Hard to believe how many Americans don't give a shit

[dutch508]

edhopper (23,726 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213005031

Hard to believe how many Americans don't give a shit about the complete corruption of every part of the Federal Government.
You would think such treasonous and criminal behavior might upset a more sizable percent of our fellow citizens.
Especially those who professed to be patriotic, or cared about the Country.
But now we can see that things like racism and religious fervor beat out any concern for the USA.

 

Matthew28 (1,539 posts)

1. Most of this Country is greedy and nasty towards their fellow man. The poor can eat shit and die as far as most of this country is concerned.

 

Star Member chowder66 (3,609 posts)

3. I was just thinking about this myself but I don't think the ones not paying attention are professing patriotism. I don't think they care at all. It's not their thing so they have no idea what is actually happening to their/our democracy.
It's left to those who participate and the weight right now is heavy. We need someone to alert the rest of the nation as to what is actually going on.

I don't know what that looks like other than a general strike and/or sustained massive protests. Those demonstrations should be about holding Republicans to account (including Trump). We need to send the Republicans the message that the American people demand they resign for their destruction of our Democracy. It needs to be loud. It needs to be serious.

 

shanti (20,217 posts)

55. It would be nice

But it would never happen willingly. The coup is well on the way.  I remember during Shrub's reign when we here on DU were all shouting, "regime change begins at home", and this was 15-20 years ago.

 

RAB910 (684 posts)

4. I blame the MSM They are normalizing Trump's corruption

 

Star Member 2naSalit (34,449 posts)

13. When we show them what we can do

they might be willing to join in. A lot of people just can't think of what would be effective. If they have an idea that a bunch of other people have, they would be more likely to participate.

That said, I think a lot more people are waking up about their survival being at stake. Look at the ratings for viewership of the debate. We just won't be hearing about it in the MSM.

shanti (20,217 posts)

56. A lot of Americans would but many of us are old. It really falls on the younger people, as it is THEIR country now. But I fear that they are so hung up on their phones, and well, simply surviving, that they don't have time for 'politics'. Americans as a whole are very complacent, and Putin saw that very clearly. Nature abhors a vacuum?

 

Star Member BigmanPigman (32,355 posts)

6. 49% didn't even vote in the last national election.

I blame self absorbed Americans who care more about how many "likes" they got on social media than they do about real issues that effect their lives. I am glad I chose not to have kids since this country is too ****ed up for words.

Star Member ooky (3,955 posts)

29. They are politically ignorant. They don't have any real understanding of what is going on.

I think if it actually was to sink in that they are losing their democracy and their environment they would start to freak out and seek the truth. The question is how to get through their vail of ignorance and their apathy.

Newest Reality (7,027 posts)

37. I know what you mean...

There are probably a small number of non-voters who can be reached. The confirmation bias is strong with them. It is not just certain kinds of people, but the tendency to filter reality based on our biases, preferences and past experience. That can be useful, but it also proves to be a detriment to change and in the face of a crises like this.

Finding out their underlying beliefs and reasons leads to their values, (the former support the latter). From what I have found, some feel that the system does not work at all for them and that goes across a spectrum from disgruntled to conspiracy theory stuff. If people feel marginalized or insignificant, that is going to translate into a bias that is often confirmed by various factors. For instance, the ones I vote for rarely get elected, my party loses often, they say one thing and do another, etc. Consider how you see polls more often about what a majority favors or disagrees with, (that would be democracy) and then how it is pretty much ignored. There are other reasons like distraction, lack of concern and just plain apathy.

I like your question, but I think the answer is complicated and variable. I could call a host of items wedge issues, (which the Republicans utilize all the time to distract their constituency from important issues and from self-interest). In my opinion, we have several crises brewing and they are, amazingly, being ignored and are coming to bite this society hard. As you said, if people can't relate to them in their own lives, then their bubble will be sustained until something pierces it and it pops fast and hard. We have a tendency to cling to our comfort zone and what is familiar, so I would consider all these factors rather than going with personality or generalizations.

We might want to avoid biting off too big a chunk and abstracting too far out or it just gets overwhelming and increasingly complicated. For non-voters, a bit of Socratic message, (ask questions that lead them to the answer you want) is a good strategy and I bet we can think of some that might be effective with different folks.

I know that may be more vague than you were shooting for, but I tend to try to put aside the contents, (variables: who, what, where, when) and consider the place where change is more possible and effective: the process, or HOW.

I guess, the dark humor would be, "Well then, I will see you at the camps and we can have a good chat about it there if we aren't too weak from labor and hunger, that is. Oh, I promise not to say I told you so."

I'm just being sarcastic.

edhopper (23,726 posts)

36. These are the ones who say

why doesn't "Congress" do something, with no awareness of the dynamics going on between the House and the Senate, or how much the GOP has mucked things up.

Whiskeytide (2,777 posts)

8. Really? Almost 30% or Americans believe ...

...Bigfoot is real. Only 21% of Canadians believe in the creature, and I understand that’s where he probably lives.

 

Star Member Ilsa (54,028 posts)

10. I told a 20 year old that I've been voting since the 70s,

and this is the most important election I'll ever vote in.

She had nothing to say. Really doesn't care, and isn't registered to vote. More interested in reality tv. I'm dumbfounded, considering I've voted since I was younger than she is.

 

Star Member Demovictory9 (10,112 posts)

16. so what is Trump is making money by renting facilities to secret service at crazy rates.

so what if Trump (name any of many corrupt things he has done).

<shrug> from large percentage of population as long as he keeps on bashing immigrants and such.

