Politics has never been a "hobby" or a mere diversion to me.

[Atticus]

I know that it is easy to get too involved and to let it become an obsession that rules your life, but I hope most of us take our politics seriously enough to genuinely CARE about how things turn out.

People may bet on elections, but that hardly puts elections in the same category as horse races or bowl games. Elections matter. Elections effect you, me, our children and our grandchildren. Who wins can directly impact our quality of life or, indeed, our survival as a species.

And, that's why I get so royally pissed off at talking heads who are clearly, by their words, their actions and their demeanor, reporting on elections as entertainment. I recently heard a comment, for example, that if all the Tea Party candidates prevail this fall, the next year in politics will be "exciting" and "fun to watch"!

You are a sick sumbitch if you think having Sharon Angle, Rand Paul and Christine O'Donnell writing laws for our nation would be "fun to watch". Political commentators who use such language should have "corporate whore" tattooed on their foreheads in bold blue block letters.

I feel slightly better now.

[Cha]

1. Too many don't care what happens to this

country as long as their personal agenda is met.

[Blue_Tires]

6. +1000

[Skittles]

2. I take politics very seriously

which is why it pisses me off royally seeing so many people I PRESUME to be intelligent acting like fucking IDIOTS - the pretzel twisting trying to turn SHIT into good news is NAUSEATING

[babylonsister]

3. That's the result of 24/7 news.

We are more informed, but what information is being fed to us? We need to be able to discern the distinction.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

4. YES, THIS THE REAL QUESTION NOW

[lovemydog]

5. It does affect people

I think of someone who was once denied health care coverage because of a preexisting condition but who can now get it.
Or someone who is coming home instead of being sent out for another tour of duty.
Or someone who can now marry and still fights for economic fairness.
I want us to expand rights, not restrict them.
I want a more democratic country that focuses on peace and jobs and prosperity, not more expensive weaponry.
Most television cable news media is gossip.
I enjoy watching c-span to see more of a real feed.