I don't understand how people "don't care about politics" or "don't pay attention to politics". It's not the 90s anymore. It's no longer just bickering about "parental advisory" stickers on rap CDs. Politics are now about life and death. If you're not paying attention, you're actively contributing to this country's downfall.
@jcrabapple probably due that it's made into such shitshow.
@WarnerCrocker @jcrabapple
There are so many issues that are impacted by politics that make that statement so true, but here's the major one I push.
If you are not paying attention and getting involved in politics than you are a climate science denier!
@jcrabapple I do understand how people get mentally exhausted from it after a while. It all feels too big for anyone to handle and it's just a non-stop relentless onslaught of problem after problem.
@markv I understand that, but there's also just a general apathy on both sides that "it'll all work itself out".
@markv @jcrabapple
It has been exhausting. Now is not the time to disengage, however. We need to express our views civilly here and now to help ourselves and others navigate through this - before it is too late.
Biden resigning should not be perpetuated as a rational way to win the election. He does the job every day as we speak - a fine one at that.
I have 'muted' from my life a few friends who decided to pull a 'Barbara Bush' & check out of the whole thing for the sake of their 'beautiful minds'
The Overwhelm is part of the playbook. When it hits me, I go to this video done just after TFG was elected & watch it again
@jcrabapple is probably just a defense mechanism. I don’t think it’s really „don’t care“, but it’s more like „I’m overwhelmed and it’s too much, I need a break“.
I feel this very often when listening to politics about science stuff (climate change is a prominent topic), I just can’t understand how simple principles aren’t understood and get dismissed or just ignored. After a few weeks I go exactly in this mode, I’m overwhelmed with all the stupidity and give up.
So, maybe just ask the people what they are interested in or what part they aren’t caring about.
Sometimes you will be surprised about the answers and sometimes they really don’t care - and that should be ok too.
@e38383 the response is usually "Biden is just as bad so I'm going to keep voting for who I've always voted for". They just don't care to even think.
@e38383 @jcrabapple One thing that i've resorted to doing is not try to convince everyone of the need for climate action myself, I just refer them to a book or such. The Bill Gates one has gotten some success in terms of actually getting people to read it. When they read, they start understanding.
I feel convincing people to read a book is easier than convincing them of the facts, and once they've read it for themselves they seem to own it better than when someone tried to convince them.
@jcrabapple
Well, it would be instructive to look up why they are not engaged.
https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/medill-npr-nonvoters-2020
@InkySchwartz @jcrabapple
Those polls are pushed by the oligarchs. No thanks.
People check out because of the constant republican gaslighting. Trump is the biggest liar in the history of the world. By default, so are his supporters.
@66gardeners @jcrabapple Are they actually pushed out by them? And only them? Or is that a narrative to discredit them?
They are avoiding it in everyday public discourse, because unless you are a narcissistic proud raging egomaniac, no one believes useful discussion can possibly take place.
@jcrabapple
When push came to shove, the 1% decided tax breaks were more important than democracy.
@jcrabapple I'm certainly paying attention...but I've found its better for my mental health to follow actual sports rather than the daily red team/blue team media stuff that masquerades as "politics" these days.
I try to channel despair into action: I plan to vote + phonebank this fall, and have made some small $ donations to what I think will be key races.