a photo of people voting | Image by freepik
Unlike what Voting Authors Bernard Berelson, Paul Lazarsfeld, and William McPhee claim in their book, political apathy will never benefit people.
Believed to be a neutralizer, people’s indifference to politics is said to be advantageous as it lessens the chaos. People practicing so stand in between, seemingly acting as a balancing space for polarizing opinions and sides. However, is it better to avoid such a disorder altogether or ensure it gets resolved and people aren’t left to deal with the damages?
With the elections rolling in, there’s no better time to join political discussions than now.
Be where chaos is and meddle in arguments to raise awareness of where votes should be. People shouldn’t hesitate to raise their voices, especially if it’s done for the betterment of the population.
There is less than a month before Election Day. Early voting has already started, but it’s never too late to make a statement and change people’s minds. With the gravity of the US elections over global circumstances, every vote matters and has the power to change the world.
The Rationale Behind Political Apathy
The question of “Who to vote?” always arises during elections. This isn’t even rhetoric but rather a genuine source of concern. Every four years, people are seemingly always in the dark about which candidate is best for the position.
If the election is a cycle, so is people’s confusion.
Why does this happen—such a question begs to be answered, considering the weight of the decision.
For years now, people have been very discontent with the candidates. Elections have gradually become a hopeless tug of war between two “evils,” and they’re forced to root for the lesser one. The choices are perceived to be equally lousy, and the outcome is dreadful. Hence, it’s no surprise that people have become willingly careless and indifferent about their votes. They’ve long felt hopeless about the power structure, and the elections have become an event they care less and less about.
A photo of people taking part in a protest | Image by freepik
Political apathy might as well become the new rational when it shouldn’t be. While indifference appeals individually, it erodes democracy on a mass scale. Carelessly coloring one’s election ballot may be an individual decision, but its repercussions ricochet to the masses.
Hence, if people are confused about who to vote for on November 5, randomly choosing or sticking to the name being loudly promoted isn’t an option. It’s never too late to join political discussions. There’s no shame in learning the grounds candidates stand on and make an informed decision.
The Importance of Political Participation
LeRoy Cossette’s American Insanity calls out the United States, describing it as a state of political insanity. The image he paints is straightforward, encompassing the situation discussed earlier: people have become irresponsible with politics.
The signs are glaring in everybody’s eyes.
Chaos has long ensued, and people are suffering because of the decisions, or lack thereof, by the majority. People have disregarded the power behind their votes. In fact, most have disregarded politics altogether, by no fault of their own. The belief that no election will effectively change the power systems and “Make America great again” has been embedded in people’s minds, and they’ve sided with political misinformation or the complete absence thereof.
His book can easily be considered the best book on political apathy, given that it digs deeper into the reasons why people are as indifferent as they are now. The author doesn’t shallowly acknowledge that citizens have become careless in handling their votes and see them with little to no value. Instead, he discusses the motivations that pushed them to be apathetic.
LeRoy Cossette goes beyond discussion and urges people to join political discussions, expand their understanding, and correct their behaviors toward politics. While it has unfortunately become valid for people to tune out of such discussions, this doesn’t mean it’s not the worst situation to consider.
You Vote Matters! Join Political Discussions Now
A photo of people watching an electoral debate | Image by freepik
Politics can be a complex concept for most. It’s intimidating for those commonly unaware of the systems that man the world. Not to mention, it is a somewhat controversial sphere to talk about. However, given the ramifications of the concept, perhaps, people should face this intimidation and choose education.
Political participation is the solution to misinformation and the lack of education.
With the numerous problems the world is experiencing, what else should urge people to join political discussions and contribute to changing the world? Presidents or not, the election shapes how the world can be one government position at a time.
The choice to save the world heavily relies on people. Crises are piling up, and the world is on the verge of breaking. People can’t afford to make uninformed decisions or not decide at all.
Apathy may be understandable, but this shouldn’t be the rule.
If you’re interested in reading more about politics, how the norm has changed, and what you can do to improve it, grab a copy of LeRoy Cossette’s American Insanity.
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