Are people becoming more politically apathetic?

I personally think so. What do you all think? Also, if you have any ideas as to why it is happening, or why the opposite is happening please share.

 

Well if one accepts the stats that voting has been dropping over the years overall even with the spikes upward here and there then one may have to agree with that statement. Perhaps if the schools bring back patriotic assemblys, especially needed with the foriegn population boom, then the next generation of prospective voters would feel more part of the nation as well as know thier nation and get more nvolved.

 

Growing voter apathy may be a sign of growing political intelligence since there are no important differences between democrats and republicans anymore; and more and more people are realizing that voting won't change anything.

 

I don't know about that. I see a lot of energy on the Democratic side of the aisle for the 2008 election. I don't see much energy on the Republican side though. I think it really depends on your cohort. For instance, 56% of Democrats are excited about the field of candidates in 2008 while only 35% of Republicans like the Republican field.

 

I agree with that whole-heartedly. What we need are some third-party candidates in office.

 

A person who is strong on defense and protection from our enemies, fiscally conservative, and would let the moral issues figure themselves out (i.e. abortion) would get my vote.

I guess that makes me a "nut" job.

 

bingo...the problem is the system is pretty much set up to offer us two choices...the 3rd has a huge uphill battle...I still vote but I do sometimes feel like I am forces to choose between tweedle dee and tweedle dum.

and Midas...now you are catching on...you are a huge nutball...just not for what you posted here...

 

I wonder about the intelligence factor of our nation. People seem not to want to think and allow others to do their thinking for them. So many people quote from TV, "Islam is a religion of love", yet they never read the koran themselves and in essence have no idea what they are referring to.

 

I think you are right about that. I don't know any republicans that are charged up about the 2008 election. I think the Democrats are tired of seeing Republicans in power, and are very opposed to the war (in conjuction with a growing number of republicans), and as such want to see a Democrat in office.

 

The problem with you and Midas is that you have bought the terrorists arguement that Islam must and should dominate the world. I agree with you that this is their aim but they are not Islam, they are trying to define Islam as anti-western, anti-christian, anti-peace, and you are helping them. If you and others like you succeed in convincing the West that it is Islam against the rest of us, you will have given them the jihad they want.
If on the other hand, calmer, cooler heads prevail, and we see this attempt to use Islam as a tool to pit one side against the other for what it is, the radicalism will die the slow and painful death it deserves. It doesn't mean we have to let our guard down as we did on 9/11 but it does mean we don't have to give the terrorists more credit and respectability in the Middle East than they deserve. I know that this message falls on deaf eyes, but others that read this now or in the future may appreciate that it has been said here.

 

I agree, many people like to think they know something, they spout off all kinds of garbage but have no clue to the real state of something such as...lets just say islam. Midas and yourself seem to be completely ignorant of the religion as a whole (which is made so apparent by your posts) yet you wax on as if you are experts and dare to dictate to million of followers who are not terrorists how there is only one way a muslim can be...Do you dare tell all christians there is only one way a christian can be? I assume you would. One can take heart that most people ARE smart enough to look into it themselves and not blindly follow the blind. I have faith in humanity, the masses are far smarter than most elitist will give them credit for.

 

What Pig's Crap...

If you read this terrorist book, you can easily see why millions and millions of these animals want us DEAD!!

If you read and study islamic history, you can easily see why this religion is founded on and spread by the sword (or else).

If you looked at the life of their founding prophet, you can see why millions of these animals wish to emulate this first islamic terrorist.

Go ahead...this is all one big misunderstanding, right? What pig's crap!

