I know a woman who says that she does not follow politics at all.

[Swede]

After a few conversations, I believe her. In these historic times, I think it is an irresponsible thing to do. It's like someone saying this same thing on the eve of WWII. We are inching toward something that may be a world wide disaster while you go about your merry way.

The ‘I’m not political’ or ‘’they’re all the same’ shticks are immature and dusty asf and really need to be treated with shame and scorn if we’re serious about changing things and protecting our political power.

They need to know politics is about how we fight for the common good of humanity

— Pragmatic J ✊🏾 (@jerrelxl.bsky.social) 2026-05-03T12:38:32.113Z

[sop]

1. I can't count the number of people over the years who've said to me, "I never vote." And they say it proudly.

[Whiskeytide]

3. George Carlin said that. He basically said it relieved him ...

… of responsibility for what politicians do. But that was in a time when the actual difference between the two parties was only canyon wide - instead of light years. Maybe he would reconsider today. Idk.

[Cerulean Southpaw]

6. I knew a few

A long time ago. They said voter registration was how you get on the list for jury duty and they didn't want to get called for that.

I'd be happy to serve on a jury but I'm always disappointed. Almost every time I get called up there's a last minute plea bargain. The few times there was a trial I didn't get selected.

[ret5hd]

11. bet they'd say "criminals get off too much" also.

[piddyprints]

9. That's actually not as bad

As the people who do vote, mostly for Republicans, while admitting they don’t pay attention to politics. My hairdresser is one of those people. I have told her countless times that she really shouldn’t be voting if she doesn’t understand or care what’s going on. She “just didn’t like Hillary” and “heard that Kamala’s not very smart.” So she voted for the dumb fuck at least twice. It would be hard for me to be disappointed if people like her didn’t vote.

[Skittles]

21. I remember a letter to an editor from a WWII vet

he said if you don't vote you might just as well not be able to vote

[senseandsensibility]

2. I guess I don't understand why Dems can't confront this idea directly

What's wrong with pointing out how different they are from Rs in simple, preferably rude language? Why not confront that trope directly when it is presented as fact by journalists like Jake Tapper? Bottom line, if everyone including Dems just goes along with this "conventional wisdom" it will never die.

[haele]

4. It's because Republican has been framed as an identity...

While Democratic is framed as a coalition.
While that illusion of identity still holds, the herd follows Republicans.

[Emile]

5. I had a coworker say that to me once. He got a little upset

when I told him it's his most basic patriotic duty to stay informed and vote. I explained that "Government of the people, by the people, for the people" is a foundational definition of American democracy.

[Grokenstein]

14. "Politics don't affect me! ...Hey, why's everything so expensive?"

I doubt this surprises anyone, but it's just as bad when they're "political" but willfully ignorant. An acquaintance at work told me once that Biden could bring gas prices down "if he really wanted to" and that the world would be better off under a dictatorship because "things would get done." We don't speak anymore after he voiced his support for Putin taking Ukraine, but I'd love to hear what the edgy little asshole has to say about these subjects now.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. Politics is certainly about fighting for the common good, but it's not the only way to do so.

[SuzyandPuffpuff]

8. Yup

Got one in my family...so irresponsible... I remind him constantly that there are things out there you better pay attention to.... bcz at some point there will b no option bcz it is in our/yourface! Frustrating

[Biophilic]

10. My next door neighbor was totally puzzled when I asked if she was going to vote last year.

Why would she or anyone else do that. It was like a foreign concept to her. She’s in her mid sixties, relatively well educated and comes from a middle class family in Massachusetts. I honestly didn’t know what to say to her.

[AZ8theist]

15. I could almost understand that position if you're so jaded by the whole political landscape....

.....one will not bother participating.
But to not even know about elections, or worse, not even care about the outcome is just mind blowing to me.
Every aspect of our lives is governed by the outcomes in elections.

I feel sorry for your neighbor.

[Biophilic]

16. Yes, the not even caring is something I don't understand.

She’s very sweet and totally self absorbed. I don’t get it.

[Grokenstein]

12. As of now, Pragmatic J's post has one response and

it's just a "both sides" clown stung over being called out.

[Smokster]

17. "Pragmatic J" is part of the problem and not the solution.

Looking at the posting history of " Pragmatic J" is an exercise in seeing how attacks on the actual left and class based politics take hold. Race and identity reductionist marginality politics are more of a disaster than ever for the Democratic Party and the left. "Pragmatic J" is a divider and not a uniter.

[Skittles]

13. sure sign of people who care only about themselves

no interest in the world around them

[hamsterjill]

18. Ugh!!! People who don't follow what's going on are idiots!

I had someone send me a message the other day trying to reconnect after many years of having no contact. Okay... so like there had been no contact because we actually missed one another and wanted to stay in touch??? LOL

Anyway, we conversed a small bit by phone and she was asking me about my hobbies, etc. Told her I was involved politically and her response was "Oh, I don't keep up with politics. My husband does, and that's enough for me".

And wouldn't you know, just at that very moment, my doorbell rang OUT OF THE BLUE (hint! hint!!) and I had to hang up the phone and end the conversation???!!! LOL

I have no time for people whose only defense is that they refuse to see and acknowledge what is going on, yet allow all that is going on with Trump to continue without speaking out. Don't want to waste my time.

[erronis]

19. I know a lot of non-political folks - in a very liberal and politically active town

I try to help people who need assistance - transportation, errands, pick up meds, etc. They frequently have multiple health issues including mental health. I've learned that discussing current political topics is of no interest to them - survival comes first and it is hard enough already.

[Cha]

20. Yes, it's our responsibility to pay attention

to what's happening in our country, and the World Around us.

It involves every aspect of our lives.. now more than ever. The air we breathe, the water we mostly don't drink now, The Produce that is grown.. do we want pesticides in our food or not?

Now, for many Americans, it is life and death threats from this mass homicidal, Fascist Regime. And, the US media****** are No Help AT All.

Mahalo, Swede, I unfortunately agree with your "World Wide Disaster" assessment.

💔 💙 ☮️🌻🕯️🕊️💜