knowing that you'd probably have something to say about your definition of the term!;)
lol Of course I couldn't resist! ;D
My research indicates that low voter turnout is not because people don't care about what happens to us, but because the system puts such a wide gap between the citizens and the political 'elite'...
I'm reminded of the old adage about leading a horse to water. This could be said of many Americans, too. Recently I've tempered my opinions of those who do not vote. - But then, there's a very real difference between standing by one's principles and apathy. At least in America, apathy, not principles, is why many citizens do not vote.
Our govermental structure is very much bottom to top. Votes for local governmental offices "count more" than those for State and National, and local governments have more direct influence over lives than the Federal or State. Yet commonly, the voter turnout is less than 10% for these elections - and that's a high turnout rate. Special elections occurred just Tuesday, and they were expecting a grand 2% in Dallas.
All this to say that even when here we have "more" representation available to us, it still doesn't goad people into action. Local government is far easier to affect change within, far easier to find a neighbor with good ideas to run.
Y'all's situation is different to be sure, and probably a change like your proposal would inspire folks to do their civic duty. But then people grow accustomed to it and take it for granted...
I think, for both of our countries, this is the absolute root of where all the issues arise. If the people are lazy or apathetic regarding their self-governance, then the people allow their government to carry itself away. Then you have not only the issue of a run-away government that feels unaccountable to an apathetic people, but also a people in civic atrophy upon which the burden is squarely laden to correct the government's ways.
it's collective action that is not organised by the state or any official body, just by ordinary citizens who have an opinion to express.
Ahh, sigh. I wish our President would respect that very American ideal. (Not that it is American only, but free expression we pride ourselves in as a natural right.) In a way, Conservatives are reaping what we sowed, but it's a little different when the President scoffs at and demeans the People's free expression.
no subject
lol Of course I couldn't resist! ;D
My research indicates that low voter turnout is not because people don't care about what happens to us, but because the system puts such a wide gap between the citizens and the political 'elite'...
I'm reminded of the old adage about leading a horse to water. This could be said of many Americans, too. Recently I've tempered my opinions of those who do not vote. - But then, there's a very real difference between standing by one's principles and apathy. At least in America, apathy, not principles, is why many citizens do not vote.
Our govermental structure is very much bottom to top. Votes for local governmental offices "count more" than those for State and National, and local governments have more direct influence over lives than the Federal or State. Yet commonly, the voter turnout is less than 10% for these elections - and that's a high turnout rate. Special elections occurred just Tuesday, and they were expecting a grand 2% in Dallas.
All this to say that even when here we have "more" representation available to us, it still doesn't goad people into action. Local government is far easier to affect change within, far easier to find a neighbor with good ideas to run.
Y'all's situation is different to be sure, and probably a change like your proposal would inspire folks to do their civic duty. But then people grow accustomed to it and take it for granted...
I think, for both of our countries, this is the absolute root of where all the issues arise. If the people are lazy or apathetic regarding their self-governance, then the people allow their government to carry itself away. Then you have not only the issue of a run-away government that feels unaccountable to an apathetic people, but also a people in civic atrophy upon which the burden is squarely laden to correct the government's ways.
it's collective action that is not organised by the state or any official body, just by ordinary citizens who have an opinion to express.
Ahh, sigh. I wish our President would respect that very American ideal. (Not that it is American only, but free expression we pride ourselves in as a natural right.) In a way, Conservatives are reaping what we sowed, but it's a little different when the President scoffs at and demeans the People's free expression.