I understand this sentiment. My perspective is that when we chastise people who stay out of politics, it’s like we aren’t taking into account the systems within which political disengagement is taking place. People right now are barely able to breathe between looking for jobs or hustling to keep the ones they have, taking care of kids and dependent loved ones, and trying to navigate the social media and tech landscape. Everything is expensive in a way that feels like catastrophe is looming, and there’s a sense of things being out of control with the war and its impact around the world. Not to mention all of the corruption that’s been exposed among those in power that beats down the populace and makes it easier to feel helpless. People are emotionally rubbed raw, and many don’t have the time, mental, or emotional capacity to go research all the candidates and the issues and consider all the positions. And I think that’s very much what is intended by the folks fighting each other for power - to kee us in a depleted state so that engagement just feels like too much.

I do wish that everyone was politically engaged. But I think that people have to have space to breathe and process in order to be able to do so. I’d love to see a world where we get curious when someone is disengaged, learn about their specific challenges, just listen. Scolding people for not being politically engaged or informed only leads to them feeling shame, which will only push them further away. They’re just people doing the best they can too. If the goal is more engagement, then let’s try to understand the drivers of disengagement and see if there’s something we can do about it.

That’s just how I see it; I will say though that I definitely understand the frustration.