Re:Unremarkables
by lotsofpulp on Saturday January 04, 2020 @09:51AM
(#21955138)
I think part of the blame lies with people themselves. Few are motivated to partake in civics, read studies, be literate in math and logical analysis. I understand that many aren’t given the opportunity, but I see that even those who are, few desire to take advantage of their freedom and would rather leave the operation and advancement of society to others.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
If you want to see an example of what you are yearning for, I'd suggest reading about the history of coffeehouses in England.
I think it's less a matter of motivation than of means, which is itself not merely a matter of access to resources, but also of risk tolerance.
Re:Unremarkables
by lotsofpulp on Saturday January 04, 2020 @11:31AM
(#21955755)
Simply educating one's self requires no risk, just time. But no one wants to read the minutes of a city council meeting, or delve into the numbers behind issues. For example, it's telling to me that only a handful of US states offer parental leave, when I ask my family members in child rearing ages if they voted are not, they say no.
I know there were candidates who supported laws that would have benefited my family members, such as sick leave, parental leave, etc. I informed my family members who these candidates were. I even asked them what kind of life would they want for their daughters. But nevertheless, on voting day, none could muster the will to visit a polling booth or request an absentee ballot via mail. Yet it's not as if they are wealthy enough to forgo having jobs.
Therefore, I must surmise it's simply laziness.
Time is money, so betting on action with no immediate benefit (reading a book, voting for the "correct" candidate from the wrong party) versus action with immediate benefits (the dopamine rush from playing a video game, or skipping voting to go to work/enjoy your day off) is risky, at least as far as Scumbag Brain is concerned.
In that vein, I don't believe laziness exists; just misaligned incentives. Intellectual, even emotional appeals tend not to work when people are insecure. You have to alleviate the insecurity somehow.