Political apathy destroying middle class comforts
By Rachel Alexander Many refuse to get involved in politics because they believe their efforts are so insignificant it is not worth the time. These cynics believe the system is so vast, and corruption so ingrained, that it is futile. Although it may be difficult to get much accomplished in government, these civic dropouts are forgetting one crucial thing. There is a much more important reason to get involved in politics than trying to change things. It is to stop the country from getting any worse. Apathetic non-voters kick back with their bread and circuses; a six-pack of beer and a movie, and think they are preserving the status quo. They believe no matter what happens in politics, they will still have the minimal necessities to keep them happy; nine-to-five jobs, vacations, and relaxation with family and friends. In reality, by doing nothing, they are gradually losing the status quo and their comfortable middle class amenities and lifestyles. When they stayed at home and didn't vote in the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama won reelection and a mandate to continue destroying the economy. Many lost their jobs this past year as a result of the continued downturn. Others are now seeing their healthcare shrink or become more expensive. Full-time workers are finding their hours cut as employers dodge unaffordable Obamacare. Young voters are discovering they can't find decent-paying employment, and are still living with their parents. This do-nothing attitude includes apathy about voting. There is the oft-repeated notion that one vote is meaningless in a sea of voters. Instead of seeing it as a glass half full, these pessimists see it as glass half empty. If all apathetic voters were to change their attitudes and vote, they could make a difference. As soon as enough of the middle class loses their middle class comforts, they will react. Take away their healthcare benefits and replace them with Obamacare and they will begin squirming. Add in loss of employment so they can no longer afford their middle-class lifestyle, and they will finally wake up and figure it out. Meanwhile, Obama and his family traipse around the world on expensive junkets, wearing the finest clothes money can buy. They smile and wave, and First Lady Michelle Obama lectures us on being too fat as she continues to indulge herself, as evidenced by her own large size. Former Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi rails about greedy corporations while wearing her designer suits and living off the wealth of her husband's successful firm. They exempt themselves from ethics rules, Obamacare and onerous regulations and taxes which they impose upon the rest of us. There is a disconnect between the wealthy Democrats who are running and destroying this country, and the middle class that is the victim of their policies. The irony is that during the election, Obama portrayed Romney as a wealthy elite businessman out of touch with America, causing some voters to choose Obama over Romney. Yet everyone can clearly see Obama prancing around dripping in wealth, surrounded by Secret Service bodyguards and immune to the suffering of economically distressed Americans. Sadly, middle America is too busy pretending to know better about politics, too content with the opiate of the masses - their alcohol, baseball games, and shopping - to bother lifting a finger to hold off the impending demise of the middle class. Some are on the government dole and haven't felt the sting of Obama's policies. Eventually, the country will run out of money and credit and even those on welfare will finally feel the pinch. By then it may be too late; once a country has gone down a socialist path, there is no returning to a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. The socialist bastions of Denmark and Sweden boast "free healthcare," but people can't afford to eat out at restaurants in those countries, because they have the costliest restaurants in Europe. They also have some of the most expensive prices for alcohol and tobacco. The good news is more people showed up at the polls to vote for Mitt Romney in 2012 than for John McCain in 2010; 60,933,500 to 59,948,423. Maybe some are finally starting to feel the pinch in time to save the direction of this country. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. Rachel practices law and social media political consulting in Phoenix, Arizona. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, and other publications.
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