Thanks, I hate it.

Not because it's depressing but because this perspective is so abso-fucking-lutely oblivious of what exactly it means to be politically aware in America in 2024.

For context, I've had a life long borderline obsessive interest in politics. I watch CSPAN for fun. I have been a political activist for over 20 years. I have had meetings with state, county, and local elected representatives on a variety of issues. I've worked as a political analyst. I do FOIA requests and consults for fun. I've gone to in person political discussion groups for years (I'm fun at parties, I swear.)

I have spent more time than is healthy reading, learning, and talking about politics and I still get absolutely blindsided by more things than I care to admit. Maybe I'm just stupid but the sheer complexity of our political system is absolutely mind boggling and if you're not willing to commit significant amounts of time to not just learning it but remembering it and working with that data then you're going to have to rely on someone else to digest it for you.

It's easy to complain when someone doesn't know something that, to you, should be basic but don't forget people have lives to live that don't revolve around politics.

"yOu sHoUlD CaRe aBoUt pOlItIcS BeCaUsE PoLiTiCs cArEs aBoUt yOu!"

Being politically informed is not free in the sense of time. Add that to the time people need to be at work, being with their families, relaxing - just living their damn lives in a society that is increasingly hostile to any amount of time a person has that isn't monetized in some way.

I get so irritated with this logic because it's so. fucking. lazy.

It's easy to call people stupid because they don't vote the way you want them to and then just ignore them when they tell you why they voted the way they did. Instead of saying "Hey, there seems to be a difference in fundamental values but we have the same broad goals, let's see if we can work together on a way to make those goals happen in a way that honors both of our perspectives" it's "lol you're stupid if you don't vote the way I do."