People couldn't care less.

When we are scrambling to survive due to the climate and the disease and suffering it will bring.

Too late then.
I'll probably be dead by then thank goodness but I fear for my grandkids and others.

Shit hits the fan=react=some change=pacified=shithitsthefan...

And these are the ones prone to vote for the Democratic nominee, regardless.

Sooner or later.

No "politics as usual," regardless.

Kinda makes everything else irrelevant. Don't you think?

Why did he pick my post for that?

rational somehow.

of the thing you are obsessing over. It was strange for me

And even among the people I know who are into politics
it's not like most of the members here.

They'll be for or against a particular thing or particular politician
but they never get really angry.
It's never a life or death cause for them.

Most of the people I know IRL watch it and are mildy interested
but they're not passionate about it.

For someone like me who is aware of my world, it is strange to see so many people walking around this earth completely unaware of most of what is going on

have forgotten to vote.

How could you forget to vote.

I mean it's not like it's surprise electio. You have a solid year
where it's everywhere.

But ask my neighbors what the latest development is on a telenovela and they can quote whole scripts

I was talking to a relative in December. Bright as heck. Stuyvesant High plus college. Works in supposedly liberal Hollywood show business as a camera operator.

I asked if he was supporting Hillary or Sanders. He said Sanders. I asked him about his SO and he replied she was not thinking about it because the election was a year away. I had to point out to him that the primaries were starting soon and the time to support Sanders was then, if they expected him to make it to the election. No reaction.

all highly educated people.

Except for the ones that want there to be. The news media in particular always likes to make it a close horse race, And politicians like to make every issue a super critical one so you'll contribute money. Now we do have severe problems when we select someone like George w who is just plain old incompetent or Donald Trump can't even reach that bar. Welcome to DU. Hope you stay a while.

Absolutely. Welcome to DU.

should be. Not the disinterested. Not the uninterested. Nor those who can't choose a side and hedge until the last minute. The general election is open. The general election is for the actual office. The primary is for a given party's candidate. It's not an eBay auction

If you wan't to remain unaffiliated during the primary, then chose an unaffiliated candidate, or run one if there isn't one.

And if you aren't paying attention, then you might get left in the dust.

don't make me pay for it. And I mean the full kit and kabbodle. Oh and do not program it during a regular election either.

You disenfranchise yourself.

that includes any other party as well.

I am going to lobby my legislature for that dear. I am tired of gifting private parties.

it is a private function from a private party, recognized by the courts. CRITICAL WORD... PRIVATE. Ergo the public should not pay for it. It is that simple, And actually that is in my state constitution. That public money is not used for private functions. It is considered a gift of PUBLIC FUNDS.

And if that forces you to do caucuses everywhere, by all means, please proceed.

pick a lane.

Either the courts are WRONG in finding parties to be a private organization... which they have, or they are not... If you are a private organization as found by the courts. you fund your own primary. For the record, NOWHERE in the US Constitution are Primaries mentioned, nor are parties.

I hate that any of my tax money goes to pay for a library.

I tried to check out a book but they wouldn't let me without a library card.

I ask how much the card was and was told it was free
but I really don't think I ahould have to join the library
just to get a book if it were free anyway.

alrightty then. Next you will tell me you do not want to build public roads, or fire stations, I know the type. Here is the rub, the PUBLIC LIBRARY is funded for the use of citizens with TAX money. Political parties have been found to be PRIVATE organizations by the courts. You are trying to have it both ways.

Pick a lane, if you are private, FUND YOUR OWN FUNCTION... I will understand if you own a sports team though why you are confused. For the record, stadia should not be funded either by any tax money.

Should they have all the gates opened to vote however they want, in any primary or party? I honestly haven't thought enough about that question. I'll have to ponder it

there are many reasons people do not vote. And you know what? They make more sense than actually caring.

We have compromised elections. And electoral systems, they vary from state to state, that would not pass muster globally as open and fair elections. Our voting ratios are terrible, and partisans on both sides, want to keep it that way.

but then there is the majority that never votes, and I have talked to many of them. I have been told several variations of it does not matter, why bother, nothing ever changes.

Pro tip, most voters start paying attention six weeks before any election, Why I need to start programing my interviews with local candidates.

The vast majority of people I know are barely interested other than to occasionally snark at Trump and all but a few are even marginally interested. The remaining few are mixed between Hillary and Bernie with a few Trumps I leave alone because they work for me.

hopefully going forward and given another very good progressive, change will come about. Your circle of friends and acquaintances perhaps are still doing fairly well. It is the lower middle class, poor and young who are most effected by his campaign. I hope they will stay registered/get registered and make a difference eventually. One can only hope. Few of my friends are hurting and most are for the democratic candidate even though they aren't paying a lot of attention. Bernie's candidacy has educated a lot of people.

Sometimes I envy them.

And that both parties suck.

Keeping people in the dark, not highlighting the importance of our political system in education, pushing it off to the side as a distraction through mainstream media, only to gather our attention for one vote, in the general election.