The Other Disenfranchisement....

[neoblues]

I'm referring to those millions of Americans who have been disenfranchised from the value of their votes because they weren't educated with respect to their civic duties in general and the importance of politics in specific. I mean, so many people don't even suspect the hundreds of ways in which "politics" affects them. Ignorant of it's importance, and both finding politics to be unappealing and conversely having found many forms of "entertainment" with which to occupy themselves, they actually avoid participating in politics, even to the minimal degree of simply keeping informed (not so easy anymore), forming an opinion and casting a vote. In this way, they've effectively abdicated their right to have a say in, and failed to take any responsibility for, their future.

Who was behind the conspiracy that relegated education about government, civics and politics... If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that the Republicans benefit most from an uneducated, apathetic citizenry--and by extension, the hidden force representing the very wealthy (Aristocracy). The means was probably complex, but involves everything from the creation of lucrative forms of "entertainment" (everything from video games to pro-sports and television) to the actual content and attitudes presented in television programs and other forms of media. Therein the following attitude are supported and ingrained: that only clever or seedy people engage in politics and that the "government" is the expert, mere locals need not think, and that individuals are so insignificant they can't make a difference... How the schools have been made to fail probably involves the attitudes of the teachers, their own knowledge of the subject and that of the school boards...

Somehow, we have to stop this form of unspoken disenfranchisement; but how do we reach people who have been shaped since birth to avoid thinking--and do so without even partial representation in or control over the media?

Educate your neighbor for a stronger America?
Education for a stronger America!