Discover What's Behind Political Scandal Voter Apathy
74Voter Apathy Allows Politicians to Get away with Political Scandals
*author's note: cited news segment video follows article - what follows is an opinion piece
It seems like the flow of news stories about political corruption and political scandals never ends. They may not be as intense right after most election cycles as they are leading up to them, but there always seems to be something politically scandalous in the news somewhere.
Is it just voter apathy that keeps this carousel of crooked and/or unscrupulous politicians in our government corridors, or is it something more. Are politicians and their handlers and backers too skillful for the average American voter to see the truth, or are too many of us just too shallow or lazy to exercise a civic duty that 100,000's of our various military citizens have given their lives too secure it for us?
Are we too busy to care, as the story below may indicate?
Headline - Nov. 13, 2011 - CBS '60 Minutes' Report
Congress: Trading on Insider Information?
In a nutshell, '60 Minutes' reports on a practice on Capitol Hill that has the very real appearance of insider trading by politicians that have access and influence to and over, information that isn't generally public knowledge. In this report the primary target is Nancy Pelosi.
Let's consider who the average American voter is...
Before you can try to determine why voter apathy towards political scandals appears so pervasive, you have to get a handle on who the average American voter is.
First - it is not you! If you are reading this, it is almost certainly because you are not an apathetic voter. You would not be here if you weren't interested in politics and the going-ons in your country's government. You may be an average American - but you are not an average American voter.
So, it's not you.
Next - a premise that perhaps you won't find too mistaken.
Everyone of us lives in own own world everyday.
For some, their entire day is focused on their daily lives - just trying to deal with whatever is needed to survive; get to work, do the job, keep that paycheck coming in to pay the bills, - deal with the kid's needs; transportation, extra-curricular activities, meals, clothes, doctors appointments, shopping needs, homework, getting them to bed, or a mix-or-match of a dozen other related time-consuming activities. Maybe catch the 10 o'clock news, then off to bed - ready to do it all again tomorrow.
Or, it could be someone with an extremely active social life - 9 to 5 workday, grab a quick change of clothes, then off to an evening of socializing and enjoying life. Probably won't make it home for the 11 o'clock news - and also, probably doesn't have too many thoughts of the world beyond work and their social life.
Perhaps it's someone really struggling just to keep body and soul together. Working one or two jobs, 12 or 16 hour work days, half day off on Sunday, grabbing those few precious hours of "me time" when they can. Just too damn tired to get worked up over some political scandal.
Here's the worst one, the one most deserving of our frustration for their apathy.
The comfortable middle-class American voter! By comfortable I don't mean plenty of money, new cars, and a small McMansion. I mean the ones that have home and hearth stability. Don't have to worry about paying the bills. Works an eight-hour job, (ok, maybe nine hours). Sits down to dinner at six or seven, maybe has a social activity once or twice a week, or a community responsibility for a few hours a week, but generally has their evenings and weekends free - time to make whatever choices they want on how to use it.
And for two weeks every two years they pride themselves on being good Americans by getting prepared to do their duty of participating in our great electoral process;checking out the TV ads for the election cycle so they can voice an opinion as they head to their voting precinct to vote for "their man", (or women), and muttering a gripe, or dropping a sage comment about the latest "hot" political topic in the news as they leave the voting place, with their "I Voted" sticker proudly stuck to their shirt or jacket front - for all to see.
If you sense a bit of disdain there, you're right. That average American voter is the one I find most at fault for allowing, or even facilitating, the return of these; ineffectual, or crazy, or vain, or just plain crooked politicians back into office.
I think the first voter description - the busy full-day morning to bedtime person, and the third description - the voter doing all they can just to keep their head above water, comprise a very large segment of our voting population. And even though, it's important that they become more aware of our government's workings, and their power to affect it - I have been in both places, and don't feel qualified to be too critical of them.
You can make your own assumption concerning the size of their voting block, but I feel comfortable that you might understand, and perhaps even agree with this description.
But the voter apathy of groups two and four are a different matter...
