Cynicism 'can damage democracy's health'

Yeah and activism can damage cynicism's health lol down with cynicism, it's a tool of the top 1% they would have us beleive that our voice dosent matter. bah. they cant take our minds!

Maybe our FEDERAL republic(we aren't a democracy) is being damaged by too much self interest and NOT enough civic minded people running it?

Without cynicism, you're in the sheeple line. Things are not usually as they appear & should be questioned & examined in order for you to make the best choice possible based on what you feel is the truth of the matter-your gut feeling. The more important the implications in your life, the longer you should take to arrive at a decision-if it doesn't present itself first-by taking some extra time to process your decision making data & arrive at a conclusion you have slept on & can live with.

I'm afraid that smart thinking people are getting awfully cynical in this environment, as they watch narrow thinking evangelical christian extremists running the country. Unfortunately, it will take overcoming that cynicism to break the cycle.

If evangelicals make up 25% of voters and 54% of the people who voted in 2004, and open minded, free thinking progressive people (who actually live the credo of Christ by serving the community unconditionally) become more cynical, we will experience more war, more exploitation and more tyrany. We might not have another chance to take back our democracy if we do not assure a democratic win this time.

The Dems are not perfect, they have corruption too, but in far less numbers and they most certainly are not a front for the evangelical church of America. There is opportunity for change in the democratic party, it can be pushed to be more progressive. But first, the progressive people of the country must shake off their cynicism and vote those entirely corrupt fascist, war mongering republicans the hell out of office!

@bansheewail:

I heard it was Carter that fired up evangelicals to vote. I could be wrong.

@I forgot your name:

No need for name calling. Keep it civil.

Given the choices our democracy has given us for President this year, who wouldn't be cynical. I'm more than cynical, I'm scared to death of either of them getting into office.

Salsdin, the word abstract is is beyond comprehension
for you...
its a black and white world right no shades of gray
all good or evil no in between... maybe it is asking to much of a conservative president to be able to comprehend so much! 8 years of "Shrub" has told us this.
yeah intelligence doesn’t count- we need people who graduate at the end of their class or take 6 years in 6 different colleges to get a journalism degree!
High achievers right! Salsdin- your name is next to the the definition of cynical!

I love how this study takes an abstract idea and makes it a concrete physical stimuli, doesn't this sound ridiculous to anyone?

"Yes, we tracked down people who don't vote often and managed to isolate the cynicism hormones in their receptor proteins. A lot of them appeared to have overdosed on standup comedy. There was significant damage to the idealistic part of the brain but they appear to be functioning normally.

Our doctors recommend watching two disney movies every week and eating more fruits and vegetables until the symptoms recede."

Why can't we talk about cynics as if they were, I dunno, people with legitimate opinions to be addressed?

With all the false promises that goes on in politics can you blame people for being skeptical. To me that is being realistic. I am personally a cynicist because people will take notice. I would rather be labeled cynical then pessimsitic. I sounds more interesting.

You guys, they mean extreme cynicism. As in "nothing will ever get better." Not healthy, moderate cynicism which everyone should have.

When you have a society where people know that their vote probably won't mean anything, people tend to get cynical about it. When you have one where it's very dependent on democracy, people will realize that it might be worth their time. Voting simply doesn't hold enough importance in American politics.

Surely cynicism is a vital part of democracy. It's up to politicans to constantly prove that they're worth trusting, supporting, believing and voting for, and it's up to them to win over the cynics.

Sweet Jesus where did this article come from the 1920’s? Do we really need to rehash the debate over cynicism in politics and abroad? How long is it going to take for people to realize the US would stand to benefit from having more cynicism in politics. Hell the whole world would stand to benefit from a very cynical US populace.

Call me crazy but I think collectively our two party system has done a horrible job in the area of US foreign policy. At the very least we could have spared a few million if we had thought out or plans to promote democracy, freedom and the protection of ourselves from perceived threats.

No I’m sorry the biggest threat to democracy is not cynicism, it’s a century worth of irrational thinking and the 2008 presidential race is a perfect example of such. Our two viable “choices” agree on way too many questionable issues. That being said I find it incredibly presumptuous that cynicism and its effect upon democracy are in some way comparable to the effects of cynicism on reality tv.

