A Treatise on Political Apathy

I wrote this some time in the past year on a Redskins message board that I used to go on a lot. The guy I'm replying to is 20, so I figured I could speak to him.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toe Jam
"It just feels more hositle than usual. Like I said, I'm young so I may be a bit naiive when it comes to this.
I just don't like it. Disagreeing is one thing but it seems people are actually insulting and putting down other people because they have differing opinions."

I think you're just realizing that your idealistic views of the world and politics will never come to pass.

We grow up reading(okay, "learning") about the founding fathers. Those guys who created the office of the presidency. They're portrayed in a light of 'untouchable'. Men of extraordinary character who rose up against oppression and created the wonderful country we live in now. I think we try to hold our presidential candidates up to those standards that we've been force fed. Well, they're human, they're entirely touchable. And the media will make sure you don't forget it.

Then, when you get old enough to care about what's going on in the world, especially your own country, you realize that it's shitty. The world is shitty.

It was shitty back in infancy of America, it's shitty right now, and in all likelihood, the shittiness probably won't stop any time soon. There will always be bad people, it's just that now - with the advent of the internet and "Infotainment," we constantly hear about it.

When your primary source of information ceases to be the textbooks, and instead becomes blogs, Yahoo!, 24 hour news networks scrutinizing EVERY possible move that a Candidate/Senator/President makes, and internet message boardswhere people on both sides of the isle enjoy frequent bickering, it's natural to feel jaded.

This happened to me a while ago. I liked McCain. He was a "Maverick." Hell, he was on The Daily Show a few years ago(He must be cool). AND he was a Republican. Then I learned he had softened on positions that his party hated about him, and wondered where his conviction had gone.

Maybe it was with Hilary. Hahahah, who am I kidding? Yeah right.

And then I saw Obama, a shining beacon of political unorthodoxy. He was BLACK. But most importantly, he was a man. I was excited. I wasn't sure why, but I was invigorated.

However, my optimism was somewhat cautious. I was certain he swore into the senate on a Qu'ran and wanted Spanish to become our national language. I later found out that I was wrong and he was indeed a christian. A whitey-hating christian who regularly enjoyed "Terrorist Fist Jabs" with his significant other, but a Christian nonetheless.

That was a close one! After my fears had been quelled, my optimism resurfaced. However, certain people wanted to destroy it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by The right
"He's a one term senator for Christ's sake! We might as well put a chimp in the White House. Shit! That was racist wasn't it?"

They claimed he lacked experience. Rightly so! He's a one term senator, as opposed to a 1 1/2 term governor, a TWO term senator, a millionaire who married a ketchup tycoon, or an aging war hero.

Then there were people who could find happiness in a shit sandwich.

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Left
"His lack of experience is a positive! He hasn't had time to let the corruption of Washington seep into his soul!"

When I heard this, I said:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Me
"What? Corruption in the womb of Democracy? What kind of blasphemy do these liberals tout?"

After a quick Google search of "Corruption, Politics," I come to the realization that corruption didn't die off with the Great Depression. It's been around since the creation of Government. I hear about Lobbyists, sort of recalling the word from Government class. I realize that they have quite a bit of influence in running our government. But wait, did we elect these guys?

No?
...Really?

Shit.

Then I started hearing about how our Civil Liberties are being slowly eroded. I worry about it, kind of. But only kind of. Because really, what does it matter to me? If I'm not doing anything wrong, what do I have to fear?

...Right?

Then I see someone's signature on that internet message board I frequent, which quotes one of the founding fathers, James Madison.

All the way from the 18th century, he says

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Madison
"If tyranny and oppression come to this land it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

...Madison couldn't possibly have predicted that this would happen. It has to be a coincidence. But if he did say that and he's right, what can I do? I'm just one person. There are 300 MILLION of us. Surely I cannot do anything to better this country without selling my soul.

But if I do that, the 24 hour news networks might catch wind, and there goes my bid for the presidency.

I thought all was lost. But then all that social contract bullshit I learned in High School History and Government classes started flooding back to me. Isn't the government in place to protect its constituents? Doesn't it exist to serve us?

It's supposed to work like that. But laws are supposed to stop crime, but our prisons are full to the brim.

But don't worry too much, we're young. This stuff doesn't matter. You know what matters? Happiness. Happiness matters. Don't let it get you down.

This happens to all of us though. Next thing you know, you'll be riding the apathy train to nowhere. See you soon!