Daily KOS: Upset liberals are overthinking the election

[bhikkhu]

6. All very likely

...but I think the real existential democratic crisis begins with asking: why did so many people not bother to vote?

When the nation is supposed to be so polarized, and so many think that the country is heading in the wrong direction, why do so few bother to show up at the polling booth? What we wind up with is 20% of the electorate, more or less, choosing our leaders and national policy, while the rest just let them. "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity" comes to mind.

I tend to look on the bright side. Obama and the democrats in congress have been able to do a decent job of revitalizing the economy, in spite of great opposition. Things are pretty good overall, compared to 6 years ago. Holding a majority in congress, the republicans won't so easily resign themselves to "spitballs from the minority side" and simple obstruction. There is some responsibility to actually govern, especially with a much more important election in two years time. I don't expect them to drop the bluster, but I would look more at what they do than what they say.