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this post was submitted on 25 Nov 2023
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politics
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How many times do we have to keep voting for the lesser evil. The more years I've been doing this the more voting for the lesser evil I hear.
Until the people who don't want the job are so fed up with how it's being done that they take the job themselves.
That's some of what sets apart an earnest politician from a corrupt one.
Personally, I think society would benefit if I got into politics. But I have so much work to do on my personal life that I don't have anything left to give. Maybe someday when I am on more sure footing, I can throw my hat in the ring and start getting involved in small scale local politics to see if I have any chops for it, but I don't know when that might be.
If we keep asking why are all these people in charge assholes, I have to ask, well why don't you run for office then?
And the sad reality seems to be that it's only the people comfortable and stable enough in life that they have the security and freedom to get into politics. Those people tend to be wealthier people they are also older. And that is not a demographic that is very representative of the teeming masses.
But hell, we barely even vote in this country. Other countries put us to shame when considering voter turnout. Voting should be the absolute bare minimum level of effort.
Unfortunately it's baked into the cake.
Until people get pissed off enough to start being politically active and not just passive participants in the process. When the "high bar" is merely "showing up to vote after glancing over the candidates" what do people expect?
Get involved in local politics. Volunteer for candidates that reflect your actual ideals -- or run for a local office yourself. Actually talk to other voters about issues, form coalitions to do something about it. Annoy the shit out of your elected officials and hold them accountable. Be loud, be pissed off, and use that energy to do something other than complain on social media about it.
Anyone that actually wants change needs to realize it requires being and active participant in politics. The problem is most people don't because it's frequently frustrating, disheartening, and exhausting work just for minor change. It's a thankless slog towards a better future on top of just trying to survive.
I understand the sentiment but most people just don't have the time or energy for that. I'm a busy person, got a young one around that needs my help every day - and I need to be able to help put people into office that reflect my ideals without actively being involved. That shouldn't be a large ask.
And we should be able to do that. But we Americans love to complain about the current state of affairs, yet we put more energy into complaining than we do actually voting. Our voter turnout for presidential elections is already way behind other countries, our mid terms are worse, our general elections the remaining odd years are worse still, and oh my God... The primaries....
The primaries are where we can actually redefine the political parties and fill them with new earnest candidates. Possibly the most important of all the elections, that's where we have virtually non-existent turnout.
Our government is exactly what we made out of it.
There will be multiple Climate Wars ongoing before they consider that it may be the time to try and break away from the two parties that caused it.