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"You need to change that attitude or your complacency will allow politicians to take it from you." I really don't like the glibness of that sentiment, even if

"You need to change that attitude or your complacency will allow politicians to take it from you." I really don't like the glibness of that sentiment, even if the idea is fine. As a voter or constituent, yeah, fight for Social Security, try to maintain it. But as an investor? Recognize that your personal view has approximately no impact on whether Social Security exists unless you run for high office or devote your life to the topic. Make your best guess and save accordingly. People shouldn't make their individual choices around the political views they support, because most individuals have virtually no influence on national outcomes.

baddox 10y ago
In fact, I will argue that the commenter's attitude is MORE harmful. He or she is placing the responsibility on the individual, when this clearly is something where the individual has no authority. The notion that if you just vote REALLY HARD the people in power will treat you well, and that if you're not treated well you must not have voted hard enough, only helps maintain the status quo.
- hsitz 10y ago
  Haven't you ever heard that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease"? There's a reason the Christian right has a political voice far out of proportion to their actual numbers: they're active and loud. No, of course the answer isn't to "vote really hard", but that phrasing is simply rhetoric built to disparage the poster you're responding to. Everyone has only one vote. But the people who make noise, the people who are politically active, gain power far beyond their single vote. And get enough of them together -- it doesn't necessarily take that many -- and you can orchestrate some real change.
  - anigbrowl 10y ago
    I don't know why you're being down-voted - everything you said is correct as a matter of fact. Pretty much any how-to guide to political activism focuses on practical techniques for getting your message heard, and getting it seen to be heard eg ensuring that media show up to cover you confronting a politician or other powerful figure. These things don't happen spontaneously, in general.
  - smokeyj 10y ago
    > they're active and loud. So now our livelihood has resorted to a shouting match? Thanks but no thanks. Voting is like praying, where if you pray with all your passion then god might listen. But there's also the saying pray for what you want, work for what you need.
    - anigbrowl 10y ago
      Yes, but this is what's actually happened. The active and loud people kept pushing to the point that they now enjoy huge political power and get to do what they want for the next while, regardless of how it impacts you. Your not wanting to participate in this understandable but if you don't then you have no guarantee of retaining what you have worked for anyway.
      - smokeyj 10y ago
        There is no guarantee either way. The safest guarantee are the resources under your control - given the government doesn't confiscate your savings account, which I wouldn't rule out. People wonder why bitcoin is rising. It's because their competition is total crap. Government issued security is no security at all.
  - hx87 10y ago
    So, shout but prepare not to be heard? That meshes pretty well with OP's comment.
  - smsm42 10y ago
    70% of Americans identify as Christians (source: Wikipedia), and 50 to 70% of Christians are leaning Republican (source: Pew Research) (depends on denomination, Mormons and Evangelicals higher, Catholics lower). So we have 1/3 to half of the population. Do you think it's not large enough group to have strong political voice? I think it is. I'm not sure what "far out of proportion" claim is based on.
    - smsm42 10y ago
      Correction: turns out 70% was for white evangelicals (missed a note), so the number is surely lower than half and probably around 1/4. The point still stands - 1/4 of the population is a huge block.

baddox 10y ago

In fact, I will argue that the commenter's attitude is MORE harmful. He or she is placing the responsibility on the individual, when this clearly is something where the individual has no authority. The notion that if you just vote REALLY HARD the people in power will treat you well, and that if you're not treated well you must not have voted hard enough, only helps maintain the status quo.

hsitz 10y ago
Haven't you ever heard that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease"? There's a reason the Christian right has a political voice far out of proportion to their actual numbers: they're active and loud. No, of course the answer isn't to "vote really hard", but that phrasing is simply rhetoric built to disparage the poster you're responding to. Everyone has only one vote. But the people who make noise, the people who are politically active, gain power far beyond their single vote. And get enough of them together -- it doesn't necessarily take that many -- and you can orchestrate some real change.
- anigbrowl 10y ago
  I don't know why you're being down-voted - everything you said is correct as a matter of fact. Pretty much any how-to guide to political activism focuses on practical techniques for getting your message heard, and getting it seen to be heard eg ensuring that media show up to cover you confronting a politician or other powerful figure. These things don't happen spontaneously, in general.
- smokeyj 10y ago
  > they're active and loud. So now our livelihood has resorted to a shouting match? Thanks but no thanks. Voting is like praying, where if you pray with all your passion then god might listen. But there's also the saying pray for what you want, work for what you need.
  - anigbrowl 10y ago
    Yes, but this is what's actually happened. The active and loud people kept pushing to the point that they now enjoy huge political power and get to do what they want for the next while, regardless of how it impacts you. Your not wanting to participate in this understandable but if you don't then you have no guarantee of retaining what you have worked for anyway.
    - smokeyj 10y ago
      There is no guarantee either way. The safest guarantee are the resources under your control - given the government doesn't confiscate your savings account, which I wouldn't rule out. People wonder why bitcoin is rising. It's because their competition is total crap. Government issued security is no security at all.
- hx87 10y ago
  So, shout but prepare not to be heard? That meshes pretty well with OP's comment.
- smsm42 10y ago
  70% of Americans identify as Christians (source: Wikipedia), and 50 to 70% of Christians are leaning Republican (source: Pew Research) (depends on denomination, Mormons and Evangelicals higher, Catholics lower). So we have 1/3 to half of the population. Do you think it's not large enough group to have strong political voice? I think it is. I'm not sure what "far out of proportion" claim is based on.
  - smsm42 10y ago
    Correction: turns out 70% was for white evangelicals (missed a note), so the number is surely lower than half and probably around 1/4. The point still stands - 1/4 of the population is a huge block.