It is my guess that the vast majority of those 30% of eligible voters who do not register, are actually more informed and realistic than most of those in the 70% that do register and vote. Why? Because they have figured out that, esp. in federal elections, that voting really doesn't matter or change much of anything, as both major parties are corrupt and their pre-selected candidates are already bought and paid for, so why bother voting?

@TomMcGiverin I know some people feel the same way you do. I think voting does matter, because as locked up as the system is, there are still significant differences between any two candidates and there are policy differences between the parties - policy differences that each pursues vigorously. For one example of many, which party favors a voting rights bill and which opposes it? If there were no real differences, why would the two parties be in such bitter conflict with each other?

Election outcomes may fall far short of our ideals, but given the realities, it's a matter of incremental progress and persistence. Sometimes two steps back, but looking at human rights progress for example, there have been significant steps forward in 50 or 100 years. Hell, nationally, women couldn't vote 100 years ago.

@nicestuff They pretend to be in bitter conflict with each other, but only over the phony culture war issues, like God, guns, gays, abortion, school prayer, etc. All of that is a distraction, aided by the corporate media, to hide how they both collude on the shared agenda of supporting tax cuts for the rich and corporations, opposing single payer health care, continuing endless wars for empire and oil in the Middle East, supporting Israel no matter what they do, and continuing the suppression of civil liberties, militarizing the police, continuing the military industrial complex, destroying the environment, allowing big Pharma to continue to rob us blind, supporting horrible global trade agreements that screw workers and small business, continue media consolidation, gut anti-trust laws and regulation of markets. Continued privatization of government services. In short, neoliberal economic policies by both parties to serve their rich and corporate donor class.

In other words, any issues or policies that matter to the rich and corporate America, there is no difference between the parties at the federal level, so why vote? The only differences between the parties and their candidates is on the culture war issues, but what difference do those make if we all end up serfs and slaves to the rule of the rich and corporations? Big deal if we still get to fight each other over race, religion, and other phony divisive issues? The ruling class and multinational corporations still get everything they want and we get to be ruled by fascism either way, so who cares about the wedge issues, when we are all so oppressed and poor that nobody can even go out and protest anymore? Which is coming before the end of this decade, the way it looks. There will no longer even be the charade of elections for federal offices in a few years.

@nicestuff When both candidates from the opposing parties are corporate-owned and serve the same masters, it really doesn't matter, except on the phony culture war issues, which one gets elected. They will both oppress everyone below the top 10% level of wealth and income. The only difference is who will be more openly hostile to minorities, immigrants, women, LGBTQ, and those who are not Christian or Catholic.

@TomMcGiverin Then vote for the sake of the culture war issues, the wedge issues.

@nicestuff Nope, won't do it. That would be playing their game and instead, I would rather keep trying to raise the awareness of others. Just playing their game means surrendering the class war. Are you proud of yourself for doing that?

@nicestuff Fuck your settling for incremental progress. Yes, women couldn't vote a century ago, and now, in fifty years, they have gone from getting abortion rights to now having them taken away. They got the vote, then got control of their bodies, and now have lost it. Meanwhile, men still have full control of their bodies, including not having to wear masks or get vaxed for Covid. It's time for being radical or just giving up, as time is too short, esp. with the environment, to wait on incremental change. Same with health care, waiting decades for single payer while meanwhile Medicare is being killed with Medicare Advantage plans...