Agree with most of what you write, but would quibble with your statement about who politics is often for. Can’t tell you how many times doing tabling work for various ballot initiatives I was greeted with the ‘I’m not into politics’ line, often by the young, but also others across the age spectrum. My standard response was to throw a thought bomb back at them, saying, ‘Due respect, but everything is political, from the food you eat to the phone in your pocket to the sheets on your bed. We’re all political animals, the awareness of it is what differs among us.’ Was the catalyst for many interesting conversations.
Definitely need more ‘ordinary’ people in politics, but the system has pretty much closed off that avenue of engagement. The streets are pretty much our only avenue to change the bought and paid for paradigm.
Agree with most of what you write, but would quibble with your statement about who politics is often for. Can’t tell you how many times doing tabling work for various ballot initiatives I was greeted with the ‘I’m not into politics’ line, often by the young, but also others across the age spectrum. My standard response was to throw a thought bomb back at them, saying, ‘Due respect, but everything is political, from the food you eat to the phone in your pocket to the sheets on your bed. We’re all political animals, the awareness of it is what differs among us.’ Was the catalyst for many interesting conversations.
Definitely need more ‘ordinary’ people in politics, but the system has pretty much closed off that avenue of engagement. The streets are pretty much our only avenue to change the bought and paid for paradigm.