Americans can choose to watch whatever they want, but apparently we have no choice when it comes to expanding the military, pissing off Russia and Pakistan, or removing military action from the table in dealing with Iran.

Its tough not being cynical when Bush got reelected in 2004. Its especially tougher now, seeing how Palin Bear Hunter is a VP.

I'm voting for Obama, but I'm pretty sure the American people will fuck up again and choose McCain just the way they fucked up in 2004 and voted Bush...

People deserve the leaders they have. The American people deserve Bush... We'll see if they deserve the political 16-car pileup that is McCain/Palin.

I disagree. I think cynicism goes along with democracy. I would rather see people not voting because they know both of the two major parties are bullsh!t, rather than someone who thinks thier one party is immaculate.

Cute point, but explain communist Russia and Cuba, and also how businesses pay people next to shit wages and have sweatshops around the world?

America thrives on conspiracy theory's. You might ask yourself why. It is probably due to the fact that behind every good conspiracy theory, there is a kernel of fact. The simple fact that that kernel was hidden, and never aired in the public domain, lends to cynicism.

Any government that publicly announces that it keeps secrets from its citizens for reasons unrelated to national security, but in the name of national security, simply because it can, lends to cynicism.

Now I tell you, as a true cynic, I believe whole heartedly that no matter who gets elected in November, nothing in Washington is going to change; except the name plaque on the desk in the oval office, and oh yea, maybe the White House China Pattern.

As long as The Congress and Senate are both steeped with stogy politicians that have been there since the Viet Nam War or longer, no one man (or woman) will change anything more than the first and last name of occupant of this countries highest office.

I love that quote Path_o_Logic.

"Even when they enter deep into our world (like when mortgage CEO's and banks bankrupt themselves) or sink below us, they still think they are better than we are."

I would never have the ego to demand a $200 million dollar severance package after my incomptenence drove the company into bankruptcy.

But then again I'm not a Republican. No matter what happens, they think they deserve special treatment.

If we substituted the word "rich" with the word "Conservative" or "Republican" -- how would that quote sound?

"Let me tell you about the very Conservative. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born Republican, it is very difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves. Even when they enter deep into our world or sink below us, they still think that they are better than we are. They are different."

"Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, it is very difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves. Even when they enter deep into our world or sink below us, they still think that they are better than we are. They are different."
-- F. Scott Fitzgerald

potential voters should realize that the less people vote the more likely a republican wins, and that some elections have won by the smallest fraction of votes and their vote is indeed important.

That's bull and you know it. He was elected, but was denied his rightful place because the Republican jackbooted goosestepping brownshirts stole it through manipulation of the Florida legislature, the courts, and the USSC.
So based on your reply I can add one other cause of the damage of the health of Democracy... ignorance.

And if you wish to know where he is, google WE campaign. He's actually doing something about the climate crisis unlike certain other "candidates" who only blow smoke up our asses about it.
And as far as what he would say about voting for another party, I would think he would be more tolerant of Americans thinking for themselves... moreso than other narrowminded partisan fools.

Al Gore lost the 2000 election because of an unelectable 3rd party candidate.

Al Gore might have something to say about voting for 3rd party candidates, but alas, how in the world would we ever get Al Gore to weigh in on the issue? Where in the world is Al Gore? If only there were a website that had connections...

The greatest threat to democracy it is "Wrongful Lobbying." A group of very powerful individuals and law firms circumventing the law and the Judiciary even turning it against public good. That it is USA Today, Local and National levels!

***Following that comes the denials and cover ups by cynical psychological apathy and deafness. Do doubt about it!

No one on America is more cynical than a political candidate running for a public office.

There are direct correlations between the actions and attitudes of our leadership and the actions and attitudes of our populace.

When the government talks tough and goes to war, Americans start talking tougher and going to war with each other. The more violent our government is, the more violent our people are. America is in a debt crisis because government won't control their own spending; average Americans are in a debt crisis because people won't control their own spending.

Our leaders are mired in immorality, wallow in situational ethics, make choices based on flexible morality, lie to accomplish even the most minor goals, and generally go through life as if they are the most superior people on the planet. Many Americans are mired in immorality, wallow in situational ethics, make choices based on flexible morality, lie to accomplish even the most minor goals, and generally go through life as if they are the most superior people on the planet.

