My theory on why political participation in the US is low

**Last Roman** · October 11, 2007, 11:48 AM

Usually during times of war or any other crises, people become very politically active and aware, or at least they used to.

So why has America become so politically apathetic?

My hypothesis is that since so much more power has been transfered from local and state government to the federal government, people feel that they have little say. Here is some giant monolith that is the federal government, and people look and go, "what the hell can I do?" In the past, when states had more power, it seems that people were more politically active.

Of course, there are other x factors, but I think this is a major reason.

so, is my theory sound or poppycock?

**Farnan** · October 11, 2007, 11:50 AM

My belief is it has always been this low, just more noticeable due to the creation of mass media.

**Last Roman** · October 11, 2007, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by The Man With No Name

My belief is it has always been this low, just more noticeable due to the creation of mass media.

that is very possible.

**Lord Rahl** · October 11, 2007, 01:08 PM

And because everyone doesn't trust the government. So why vote for something that you don't trust in? Most presidential candidates suck so people don't get interested in deciding on which sucker they want to vote for. I vote (I voted in the last presidential election) and from what I've observed from my friends that don't vote, they don't seem to simply have enough care about it all. It is weird how people have strong opinions on topics and yet don't act on them.

**Thanatos** · October 11, 2007, 01:38 PM

It's because most people are lazy.

**RusskiSoldat** · October 11, 2007, 02:54 PM

It's because things aren't that bad.
Say what you want, but life in the first world today is just dandy and doesn't require any radical changes to keep functioning.
The concept of someone in the US starving is ridiculous.

**LoZz** · October 11, 2007, 03:20 PM

i think its more of a case of that the parties are no longer different anymore, it doesnt matter who you vote for the policys are the same more or less, so whats the point?

we also know nothing but democracy and have not had our democracy threatened for along time so people dont see the point any more.

**Gelgoog** · October 11, 2007, 03:38 PM

i think its 3 fold:

there arent many new frontiers of liberty to expound upon. there is now real need for unions and working standards, so people arent so focused on improving the big things. the issues are mostly above peoples heads these days.

poor leadership. simply put good charismatic leaders inspire people, and yea we havent had one of those in a while

people just dont have time or care to dig deep into the issues that largely dont effect them. most americans are moderates, and these are the silent majority whose voices are pretty much left out before both of the extremes should so loud that the moderates cant be heard. the minorities are basically taking over, and these are the ones who vote and demonstrate.

**Kiljan Arslan** · October 11, 2007, 03:44 PM

I pearsonally think that voter participation would be much higher if voting was determined by if you served or not.

**Earl of Rochester** · October 11, 2007, 07:00 PM

Its because political efficacy has been on the decline since WWII. Too much **** has happened for people to actually believe in the government anymore.

Not to mention we are a rather apathetic society in general.

**RusskiSoldat** · October 11, 2007, 07:42 PM

i think its more of a case of that the parties are no longer different anymore, it doesnt matter who you vote for the policys are the same more or less, so whats the point?

That's not true at all.
The thing is, we just had 12 years of the Republican controlled congress end last year, so Clinton didn't even bother trying to govern as a leftist, and George Bush has already had more than his share of barely tolerable acts, so nothing is being done.

**Earl of Rochester** · October 11, 2007, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by RusskiSoldat

That's not true at all.
The thing is, we just had 12 years of the Republican controlled congress end last year, so Clinton didn't even bother trying to govern as a leftist, and George Bush has already had more than his share of barely tolerable acts, so nothing is being done.

Well Clinton was a New Democrat, I only wish there were more of them. Very atypical of democrats, but very distinct from the Republican party.

**Kanaric** · October 11, 2007, 08:15 PM

The government has been shown to not work even when you active participation so people have just given up.

Congress has an approval perpetually in the 20%s, no matter what the election outcomes are its always low. They dont do anything, they have no idea what they are doing, so people just are simply fed up.

Many are just willing to lick a boot and be enslaved by a dictatorship as well.