Regarding the group of voters in the second description - first to mind is America's young adults, and they probably are the bulk of the group, but there are just as probably, plenty of "matured" folks with the same perspective. These folks need a kick in the ass. Somebody needs to explain to them that the opportunities that allow them to follow such an enjoyable and irresponsible lifestyle aren't free.
To get their attention - just imagine if we could "tag" their credit and bank accounts. Every time a responsible American was damaged by some unscrupulous or crooked politician's behavior - a few dollars would be deducted from their available funds. Can't you just see it now - they offer their card to pay for that $13 margarita, or new outfit for the clubs, and it's declined due to insufficient funds. "What do you mean it's declined! What happened to my money?" Although that is unrealistic of course, it does bring a smile - doesn't it?
Addressing the "older" folks in that group, it is probably a character issue - the lack of.
For the younger folks it's an educational failure - here's an opportunity for all those "feel-good-about-yourself" and "self-esteem-is-fragile" folks out there to take their shot. When you stopped teaching Civics in school - when you stopped truthfully grading actual student performance - when you hid from them the concept of personal responsibility - and worst of all, when you began teaching them that keeping score is bad, you stole something very important from them - the concepts of self-worth and social responsibility. The world does keep score, and the benefits in a free society don't magically exist. They require individual effort and participation. A government program can't sustain them, it takes the work of citizens.
And now... the the most egregious apathetic American Voter.
Saving the worst for last, the fourth voter group described is the most responsible for our current political environment. They are also the group that has the most opportunity, and potential influence, to make a difference.
They have stability and steadiness in their life. They have the available time to participate - to do the things that would help them and their fellow Americans. And barring their steadiness being the result of some windfall income source, they must be fairly intelligent or they wouldn't have achieved their middle income status through their work efforts.
Wait! Of course you could point to exceptions, but the odds are good that this is the general rule of their position.
Why aren't they more aware? Why aren't they more questioning of the political "hosanna" portrayals the politicians push to get their vote? Perhaps because no one asks them for more. Perhaps they aren't aware of the need for their enlightened participation. Or could it be that the very stability in their lives allows them to just shrug - and return to those new vacation brochures, because after all, whatever impact it has on their life will hardly be noticeable?
Voter apathy is a sign of weakness and low self-esteem
Don't care enough to vote? Can't be bothered to check the facts of what those folks asking for your vote tell you? Don't think your vote could make a difference?
Then you are obviously a weak-willed moron that thinks so little of yourself that you deserves the contempt that those slick looking politicians hold for you. Of course, there are degrees to this description. Maybe you're only a little weak-willed, and maybe you don't think you're quite so powerless as all that, just not quite powerful enough to make a difference.
Baloney! If you fit description two or four of the Apathetic American voter above, then you are just what that last statement called you. How else would you explain your acceptance of the plate of turds these politicians are handling you - smilingly explaining that they are chocolate truffles they made especially for you with their own little hands, because you're special.
They believe in exactly the values you do, they know how you feel, they have the answer, and just want the chance to go to Washington and clean-out the sewer flowing through Capitol Hill.
Can I count on your vote? (don't mind that little man behind the curtain, those levers aren't important)
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Discover What's Behind Political Scandal Voter Apathy CommentsLoading...
GA, Oldpoolman sent me an e-mail on this, and I'm glad he did.
Boy did you ever nail it my brother. I've been writting about apathy in almost all of my blogs about corruption, but never went this deep with the apathy issue, giving it a solo. Outstanding. I love the idea of deducting a few bucks from folks checking account for stupidity.
jim
@old poolman - first welcome to the house, and thanks for the visit and kind comment .
Yes, I thought about addressing the groups you rightly noticed were left out. But two things made me decide to leave them out:
1. The article would have been three times as long by the time I got through venting about the superficial voter - I think that's going to be an entirely different article from the apathy issue... this one is intended to start a series on "see the problem, then offer some solutions" articles.
