The Biggest Fools in America: Those who help “Republicans” get elected

[lovemydog]

54. I think apathetic voters can get a little less apathetic

and learn the issues and how the democratic candidate differs from the republican candidate.

But I also agree with you wholeheartedly that democratic candidates must do a much better job of distinguishing themselves from republicans. Especially those who win.

I just can't fathom though, why someone would say it's all the fault of the candidate, as some excuse for not voting. Or that it's a 'lesser of two evils' as though that's some excuse not to vote. Voting is always a lesser of two evils. Or pretty much always. Unless you find some dream person on whom you agree on every single issue.

I think the problem is not all the fault of the candidates or all the fault of apathetic voters. I think it's a little of both. The sad thing is that this can cause a drift toward the right. Because the right keeps voting. Then they get in power and say 'See? We have a mandate from the public that cares enough to vote?'

Obviously there are other factors at play as well, like voter suppression and people working on voting days. But I sometimes feel like the apathy among younger voters, especially in congressional elections, is one of the saddest aspects of the dumbing down of civics in our country. There are big differences in policy issues among candidates and politicians. There are especially distinctions between republicans and progressives (for whom I always vote).

I do agree most definitely that the democratic party must put up people who are very distinct, in both policy and in tenor, from republicans. I talk with a lot of younger folks too, and I find many of them ill-informed on the differences between the republican party and the democratic party, in terms of policies. I'm really less interested in assigning all the blame to one side or another side. I'm very interested in addressing what needs to be done to improve the situation. Because right now I believe the democratic party has a real crisis on its hands. And so does our country.