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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums“We live in a faux democracy, which is why everyone’s so cynical and nobody votes”
We live in a kind of faux democracy right now, which is why everyone’s so cynical and nobody votes. We’re only interested in politics as a form of personal gossip, because the system seems to be immune to popular sentiment about a variety of things. I think the feeling of widespread hostility to the business and financial community is clear after the crash of 2008. But it never registered inside these political parties because they’re so beholden to those same corporate financial interests.
One form of acquiescence is a kind of abdication: Why bother? Nothing’s going to change. Even though polls will again and again show that people have various sentiments in favor of extending social welfare, universal health care and so on and so forth, none of this ever makes its way into the halls of Congress.
But anyway, to get back to your point, I think Occupy may have been a straw in the wind. Even if it didn’t itself persevere, there are other signs of restiveness in the country which I briefly allude to in my book, which may in the years ahead give rebirth to the kind of anti-capitalism that I talk about in the nineteenth century.
These are small signs. But I think one of the bigger ones is the environmental movement. After all, the environmental movement is certainly an exception to the rule that I’m laying down, that we live in an Age of Acquiescence. The environmental movement has lasted for decades. It’s grown; it’s grown in the teeth of having won very little. That might be a measure of its failure. But normally when movements fail they collapse. The environmental movement has, on the contrary, grown. I think, increasingly, people may see that capitalism, at least as presently constituted, and a sustainable environment are incompatible.
THE REST:
http://www.salon.com/2015/04/04/how_the_1_percent_always_wins_we_live_in_a_faux_democracy_which_is_why_everyones_so_cynical_and_nobody_votes/
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Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Those who wants to remain cynical and now they complain about the 1%, 64% was big enough to change the outcome of an election. The 1% continues to "buy" elections and the 64% are anxious to have the 1% control everything.
Doesn't seem like remaining cynical is helping the causes of the 90%.
Triana
(22,666 posts)Even here on DU admonitions to GOTV sink like a rock. There's a long of whinging about the nominee or potential nominee or this or that issue or whatever, though.
When people don't get involved, pay attention to politicians and issues and don't vote, they're GIVING THEIR POWER, THEIR INFLUENCE AND THEIR ECONOMY AND COUNTRY AWAY to the rich. I cannot deny that however fucked up our so-called "Democracy" is today, voter and citizen apathy has a lot to do with how it got that way -- and why it stays that way.
It's not the sole reason. But it's one of many.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)They complain about not having alternative candidates, I think it may be the voters are not motivating possible candidates.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)Nobody ever votes because they've been shamed into it. That's why the centrist path being taken by centrist Dems so often leads to the GOP winning elections.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)We had a chance at a recovery in 2009-10, but we got more corporate rule even with huge democratic majorities, and many 2008 voters woke up to the fact that no one on the ballot they filled out actually wanted to help them. Or, fast forward to this year, what would be different now if the democrats had kept the Senate?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)42/40 split with 2 independents.
Who was your candidates in 2008?
There was civil rights marches for years before the civil rights bill was passed. You can sit back and say "our issues" was not taken care of and not vote and I assure you your issues will fall either on the back burner. If you don't think the GOP does not read DU nut they do. Somewhere you probably heard McConnell declaring he was going to do everything in his power to block Obama's agenda, well he was somewhat successful. Not voting is giving the GOP the majority, which one do you think is going to handle your issues?
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Dems can't govern with 59 senators and 260 house members, and the white house, people aren't going to respect them. Especially when the president appoints corporate stooges to the cabinet.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)The 64% who did not got could have elected their own members so talk to the 64% who did not vote and see why they can't get their candidates elected.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)If they'd passed legislation for jobs, schools, housing - raised taxes on the rich and ended wars for profit, we'd have gained seats in 2012, and in the statehouses, too.
Bandit
(21,475 posts)Why do Democrats fight so hard to keep things as they are?
Response to Triana (Original post)
guillaumeb This message was self-deleted by its author.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)they will not be out next time to vote against them.
sadoldgirl
(3,431 posts)the non-voters are necessarily cynical, but far more
resigned to the idea, that none of the politicians
will stand up for them.
It is apathy and resignation, imo.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)I'm not cynical because of voters, I'm cynical because of lying politicians.
hay rick
(7,636 posts)Young people are opting out. In my area, participation by all voters in the 2014 election was 56%. Participation by 18-22 year olds was less than 19%. Politicians can safely ignore their needs and concerns- and that in turn will further reinforce their skepticism. Democracy without participation is a sham.
