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Poll: Do Politics Matter to You?

6 points by lukeqsee ↗ HN
The US is in the beginnings of what looks to be a crazy election year. The EU is in the middle of a crisis. Myriads of other countries are in political turmoil.

So my question is simple: do the politics (whether that is your vote or something less/more) in your country matter to you? Or do you rather sit back and make awesome stuff without worrying about the government?

3 comments

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nextparadigms
I think the "rise" of the Internet is leading to the rise of the "read/write" culture, where people want to engage and become activists, rather than just watch TV. The Internet also helps people become more informed about their elected politicians, so I definitely think this is a great trend, although I'm not sure if it reached critical mass yet to make real change. But it's coming. The Governments also see this, and they are trying to stop it or restrict it.
mindcrime
Yes, but I wish it were otherwise. I don't want to give a flying f%!# about politics, politicians or that "power mad town" in DC... but unfortunately the dingbat wannabe police-state wielding dictatorial thugs that blight our society under the guise of "leadership" won't stop trying to "lead" long enough for me to relax.

So as much as I hate politics and politicians and the corruption and cronyism it entails, I find myself participating in the political process out of a sense of self-defense. So much so that I actually ran for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina back in 2008 (I wasn't elected).

I'd love to sit back and ignore it all, but I can't quit caring about stupid things like "principles" and "ideals" and the idea that people are (or should be) inherently free. So I keep muddling on, throwing my support behind Libertarian candidates and the occasional "other" (like Ron Paul) who seem interested in the ideals and principles I care about.

<sigh> I really just want to write code, read books, listen to music, have sex with beautiful women, and work on Fogbeam Labs. </sigh>

duncan_bayne
Not sure how to vote on this one ... the actions of politicians certainly matter to me, but I am absolutely powerless to effect any meaningful change in the political sphere, so I don't concern myself with politics.

Perhaps "yes, but I don't vote"???