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That's what my previous history teacher called them "lazy" for not participating in voting nor following politics. I think the word "lazy" is bad, strong, wrong, and uncomfortable to call Americans for.
As my current history teacher said, "They're apathetic." I guess he's right. They're apatheic, or they just don't care about things.
Posts: 50 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Apathetic seems to be more appropiate. But it's unfair to use an umbrella term as if it describes ALL Americans.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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My voice teacher calls me lazy just about every lesson... it makes me angry. And I'm not even an American!
Posts: 7877 | Registered: Feb 2003
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<sigh> Apathy, at least on the part of the under 35 crowd, in matters of poilitics, is a world wide phenomenon, not just an american one.
As someone who was bought up in a working class household in New Zealand where politics were discussed, often heatedly, it took me a long time to realise that this was not the norm. My political activism and socialist principals are looked on as one of my (admittedly many) "quirks" by my more affluent and middle class friends.
It truly annoys me how apathetic those under the age of 35 are about all matters political. I realise that we all grew up in an era that humanised politicians...did this somehow make politics itself less important? It makes me fume when I hear people say "theres nothing I can do about it, so I dont bother voting".
It's encouraging that we no longer blindly trust politicians, but should we let distrust lead us into apathy about politics themselves?
Posts: 90 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Coming from a school where barely 12% turns out to vote in student elections (and we can vote online too, so there's really no excuse) I can say that Americans do not have a monopoly on lazy or apathetic.
As for provincial or federal elections, I try to a) vote and b) know who/what I am voting for so I can make the best decision possible. and if my candidate doesn't win, at least I've voiced my opinion.
Posts: 2849 | Registered: Feb 2002
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