[Ayoob]

As riveting as it's been for the last couple of years, I don't care about national or international politics anymore. Why would it matter to me? I'm a grain of sand on the beach, nothing I do or say will influence national or international politics at all. Obama doesn't care about me, never will.

I'm literally MORE interested in who's running for the local Water Board than I am about national politics.

It's show business for ugly people.

I care who my sheriff is, my local fire chief, the water board, and that's about it. Even the Governor... don't care anymore.

My time and energy goes to my own children, my own property, my own livelihood, my hobbies and recreational pursuits, my health, and that about wraps it up. Once I'm happy with my children, property, livelihood, hobbies, recreation, and health, then I'll probably look around to my extended family and see whether they're set up as well as they can be.

Time to reel it in and get local.

[Sixstrings]

As riveting as it's been for the last couple of years, I don't care about national or international politics anymore. Why would it matter to me? I'm a grain of sand on the beach, nothing I do or say will influence national or international politics at all. Obama doesn't care about me, never will.

Well, I can relate. I've been thinking myself I need to get back to the way I used to be, not following politics and not being so aware of the macro issues.

Although, I care even less who's on the "water board." Local pols are even worse than state and national. Oh, and I never knew it before but when I voted I noticed we have a "fire commission" with like 6 seats. I thought, ok so do all these guys draw a paycheck for this? Why is a commission required, isn't a fire chief enough?

[Ludi]

If we live in a way in which our lives aren't affected by national and international politics, it would make total sense to not care about them.. Unfortunately, most of us are still living in a way to be affected by the bigger picture. So, personally I still think it's important to try to choose the pile of garbage over the shit sandwich, the less bad over the more bad. I think we can still affect politics to that degree. We may not be able to get to "good" ever, but we may be able to get to "less bad." And as times get tougher and tougher for the average person, "less bad" might seem pretty damn good compared to "more bad."

If the average people just opt out altogether, the most wealthy and powerful "I've got mine screw you Jack" types will simply take over completely, and times will get very bad for the average person. Unfortunately this is the current trend with the Tea Party/Republican fake populism movement, which is funded by wealthy corporate people who want to screw us, Jack.

[eastbay]

I'm literally MORE interested in who's running for the local Water Board than I am about national politics.
Time to reel it in and get local.

I'm spending a lot of time helping a local woman get elected to a locally important non-partisan city office. Second election I've done this 'help the local' thing. Screw those national elections. They won't get a dime or a minute out of me.

[Mesuge]

Hm, this voting for "less evil" option is one of the primary reasons why representative democracy decayed beyond resuscitation in many places across the world. It's a highly dangerous, bogus and bankrupted strategy.

The last line of defense is to prop up the very local candidates, chances are they will be slaughtered by the upper powerstructures, but at least you tried. More power to these efforts, although I believe we are few decades past its usefulness anyway.

[Ludi]

Hm, this voting for "less evil" option is one of the primary reasons why representative democracy decayed beyond resuscitation in many places across the world. It's a highly dangerous, bogus and bankrupted strategy.

Wow, so letting "more evil" win is a better strategy?



"These candidates aren't perfect therefore I won't vote for them because that would be voting for 'less evil' so I'll stay home and let the other guys win."

Honestly, I don't see how that is a better strategy.

[Cloud9]

You may hide from politics, but politics will not hide from you. At various points in history we find ourselves at tipping points. The next two years will shape the first half of this century. Abstain from the process at your own peril.

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.



Martin Niemoeller

[Outcast_Searcher]

If we live in a way in which our lives aren't affected by national and international politics, it would make total sense to not care about them.. Unfortunately, most of us are still living in a way to be affected by the bigger picture.

Unless you want to hide in a cave in some extremely isolated place and be a hermit, how can you possibly live where national politics doesn't have a major impact on you in America?

If you want to eat, own or rent a house, receive medical care, be transported on public roadways, work, have a family, just to name a few, a whole slew of federal laws (and more all the time) seem to apply. Not to mention little things like the military (and paramilitary types like the police) overshadowing everything.