 

magicarpet (5,256 posts)

22. I think a lot of it has to do with coping mechanisms.

Many people have reached the end of their rope. The expectations society places on people to be successful, to get by without an overload of stress is above and beyond the intellectual stamina, physical stamina, and the ability to maintain a firm grip on mental well being.

A lot of people are falling by the way side. And from the looks of what transitions and changes that are rapidly coming upon us economically and socially - we better come to terms with the fact that some people just can not cope with changes coming at the speed of light.

Compassionate social engineering is long past due to take these realities into consideration or more and more people on the lower tiers of our society will be getting crushed into dust by the weight of those on the totem pole above them.

You want to create more Nazis real fast,.. try ignoring those on the bottom. Then let a demagogue like djt take these poor souls under his loving(?) wings. Presto-chango abracadabra magic you have got more white nationalists, white supremacists, and Nazis than you know what to do with.

It is happening now slowly,.. but soon this is about to get much worse and at a far greater and more rapid, quickening, and worsening pace.


*~*~*~*~
It is very similar to planetary weather changes and temperature rise caused by hydrocarbon emissions. Ignoring it is good for the capitalists, allow them to continue apace building world economies by continued exploiting resource extraction is good for investors. We must not upset that apple cart.

No remedial actions taken to address global warming.
Solar, wind, hydro are ignored and de-funded.
Some have the nerve to promote coal, nuclear, and fracking with horrendous methane leakage to the atmosphere, as the golden calves to serve and save employment, the economy, the stock markets, and the protection of the environment.
*~*~*~*~

We need a non selfish and less greedy approach to solving our social, political, and economic problems. We have to be smart enough to keep in front of these issues before they mow us over and crush us.

Sustainability, honesty, truth telling, ethics, compassion, and non-corrupt practices seem to be the next issues and direction our Democracy needs to head. We have to talk up these issues and bring them to the political forefront and bring absolute shame to those who ignore these basic tenets.

But we keep marching deeper and deeper into the darkness - and the warm(?) embrace of Fascism. While our Democracy is rapidly fading into and over the distant horizon soon to be beyond our reach and our grasp, or ability to save it for ourselves or the generations that come after our demise.

The clock for Democracy is about to run silent - if we don't do something decisively and quickly.

 

Star Member bdamomma (54,907 posts)

49. I take

"something" as an non violence or violent measures.

. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Star Member not_the_one (962 posts)

27. And when they are the ones wailing and gnashing their teeth for some perceived slight, perceived

persecution or perceived insult, I will be quick to tell them, Too ****ing Bad. I DON'T GIVE A SHIT.

Sounds like a good idea for a fashion statement.... Oops, too late, already taken...

People have to actually realize that it is going to affect THEIR lives. As their friends get fewer, their circle of associates slowly get smaller, they are included less and less in activities, and they wonder why, THEN when they are told "WE don't give a shit", it may actually register.

SMC22307 (5,555 posts)

48. The economy is doing well for many. Nothing will change until it tanks.

Or at least starts to tank.

A scary number of Americans can't name the current VP at any given time. You think they're sweating the details of this corrupt administration? They're not. Plus, we're battling against right-wing media and millions of propagandized Americans.

 

[freedumb2003b]

Hard to believe how many Americans don't give a shit about the complete corruption of every part of the Federal Government.

Despite that, the Trump Administration has been trying to root out that corruption that was placed there by the obozo regime.

[SVPete]

edhopper (23,726 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213005031

Hard to believe how many Americans don't give a shit about the complete corruption of every part of the Federal Government.

Actually, many care greatly. They just reject your view of what the corruption is, DU-Moron edhopper. Embrace the suck, edhopper 'cause you've been rejected, .

[Patriot Guard Rider]

Actually, many care greatly. They just reject your view of what the corruption is, DU-Moron edhopper. Embrace the suck, edhopper 'cause you've been rejected, .

DU is a pissant website located on the dusty outskirts of the internet. No normal Democrat knows it exists and they would disavow it if they did.

DU is a collection of socialists, communists, fascists and other assorted loonies who are convinced they represent the mainstream democrap party. They don't and they simply can't understand why all other democrats aren't marching in lockstep with their ideals. They're dumb-founded (I should have stopped at dumb) that people can think for themselves and see how well the country is going.

Trump is the best President in my 66 years on this earth. Better than Reagan by a longshot if for no other reason, he fights back in the public arena. He takes his argument directly to the people and the people agree.

I so look forward to election night when the polls will show the dem nominee (whoever that may be), beating Trump by 10 points and Trump wins 400 electoral votes. Cities will burn and DU will retreat into their mom's basement since Skinner will shut DU down again and blame a hack.

[FiddyBeowulf]

Star Member Ilsa (54,028 posts)

10. I told a 20 year old that I've been voting since the 70s,

and this is the most important election I'll ever vote in.

She had nothing to say. Really doesn't care, and isn't registered to vote. More interested in reality tv. I'm dumbfounded, considering I've voted since I was younger than she is.

This is why millennials suck. She let a perfectly good opportunity for a "Ok boomer" reply go by.

[67 Rover]

Whiskeytide (2,777 posts)

8. Really? Almost 30% or Americans believe ...

...Bigfoot is real. Only 21% of Canadians believe in the creature, and I understand that’s where he probably lives.

I thought she lived on Marthas Vineyard now? 

[DLR Pyro]

edhopper (23,726 posts)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213005031

Hard to believe how many Americans don't give a shit about the complete corruption of every part of the Federal Government.
You would think such treasonous and criminal behavior might upset a more sizable percent of our fellow citizens.

you guys didn't give a shit about lois lerner and the irs scandel, or eric holder and fast and furious or the fbi spying on reporters during obama's reign.  Why so worried about your imagined corruption now?