whipped his ass first time out. Not one lick of experience (**** they did EVERYTHING wrong but win) and no budget....against a 200 year old machine whose members have worn white hoods.
That's politics, and its one of the few aspects of the US system that is still viable. You formed at least a bloc, who can agree on what you need to agree on, and then act as a block either to get your candidate in, or run yourselves. I know this about the American system (some of my friends in Watcom County are involved) and that is the "establishment" (and Trump is establishment) has no idea how to cope with third party anything. They're used to garnering a platform then selling it to voters. They act badly when a bloc seizes control and says "wait one second there"...
Hell, it's so ripe I'd love to come down there and write for a third party right now. Done right, and that means starting small, you will have the establishment pissing in their own pockets by 2020, Trump's "Rallies" will look a lot different....
With that may eligible votes around and good operative would be salivating
