Why are political activists shunned in this country?

[arcadian]

In a country the prides itself on it's Bill of Rights and it's freedoms, why are people(a very tiny fragment of the population, minuscule really) who actually exercise those rights, denigrated, shouted down and ridiculed? I think it's disgraceful.

[DJ13]

1. Only the political activists that dont buy Congress are shunned

Those that can afford Congress get what they want.

[MajorChode]

2. Because sometimes they are completely full of shit

The teabaggers would be an excellent example, but there are plenty of others. It's not as if everyone who picks up the activism banner has a noble cause.

The Bill of Rights allows people to peacefully protest all they want. It also allows others to call bullshit on them.

[sasquatch]

3. Bob Kincaid once said we love pounding those documents and screaming simultaneously at people.

But not so much actually reading those documents and adhering to whatever is written in same said documents.
:shrug:
Is there a social psychologist in the house?

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Didn't one of them just get elected President?

:shrug:

[readmoreoften]

5. No. But that's a good one!

:rofl:

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Isn't a community organizer a type of activist?

:shrug:

[msongs]

6. sarah palin is all over the place. she's not shunned nt

[troubledamerican]

7. Because non-violent peaceful civil candlelight protests get infiltrated by COINTELPRO

because the ruling-class & Far Right don't want any traditions of civic non-violence to catch on.

[scubadude]

8. They aren't paid proper attention because that would give them power.

The media by and large is controlled to make money, to drive opinion, to maintain political stability and create a certain world view. If it's not doing that, it is off message and counterproductive. I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat... (King Crimson reference)

During the run up to the Iraq war where was the media's attention? Was it on the millions of people protesting against the upcoming war, or was it paying attention to the drum beaters urging the war on?

Where is the media on Friday night, when all those news dumps happen? Why don't they change their schedules to foil this technique?

Why are there so many fluff news pieces? Why is the coverage so sensational or tabloid?

All these techniques and many more mold many folks brains into directions that are ruined by good coverage of political activism and we can't have that now can we?

An uninformed populace is an easily controlled populace. You can fool some of the people some of the time, those are the ones I'm working on.....


Scuba

[conscious evolution]

11. you got that right.

Troubledamerican is also correct.Activists that are effective need to be squelched.

Another factor is that those who do nothing tend to attack those that do because the activists remind them of what useless fucks they are.Its almost as if they have to hide their shame by denigrating those who give a fuck.

[TahitiNut]

10. Simple. We equate "democratic" with "popular" when it's anything but.

After all, if there were a 'cause' that were "popular" then no activism would be needed. Activism (including protests and civil disobedience) is inherently an UNPOPULAR stance and, in a culture that worships at the Nielsen Alter, such annoyances are avoided.

[arcadian]

12. This I think is the correct answer.

[Echo In Light]

13. Brainwashed populace indoctrinated into perceiving reality through an obedient, passive lens

The entire process of Rep democracy is a sham so long as the Reps are bought and paid for by vested interests. Ultimately it boils down to either action, or continued adherence to illusory democracy that's actually a fascist leaning oligarchy. People are cowardly and lazy, so the latter continues to prevail.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Because, they're usually troublemakers who threaten the comfortable status quo.

Unlike the vast majority of politicians.

[KG]

15. because people are taught that 'change' can be achieved thru the ballot box,

which anybody that has been paying attention could see is not the case.