2. Reason number two is explained best by one of my favorite comedians; Ron White - "You can't fix stupid!"
GA
@NoPants - and to you also, welcome to the house, glad to have ya. thanks for the read and comment.
as I said to Poolman - voter apathy is an addressable problem. I don't even care if some one votes for a candidate I don't like - as long as they are making choices made with some thought instead of just swallowing the pablum peddled by the election machines of the candidates.
yes... when I finished that sentence about tagging their money, I actually paused for a few minutes and enjoyed a few metal images of their reactions. odd thing though - they were all dressed in Leisure suits - guess that just shows how long I've been away from the club scene.
GA
The funny part is each election cylce is exactly the same. Scare the same people, tell some their education is useless, a sex scandle. You have nailed everything voters are and do each cycle, a great read I will pass on to others to check out. I look forward to more
@amazing-articles - welcome, thanks for the visit.
I decided to disable the comment word-count-limiter, so feel free to elaborate anytime you drop by - if the urge hits ya.
GA
GA - Hmmmm, I didn't even know they had a word count limiter. That would eliminate all but the "nice hub" comments we see so often. It is interesting how many comments are made that let you know the person making the comment didn't even read your hub. Great job.
@American View - thanks for dropping by, just as for the others - welcome, come on in.
Comments are always welcome, and from other articles I have visited - I see you have no problem with speaking up, and doing so with authoritative points, we should have some exciting times.
Wow folks, I'm thrilled at having so much company. Thanks.
GA
@American View
- oops, closed my reply before I was finished. Regarding your comment about the same-old, same-old of election cycles - maybe you have done this already - but recently I have been researching election practices, tactics, and antics from 1890 through the late 1920's.
and as Larry the Cable-guy would say, "now that there is funny, I don't care who you are"
with just a little word-swapping to camouflage the date give-aways - some of the political stories, election efforts, and media reports, (at the time - telegraphs and printed media), would read just as if we were discussing today's political issues.
GA
Excellent points. As much as it galls me to hear the media lie and talk down to Americans, it galls me even more to hear many Americans stupidly parroting what they were told!
Government cannot provide for the people, no matter what they claim. The people must provide for themselves, and help those in need through charities.
@WillStarr - Welcome, I better run get some more chairs, been a while since I had this much company. Welcome to the house, come on in. Thanks for the read and comment.
And speaking of comments - you really hit on one of my more serious pet peeves, so much so that I'm going to throw your quote back at you and tell you a short story...
"it galls me even more to hear many Americans stupidly parroting what they were told!"
That stuff really pisses me off.
Here's a true story...
(I'll try to be brief, instead of grammatically correct)
Few years back I had a minor heart attack - (don't get sappy! I wasn't even sure it was a heart attack - I was mobile and walked into the ER on my own)
emergency blood worked confirmed I was having one right then - caused by a blocked artery - emergency stint surgery for the blocked artery needed
had the surgery....laying in the recovery room.... they put it in through a vein in my thigh - time to take out the thingie that held the artery open for the surgery.
had a male nurse, (that my wife knew as the boyfriend of an acquaintance), when they pulled the thingie out of the vein, they had to hold pressure on the vein incision for a full 20 minutes to allow the vein walls to self-glue themselves back together (standard procedure)
So... we began to chat while he's pressing - turns out he's a Democrat, and before we knew it, we were having a lively exchange.
my wife was cautioning both of us to change the subject (she's well aware of my leanings) - but this fellow starts going off on the Repubs - now I don't automatically jump to any party's defense, but he wasn't doing anything more than repeating a list of Democrat talking points.
Seriously - I would challenge one he would make, and the most intelligent reply he could muster was just another talking point.
well, she was right, she kept trying to change the subject, but to no avail,
I finally couldn't be polite any longer, with still five minutes of pressure time left, I told him that if he wasn't capable of offering an intelligent response any more thoughtful than just repeating the talking points he read on some website somewhere, how about he just apply the pressure and I would take a nap until he was done.
hmmph! he actually said Hmmph! got the other nurse in the room to take his place and stalked out like he had a broom up his.....leg
and damn, my wife was mad at me too. said I was rude. but that's ok, I told her he was stupid. And I felt better for it.
must have been the medication, maybe I shouldn't try political discussions until I'm clear of the anesthesia effects.
