Community | July 31, 2011 | 1 comment

"Why Voters Tune Out Democrats"

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/opinion/sunday/tuning-out-the-democrats.html?nl=todayshead...

"... in smaller, more probing focus groups, voters show they are fairly cynical about Democratic politicians’ stands. They tune out the politicians’ fine speeches and plans and express sentiments like these: “It’s just words.” “There’s just such a control of government by the wealthy that whatever happens, it’s not working for all the people; it’s working for a few of the people.” “We don’t have a representative government anymore.”

This distrust of government and politicians is unfolding as a full-blown crisis of legitimacy sidelines Democrats and liberalism. Just a quarter of the country is optimistic about our system of government — the lowest since polls by ABC and others began asking this question in 1974. But a crisis of government legitimacy is a crisis of liberalism. It doesn’t hurt Republicans. If government is seen as useless, what is the point of electing Democrats who aim to use government to advance some public end?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/opinion/sunday/tuning-out-the-democrats.html?n...
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1 comment // "Why Voters Tune Out Democrats"

  • corderodedios
    • +1
      corderodedios  

    • ^'d. But government is not perceived as useless in anyone's eyes. "Democracy" American style is seen as futile. It's not democracy if no one has accurate information upon which to base an intelligent vote. Public financing of elections, and delegitimizing Corporate personhood by Constitutional amendment is the obvious path to democracy, but the tower of babel we live in prevents that, and now the actual conflict is pretty much underway.

      We think we saw a collapse in 2008. But really, that was a collapse more like the collapse of the German economy in the early '20s as the Nazis were gearing up. The 400 drove that one, too. The coming collapse - like the Capitalist collapse starting in '29 - will make that seem trivial, and will pave the way for a true World War-class conflict. Perhaps we've got another 10 years left before it really gets thoroughly unpleasant, meaning there's no where to hide, and all the bellyaching in the world won't help a bit.

      But, we're getting close to - if we've not already passed - the point where we've screwed the pooch, and the demon egg is incubating. The Nazis are here, but the leadership figure is yet to be determined. There's no Hitler or Mussolini apparent right now. Maybe it'll be done by committee this time - the 400 aren't stupid and may change their strategy.

    • 10 months ago
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