How Politically Active Are You?

[TheTutonicDrone]

I vote because it's mandatory in Belgium.

The way our political system works, status quo is king, so very little changes no matter which side you're on, with the exception of which faction is complained about/mocked the most when they're all being incompetent again.

My mom grew up in Belgium. She loves telling the story of when her younger brother was in college there. His American roommate paid much more attention to politics than he did and used to come in frantically and yell out. "The Belgian government is shutting down! What are we going to do?"
Then my uncle had to calm this frazzled American down and explain to him that is what happens in Belgium and it was nothing to worry about just a minor inconvenience.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Not at all, politic is not my strong point.

I have to read summaries of the UK political parties or take a short quizes which parties suited me best.

I even had to read the whole EU referendum summary just to make sure I was making the right called but it seen my guy instinct was right afterall despite the overall result!

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

My mom grew up in Belgium. She loves telling the story of when her younger brother was in college there. His American roommate paid much more attention to politics than he did and used to come in frantically and yell out. "The Belgian government is shutting down! What are we going to do?"
Then my uncle had to calm this frazzled American down and explain to him that is what happens in Belgium and it was nothing to worry about just a minor inconvenience.

Pretty much, yes. There was a time when government formation took so long, we didn't have a democratically elected government for some 580 days[footnote]Probably the world record for a developed democracy. Yay us?[/footnote]. But we're so used to that kind of thing that the country has grown to pretty much run itself regardless.

 

[jklinders]

I vote at the relevant elections. I have contacted my city counselor and member of Parliament about a couple of issues. That's about it really. Actually I got into a fairly candid back and forth with the latter about seniors benefits on behalf of my mother who is struggling rather badly financially.

I don't attend rallies or town meetings. my free time does not really allow it and I don't own property so the public consultations on developments does not seem to be something I feel I should have a direct say in. problem with trying to always get your own way in a community is that someone always loses and you don't always deserve to win. *shrug* If I ever buy a house and truly join a community in that way i would likely get more active.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

I watch, then I laugh at people who're all one party or the other because its tragically comic how both sides are the reason nothing works in the US and how neither side is corrupt free, only better at misdirecting their voter base.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

British and voted up till now, but after the EU referendum (Which we shouldn't of had because the population is a bunch of idiots (me included) I won't be doing ever again as it's just all a shit show with no promise or future in it.

There were many who felt the "great debate" that was supposed to precede the referendum that put the UK in the EU was a massive sham, that the campaigning was un-serious and that the populace then wasn't ready to make a decision of that enormity.

I guess things don't change.

In retrospect, it is kinda funny to think that Thatcher was campaigning so hard to get the UK in when she would later become one of the most notorious critics. Career politicians don't know how things will turn out, and that's kinda humbling.

OT: I'm active in that I vote and that I will talk to the few people I know that I trust not to make me immediately regret it. I'm a bit of a delicate flower, if I wade in too far I find misery quickly follows.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I've voted, and also supervised vote counting on behalf of a couple of political parties. Always as a favor and in utter disinterest.

 

[Cowabungaa]

and the knowledge that third parties have no chance of actually winning right now.

The sad thing it's that it's exactly this 'knowledge' that keeps third parties out. That reigning mentality of "They have no chance of winning, so I won't vote for them." That's how you get a self-fulfilling prophesy, it's self-defeating.

Hell, they don't even need to win at first. Enough people voting for a third party candidate would suddenly make it show up in the statistics. And that would draw the attention of the media, as a third party candidate suddenly drawing a sizable amount is quite a newsworthy fact. And that would make that fact even more well-known among the populace, making a third party candidate suddenly a more serious possibility. Doesn't mean they'll win the first time around, but the next election it might be an entirely different story.

The problem with that "all or nothing" presidential system is that it fosters an "all or nothing" mindset that's not exactly healthy for the democratic process. I don't envy your living in the US.

Pretty much, yes. There was a time when government formation took so long, we didn't have a democratically elected government for some 580 days[footnote]Probably the world record for a developed democracy. Yay us?[/footnote]. But we're so used to that kind of thing that the country has grown to pretty much run itself regardless.

Yup, we carry the record here. It'll never not be funny to me, but yet deeply troubling. Belgium has enough government to equip three countries. It's like a damn layer cake.

 

[Ryallen]

I'm not politically active at all. I don't hastag, I don't vote, I don't do anything involving any sort of political or social consequence. Partially because I know that, at the end of the day, my contribution is utterly inconsequential at best and partially because I know that whatever side I take on an issue, everyone else on the other side will be able to prove me wrong. It makes almost no sense, but whenever I discuss something with someone else, I never bring up anything that they haven't heard before and I always end up walking away feeling like an ignorant jackass who's on the wrong side. And this happens for everything. I'm not kidding when I say that I was beaten in a debate with a Trump supporter. And that's why I don't care anymore. Because I know that I will always be wrong when I take a side.

That's not to say that I don't. I still form opinions. But I no longer tell them to anyone, even if they are on Facebook posting stupid bullshit strawman arguments that just make me want to punch something.

 

[Ishigami]

Not much.
I vote and that's about it and I consider voting a responsibility.

I'm not in a party, I do not go to protest and I do not write delegates.
My understanding of current politics comes not from higher education or research but news articles at least written by respectable magazines such as Der Spiegel, Focus or Stern.

 

[The_Sacred_Flame]

Far less than I should. I've gotten into politics more and more recently, but I've always felt that I'm someone who parrots what newscasters and forum posters say and blurt it out as my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I try to think about it and I attempt to listen to both sides of the issue; however, I always remain to those who agree with my values (democratic).

 

[stroopwafel]

I vote, read the news every day, read books about contemporary history(among things) and magazines like Foreign Affairs and The Atlantic. I'm what you'd call a 'concerned citizen' with no other venue than a Failbook, forum or Shitter rant no one cares about.

Ofcourse it could be worse. I could also be a Latte sipping armchair activist who reads The Guardian.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

My involvement in politics is usually limited to two things:

1. Voting.

2. Arguing on the internet.

Both are effectively screaming into the void, so...doing my part, m8s!