Why is the general population so apathetic?

Question

Why is the general population so apathetic?

Answer 1

I would have to agree with the genius up there......

I am a college student, and I find it incredibly hard to be politically active.  Between school and work and being involved with projects, there is little room to read the paper and know what is going on on capital hill.  

Speaking from experience, I can say that government was never really an important aspect of my life.  Parents keep their kids out of politics because it's a stressful topic to cover, and how many kids grow up understanding that politics really work?  Does the kid who runs for class president really get to change anything?  From almost birth, the only person we really see that changes anything is the president.  He is the person blamed for everything from the day he takes office on (whether or not it really is his fault).  

What needs to happen is the public school system needs to integrate a political system that is NOT a popularity race, and the elected candidates make REAL changes...for good AND bad, so that kids understand the power of their vote, and then when happy ol' 18 comes around, they are able to feel their voice means something.  

Unfortunately, I don't know when that will happen.

Answer 2

It's because of things like TV, pharmaceutical drugs, artificial sweeteners, lack of exercise, and junk food (fast food), etc. How could they not be so apathetic as a whole? It's no wonder people are lazy, obese, and disease ridden, and have collective bad and selfish attitudes. It all speaks for itself and makes perfect sense.

Answer 3

Capitalism forces people to be selfish. When you are in a race to survive, it becomes difficult to think about the greater good. I would imagine that most politically active segment of the population is also the segment with the most free time. I am blessed to be able to do what I want with virtually all of my time. If I still had to work 40 hours a week, I don't think I would be that politically active.

Answer 4

They are spoiled little children who have replaced their parents with their government. They think the government is just going to take care of them and keep them safe and give them a check when they retire. What do you expect from a country that starts every year taking a day off because they are hungover?

We'll see how apathetic they are when we are under Martial Law (coming very soon). But THEN it will be too late to fix the problem they are now ignoring.

"If America wishes to remain IGNORANT and FREE they want what NEVER WAS and what shall NEVER BE"

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 5

Americans are about convenience

Answer 6

What makes you think so? Maybe people just don't talk much about how they feel.

Answer 7

Who cares?

Answer 8

Its identification and motivation. Many people cannot identify any candidate that they identify with or one that can motivate them. For the majority is the same old, a day old, and smelly old.

Answer 9

Eric B....

First of all, this is one of the best questions that I've seen recently....Secondly, you have some great answers to your question....I gave them "Thumbs Up" because they deserved them....You should feel grateful by those who answered your questions....I had a hard time figuring out what to add, so I'm just going to give the definition of 'apathy' and 2 famous quotes that has everything to do about your question, plus links below:

Apathy......a psychological term for a state of indifference — where an individual is unresponsive or "indifferent" to aspects of emotional, social, or physical life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apathy

“Science may have found a cure for most evils, but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all--the apathy of human beings.”--quote by Helen Keller (American Author and Educator who was blind and deaf)

"The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal and hasten the resurrection of the dead."--Quote by William Lloyd Garrison

http://www.signs-of-the-times.org/articl...

http://www.editorsweblog.org/news//2007/...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/amer...

I hope this Helps...Good luck to you.....

Answer 10

Not so much apathetic, but ignorant. Like General Motors, they are on top of the world long time and the inertia of their system makes them believe, it stays that way. By the way, the Euro is taking over and China is making money. I give the USA 10 more years on top, I already bought property in Berlin.

Answer 11

Eric

I  don't know what apathetic means and I don't care....just kidding.  The general population is not so much apathetic as they are ignorant, under informed, and under read.  In a given crowd of people you be hard pressed to find one adult that could pass a 4th grade test.  More people voted in the finals of the last American Idol finals than voted in the last presidential election.    

Eric B.

Answer 12

Probably because most lead fairly pleasant lives and don't feel that they need to get involved in the process because the process works for them. Some are uninterested, of course, and some are interested but have given up hope of effecting change, but I honestly think most people are apathetic because they're relatively content. The more contentious an election or issue, the higher the turn out rate.

Answer 13

If people cared to find out the what was going on with the issues they would find they have little power. It takes power to make things happen in the community and the nation. We all fear failure. We all feel powerless. We all want to know our efforts are going to be worth it. People are fearful of resisting authority, and changing their world. It takes all the energy you have to make a difference. I care but sometimes I am just to tired to fight it. It is apathy just the same.

Answer 14

As long as they can buy their ipods, drive their cars, etc.  You will never motivate the majority of the public to make stands on issues.