Our problem isn’t with cynicism; it’s with our self-image. It comes from being unable to reconcile the ever-widening gulf between the bogus picture of ourselves we have created and the cold hard reality of our actions. It comes from lying to ourselves about how wonderful we are while in reality, we are an indifferent, uncaring, greedy people who spread suffering, misery, death, and destruction on others.

neocongo: what an unAmerican thing to say. This country was not even founded based on political parties. But yet, some partisans on both sides are so brainwashed that the letter D or R is all there is in voting for them... that in my view is what has damaged Democracy's health. Oh, and allowing the USSC to pick our president eight years ago.

Apparently those that researched this must not have come to this website when stating that Women are less cynical than men...because it's the exact opposite here.

I think Obama was actually explaining the effects of cynicism when he made his infamous "people cling to religion" comments.

He was explaining that poor working class people have been so fucked over by the government in terms of WAGES and HEALTHCARE that they have become deeply cynical about governments ability to imporve that area of their lives.

Haven't we heard that over and over here on these very threads?

"Gubberment sucks! Healthcare? I hate gubberment so much and gubberment is so evil that would rather DIE than let evil, hateful, crappy gubberment get involved with healthcare!"

We've all read those exact comments. The posters are deeply cynical about goverments ability to improve healthcare.

BUT...they very, very much believe in government's ability to outlaw gay marriage! They know for a fact that THAT is possible.

They very, very much believe in governments ability to "get those damn illegals!" out of America!

They very, very much believe our government can "nuke those damn towel heads in Syria!" That is definitely something our government can do.

This is the kind of cynicism Obama was trying to explain and which is running rampant in America now. A large number of voters have given up on beliving the US could ever have a sane, sensible, functioning government like we had under Clinton or, hell, even FDR!

So they focus on guns. Not healthcare!

So they focus on getting gay marriage outlawed. Not the mortgage crisis!

I think the cynicism problem is very real, but the real issue isn't that it's stopping people from voting. They are voting. In large numbers. The real problem is that they are voting based on small wedge issues like gay marriage because they have lost faith in our government ability to improve other more important aspects of their lives. Gay marriage? Yes! Improve the job market or healthcare? No!

That's why McCain is focused totally on Iraq and never says a single word about healthcare, because he knows people are cynical about healthcare but believe our military can "win" in Iraq (even though they aren't exactly sure what "winning" even means in Iraq).

I guess neo-congo is concerned about whether he should vote for the Whigs or the Federalists in the upcoming election.

Don't be a fool and waste your vote on the Republican party or that other crazy third party-- the Democratic party! Andrew Jackson will never win!

Well there is such a thing as healthy cynicism where an individual's experience has generated a suspicion that everything that they read or hear is not necessarily the whole story. So most healthy cynics get their information from several of what they regard as reliable information sources and these usually omit sources such as TV adverts for political parties!

This is healthy because no two people would tell a story in exactly the same way. So to get as close as possible to the truth requires reading the same story from several different agencies. How many times do you hear that "I read it in the paper so it must be true!" But that is caused by laziness which is endemic the world over. It is also called the democratic deficit since if only a few people vote it is not democracy any more. It could be argued that most countries in the world that claim to be are not fully democratic because not a sufficient percentage of voters vote to make them so. How about that?

Not voting for a major party candidate is not voting. But by all means, please start your own 3rd party. It's worked so well for Paul, Barr, Nader, and by proxy Gore.

Cynicism isn't all bad.

I've spent the past year working in politics, and there's no way I'm voting for EITHER of the Big 2 parties this time around.

If you're not voting, it's not because you're cynical, it's because you're a moron.

I totally agree with this article. I think cynicism is a good thing but, I think that cynicism is a powerful tool that is used against us. People become so cynical they just accept everything and do nothing about it. Also I'm surprised with the amount of cynicism there is toward people who do get active and protest. I think it's odd when people are being pepper sprayed and beaten trying to exercise their rights people are making snaky comments and defending fascist principals.

How do they serve this baloney? Grey Pupon si'l vous plait!

I'd argue that apathy is an even greater threat to democracy.

There is a fine line between arguing your point and educating your audience. Especially, when that audience has been lied to over and over again. The Neo-cons have very effectively injected "faith" into the political life blood. "To loose faith in the political message", is now linked to loosing faith in ones savation. It's almost impossible to get through to those people. Jesus! It's frustrating!