The problem with our country is that not enough people take citizenship seriously.

[milestogo]

What percentage of eligible citizens actually vote on a regular basis?

Of those that do vote, how many of them actually take time to find out more about the candidates than they can learn from a few sound bytes and commercials?

How many US citizens could tell you who their member of Congress is? Or who their Senators are? Or who their State representatives are? How many have never written a letter or an email to someone who represents them?

How many US citizens could name the 3 branches of government or tell you what the relationship between them is? Or who the Attorney General is? How many couldn't name a single cabinet member or Supreme Court justice?

It feels like we are forced to keep dumbing down the process of selecting a president till we find someone with "charisma" and good looks. Policy, brains, and experience do not matter to most voting citizens.

This is not going to change until people take citizenship and its privileges seriously.

[napi21]

1. I agree with you ythat most Americans don't pay attention to "politics".

They get all kind of t'd off when something happens that affects them personally, but never recognize that many times the change happened because they never voted for the people who supported people like them.

I try to educate uninformed people, but they still believe whether they vote or not, it wouldn't matter.

My own husband believes that, however we always vote on election day. (I drag him out the door!)

My neighbors are always ready with an opinion, but NEVER VOTE! When I ask why, they say it doesn't matter. Referring to them, I just ignore them. They would vote for the Pubs, so I'm happy letting them stay home.

[walkingman]

2. All very good points. Anyone that can't answer those questions maybe shouldn't vote until they

actually understand what they are voting for. Maybe emphasize civics in HS, make election day a Holiday, automatic voter registration, maybe an app that pre-loads the candidates for your area along with info, etc. (it seems everyone loves to stare at their phones constantly???) How about a tax break for voting?

I totally agree that voter participation or lack of is a threat to our Democracy. Our present situation is a perfect example!!