Reply #44: People can be demoralized and feel the system is rigged, doesn't work and

[jp11]

that their vote won't matter. Having one politician on a large scale 'prove' them right in that thought, their own metrics, can be enough. These people COULD be turned off of voting by something as simple as their mayor doing something they disagree with or find objectionable, etc.

When/if you expect things to change or your voice, will of the people, majority to do something and they seem incapable, unwilling, complacent, weak etc it could turn you off to bothering with it. You can make yourself believe that there is nothing that can be done, someone else will fix it, or believe it won't affect you.

That's the best I can come up with, people live their lives absent knowledge of what is going on they'd rather just bemoan the slights then deal with them, griping or thinking 'what are you going to do'. They are 'defeated' and won't rise up until they have nothing left to cling to/lose or finally have their eyes opened to how unfair things are getting with large moves, case in point would be Wisconsin.

Our system is screwed up and change will take time but people, I think, expect more from elections. When we vote we expect our side/people to do the job if/when they don't/can't that is major blow to people because they just 'gave' their side/politician what they think they needed, they got them elected or put in the majority now they should 'fix it'. To have to continue calling politicians, writing letters, signing petitions, protesting, etc is somewhat like doing the politician's job for them and beyond what most eligible voters are willing to do or think they should do.