I think we're at least a hundred years and an order of magnitude of population and societal complexity/interaction beyond 99.99% of us not having to care.

I suppose we could try anarchy. Kind of puts a hole in the whole redistribution of wealth via taxes thing we rely so much on tho.

[Outcast_Searcher]

Well, the obvious just dawned on me... If you are an illegal alien, live in a sanctuary city or equivalent place which is tolerant of illegals, then wala, apparently you can live in a relatively normal fashion and just ignore the vast majority of rules and regulations and get along fine -- as long as you don't murder people or get into traffic accidents. Presumably this would include federal laws, like paying taxes.

So never mind. The system is so screwed up and arbitrary that I can't get my head around it any more...

[Ayoob]

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.



Martin Niemoeller

Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!

Everything in the whole world is Nazis and Jews!

Vote for the Douchebaggers, or the Holocaust is coming back again! AAAAAAAAH!

What a load of crap. I'm more interested in my own personal water quality than in any of that fake bullshit on TV.

[Sixstrings]

Unless you want to hide in a cave in some extremely isolated place and be a hermit, how can you possibly live where national politics doesn't have a major impact on you in America?

Well, that's the catch-22. Our national policy is so anti middle and working class precisely because those classes aren't deeply informed about process and policy. Whereas the elites are very much involved, so there you go.

It's a personal judgement call everyone has to make though, similar to doomer issues. There's a point where you can get so wrapped up in big issues that it's just not worth it, on a personal level.

I know enough to know there aren't many good choices when I go to vote, but at least I have the information to vote my conscience. Other than that I don't need to follow it so closely anymore.

I have a feeling I'll end up voting for Ralph Nader in '12.. which is an odd feeling, I used to be the sort of person to just not vote rather than vote my conscience on candidates who won't win.

[eastbay]

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.



Martin Niemoeller

Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!
Nazis and Jews!

Everything in the whole world is Nazis and Jews!

Vote for the Douchebaggers, or the Holocaust is coming back again! AAAAAAAAH!

What a load of nonsense. I'm more interested in my own personal water quality than in any of that fake pack of lies on TV.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

Fascist. Fascist. Fascist.

[MarkJ]

We've focused our efforts on helping the local candidates of our choice get elected, or re-elected since local political decisions have the greatest impact on our businesses, local living costs and quality of life.

Nearly everyone we've supported has paid us back ten fold in favors.

I got into local and state politics since I have numerous billboard locations, so candidates are always asking to advertise.

[Pops]

I've voted in every election since I was of age but I'm discouraged too.

Someone is interested though, for over a month we've received at least 1 or 2 robo-calls per day and maybe 3 pieces of junk mail a week from pollsters or parties or candidates, I guess because we're registered dems in a pub district?

There is just a huge amount of money being spent to buy this election and I don't see a box to check to vote the money out.

[dixonge]

Many of you in this thread are confusing voting and activism.

It may well be argued that activism, even by an individual, can have influence on national and international politics.

But voting, not so much. Sure, it's a right. Sure, you theoretically *should* exercise it. But when you're stuck in a two-party system and neither party comes close to representing your values or concerns, then what difference does it make who you vote for? Did Obama make any significant difference on extracting us from the war on terror? Not really. Sure, I'll vote for him again next time, but I'm under no illusions as to the results.

Bigger picture: vote for whomever you want, be an activist, it won't matter. The system is broken. The true change in the power centers won't happen from a political candidate, who are all moving at the beck and call of the power centers themselves. Global capitalism won't change until its power (profit) is yanked out from under them, and that will pretty much require a global meltdown.

It is the legacy of representative democracy. Deal with it.

[Ludi]

.

It is the legacy of representative democracy.

What would be preferable to representative democracy, in your opinion?

[Quinny]

Participative democracy??

[paimei01]

I don't care about national or international politics anymore.

Good Stopped caring 3 years ago - I think. All you need to know: the world is run by Sith Lords, they will do anything to maintain their position, and they want us all dead - if they could have all the comfort of today with no servants.