GA
Knocking the ball out of the park again, GA
There are entire political strategies that have a foundation the expectation of voter apathy, because if people participated as they should, that particular strategy or objective would lose hands down. I am not name a particular group, but where the shoe fits......
The young are apathetic, because they see both rival sides as basically the same. This is what many have told me. For me, nothing could be further from the truth, especially in these current times. There are not a many comfortable middle class types as there use to be, everybody gotta hustle to stay above water. Many of us have been 'there' at different points in our life, but must keep the lofty concepts in mind. I motivate myself by saying if I don't vote, I have no right to complain. It works for me. Who knows what is worse, the apathetic or people that just pull down levers without investigating. Food for thought, thanks Cred2
Credence brings up a darn good question. Which one is really worse? The voter with no knowledge of whom he is voting for, or the voter that never votes? Both leave a lot to be desired.
@Credence2 - excellent response, but you gotta stop adding to my to-do list...
the point of political strategies DESIGNED solely as you described - really piss me off.
How could they be taken any other way than the interpretation that they are saying we are too stupid to catch on?
Gaawwdd, call me dumb if you want, but don't call me stupid!
GA
@Old Poolman - careful fellow, don't forget Credence2 has that Progressive/Liberal disease thingie... not sure if it's contagious, but...
GA
GA - Credence and I have had our differences of opinion, but we have learned to agree to disagree. I somewhat enjoy comparing the "glass half full" vs "the glass half empty" views on these subjects. I guess it depends on what is in the glass and who has to drink it.
Greetings, GA and OP. OP, you're ok in my book. I promise that I will not infect with the lefty disease. Both of you, enjoy your holiday.. Cred2
Cred2 - Wishing you and all of my hub friends a very happy holiday.
In this day and time, with the internet and news at your finger tips.....there is NO good reason why a voter cannot educate themselves and be informed.
BUT, you point out the problems very precise.
A very REAL hub that reminds us just how apathetic too many americans REALLY are.
@CMerritt - once again welcome, just finished talking to you elsewhere. Thanks for checking out here too. And thanks for the follow.
I agree with the essence of your comment, but might add a "should", there should be no reason...
admittedly, although I wish it were otherwise, as I noted in the article, I can understand there are life circumstances where "making sure the kids can eat" would be a higher priority than following Charlie Rangel's travails.
But we can hope. Even if someone doesn't have time for the "whole pie", maybe they can snatch a "piece" here and there.
GA
Another factor to consider is that many schools are teaching their liberal views to the young minds that soak up information like a sponge. I'm not sure they ever teach how important it is for a citizen to make an informed vote at election time.
"Another factor to consider is that many schools are teaching their liberal views to the young minds that soak up information like a sponge."
We send our kids to school with the admonition to pay attention to the teachers and learn. Then we find out that the schools are indoctrinating our children with left wing ideals and morality, rather than teaching and providing the tools they'll need to succeed.
Our kids can all put on a condom and discuss anal sex, but they can't read. We should rise up in anger and demand an end to the Department of Education, and then return to the small town and small neighborhood schools that used to work so well, simply because the parents controlled them.
@WillStarr - come on Will, tell us how you really feel (LOL)
A scary thought - Have we turned into our parents?
GA
"A scary thought - Have we turned into our parents?"
I sincerely hope so! I'd be honored to be favorably compared to my parents.
(Who would have thought that when we were sixteen?)
^_^
OP, I don't think that it right to make a correlation between the education (liberal) and not having a desire to participate in the political process. For what I have been experiencing at the hands of the political right in the last decade, being absent from the polls is the last thing i will do. I speak for many others as well.
When it comes to liberal education, I prefer enlightenment to indoctrination, any time.
