We haven’t even had 65% eligible voter turnout since 1908. Most of the time it has been way less. Off year congressional elections get around 40% eligible voter turnout. No one really knows if that is a good thing or not. It might be. In any case there are a huge number out there that just don’t care about it, at least enough to deign to vote like non-insane people. It’s really pretty surprising no one really brings it up more often.
Excellent post, thanks.
The voter turnout issue is a result of Conservatism's (although "Conservatism" probably wasn't widely used back then) greatest failure: Universal Suffrage.
Either limited suffrage, or mandatory suffrage, like Australia.
The Left is just too good at voter manipulation, turnout, and fraud and the Right has shown not much interest in fighting it for various reasons.
The result has been the country moving Left non-stop for a century.
Universal voluntary voting has been a disaster for Western Civilization.
I've read convincing arguments against our entire Representative Republic system at the federal level.
One example: Deep blue California has consistently voted down gay marriage and illegal immigration issues through ballot initiatives (direct democracy)
Our "Representatives" can too easily be bought, sold, and blackmailed and have very clearly shown they have no regard for the well-being of the country. Example: North Carolina legislature caving to trannies due to a basketball game.
“Universal voluntary voting has been a disaster for Western Civilization.”
Usually the popular vote is won by less than 5%. All campaign money is meant to sway the swayable into voting one way or another or even to vote or not vote at all. And supposedly the swayable decide elections, the so-called ‘swing voter’.
It’s pretty amazing if true, and again you never hear it talked about. That the dumbest 10% of voters who somehow still manage to vote actually determine political winners based on who can sway them that cycle. So no matter who wins, dem or pub, con or lib, the dumbest decide the outcome for reasons that don’t comport rationally with any type of coherent political philosophy they can articulate. One time they might vote for someone because they seem well spoken, another time they vote for someone who is physically attractive, performs well in the debates, or is ahead in the polls or whatever. Dem or pub has nothing to do with it for them.
Freegards