The idea of liberal indoctrination of impressionable young minds is just another right wing stereotype, one that I challenge anybody to support with proof.
Hi Credence, good to see you around too...
I will step up to your challange....there are many issues being taught in our schools now days that kids are expected not to question or critically examine, which is the very definition of indoctrination....take evolution....if a child would like to bring up creation, many schools today will NOT allow that....even when it is pertaining to sex education, teaching a child about anal sex as if it is an acceptable form of sex, but when a child may want to disagree he is not expected to challange such things....even global warming, children by many teachers, are irritated if a child wants to disagree...this is a form of indoctrintation....imo.
Cred2 - Your saying that none of the ultra liberal College Professors don't preach at least some of their liberal beliefs on their captive audience? I was shocked when my own grand daughter was telling me her own left wing views of the world. When I challenged her with a few facts, she could only quote what one of her college professors was teaching his students. Some of what he was teaching was highly socialistic, if not communistic in nature. This is a long story, and might make a great hub, but my point is that this is happening on a daily basis in our schools. An empty box, a young persons mind, is easy to fill with whatever knowledge the teacher is delivering. Once the box is full, it is very difficult to remove one item to replace it with another. Who we are today is largely due to the information we were given during our formative years. With that said, I hope you have a great Holiday Season.
CM and OP, I hear you and you have some interesting points here.
I may well be a lefty, but I am reasonable. The subject of creationism cannot be avoided in serious discussion of evolution. I am not so unlike you, it is crazy to think that all that we see around us just randomly came out from the muck. That is my opinion from a lifetime of observation, but it remains just that, my opinion. The question gets to the touchy issue of religion in public schools and who's creator are we going to extoll at the expense of someone elses. Creationism, is linked to religion and spirituality which is best left in the more than competent hands of parents and ministers. I leave the public schools to its task of teaching the science.
Cred2
Testing, the last post I created did not appear
CM, It is oftentimes difficult to separate the concept of evolution from creationism, but we must all of the same. I am not so much unlike you; it is absurd in my opinion to think that all that we have around us in the world is derived from just so much muck. That comes from a lifetime of simple observation, but as it is, it is still just my opinion. Creationism implies spirituality and religion. So in a public school, whose creator do we extol and the expense of another’s? Let the school concentrate on the science and let the parents and ministers concentrate on the spiritual aspects of the topic.
OP, I look forward to your upcoming hub on this topic. I taught as a substitute teacher for a year and out of sheer professionalism, and kept my personal opinion out of discussion where you were looking for the students to develop their own ideas and opinions based on facts at hand. Young people generally are more liberal and that in itself may not be a bad thing. People develop in their own way and time, Over time becoming more conservative in some things and more liberal in others. But I will say that only conservatives complain about someone being “over educated”. What does that mean?
Cred2 - Over educated is a new one for me, I had not heard that before. In my opinion, any persons education should never end. I view a day where I learned nothing new as a wasted day. I'll bet you were a great teacher my friend.
Old Poolman Level 7 Commenter 6 months ago
GA - This is awesome my new found friend. You said what I was trying to say in my rant, only better.
Another thing that really bothers me is most Americans have conditioned themselves to only look at one number on their paycheck stub, that is their take home pay. They really have no idea how much they pay in income tax, and consider a tax refund for over payment of taxes as a gift from the government. Few realize this refund check is money they loaned the government at zero interest for a whole year.
I love the way you broke this down into types of voters. But don't leave out those who vote strictly based on the sex, skin color, party affiliation, or religion of the candidate they select. No research at all on the candidates voting record, attendance, time in office, or stand on important issues. Your very correct that many watch the TV ads filled with false promises "lies" that come before all elections. Just like a candidate today promising he or she will change the tax code their first day in office. We all know this would be impossible, but it sure sounds good. And those of us who don't realize that hefty campaign contributions would be called bribes if the truth were told. Most politicians are for sale to the highest bidder regardless of what the promise we the people.
This was a great piece of writing and I will forward the link to some of my friends for their input as well.