Direct quotes from the Quran:

ANNOUNCE PAINFUL PUNISHMENT TO THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE (9:3)

O Prophet! urge the believers to war; if there are twenty patient ones of you they shall overcome two hundred... (8:65)

Surely the vilest of animals in Allah's sight are those who disbelieve (8:55)

And fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah (8:39)

When the sacred months have passed away, THEN SLAY THE IDOLATERS WHEREVER YOU FIND THEM, AND TAKE THEM CAPTIVES AND BESIEGE THEM AND LIE IN WAIT FOR THEM IN EVERY AMBUSH, then if they repent and keep up prayer [become believers] and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them (9:5)

And if they intend to act unfaithfully towards you, so indeed they acted unfaithfully towards Allah before, but He GAVE YOU MASTERY OVER THEM (8:71)

FIGHT THEM: ALLAH WILL PUNISH THEM BY YOUR HANDS AND BRING THEM TO DISGRACE, AND ASSIST YOU AGAINST THEM. (9:14)

FIGHT THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALLAH, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, NOR FOLLOW THE RELIGION OF TRUTH, OUT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE BOOK [Christians and Jews], until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and THEY ARE IN A STATE OF SUBJECTION. (9:29)

O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination. (9:73)

O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil). (9:123)

I WILL CAST TERROR INTO THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE. THEREFORE STRIKE OFF THEIR HEADS AND STRIKE OFF EVERY FINGERTIP OF THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ACTED ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER; AND WHOEVER ACTS ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER - THEN SURELY ALLAH IS SEVERE IN REQUITING (EVIL). THIS - TASTE IT, AND (KNOW) THAT FOR THE UNBELIEVERS IS THE PUNISHMENT OF FIRE. O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve marching for war, then turn not your backs to them. And whoever shall turn his back to them on that day - unless he turn aside for the sake of fighting or withdraws to a company - then he, indeed, becomes deserving of Allah's wrath, and his abode is hell; and an evil destination shall it be. So you did not slay them, but it was Allah Who slew them and you did not smite when you smote (the enemy) but it was Allah Who smote, and that He might confer upon the believers a good gift from Himself; (8:12-17)

And that you should judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires, and be cautious of them, lest they seduce you from part of what Allah has revealed to you; but if they turn back, then know that Allah desires to afflict them on account of some of their faults; and most surely many of the people are transgressors. Is it then the judgment of the times of ignorance that they desire: and who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are sure? O YOU WHO BELIEVE! DO NOT TAKE THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS FOR FRIENDS; THEY ARE FRIENDS OF EACH OTHER; AND WHOEVER AMONGST YOU TAKES THEM FOR A FRIEND, THEN SURELY HE IS ONE OF THEM; SURELY ALLAH DOES NOT GUIDE THE UNJUST PEOPLE. (5:49-51)

The punishment of those who pit themselves against Allah and His Messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement, except those who repent before you have them in your power (5:33-34)

Believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one god: far be it from his glory that He should have a son. (4:171)

What is the matter with you, then, that you have become two parties about the hypocrites, while Allah has made them return (to unbelief) for what they have earned? Do you wish to guide him whom Allah has caused to err? And whomsoever Allah causes to err, you shall by no means find a way for him. THEY DESIRE THAT YOU SHOULD DISBELIEVE AS THEY HAVE DISBELIEVED, SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE ALL ALIKE; THEREFORE TAKE NOT FROM AMONG THEM FRIENDS UNTIL THEY FLY THEIR HOMES IN ALLAH'S WAY; BUT IF THEY TURN BACK, THEN SEIZE THEM AND KILL THEM WHEREVER YOU FIND THEM, AND TAKE NOT FROM AMONG THEM A FRIEND OR A HELPER. (4:89)

As for those who disbelieve in Our communications, We shall make them enter fire; so oft as their skins are thoroughly burned, We will change them for other skins, that they may taste the punishment (4:56)

Surely they who disbelieve in the communications of Allah - they shall have a severe punishment; and Allah is Mighty, the lord of retribution. (3:4)

Allah 's Apostle said, " I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' and whoever says, None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' his life and property will be saved by me except for Islamic law, and his accounts will be with Allah, (either to punish him or to forgive him.)" (Hadith 4:52:196)

Allah's Apostles said, "When a slave (of Allah) commits illegal sexual intercourse, he is not a believer at the time of committing it; and if he steals, he is not a believer at the time of stealing; and if he drinks an alcoholic drink, when he is not a believer at the time of drinking it; and he is not a believer when he commits a murder," 'Ikrima said: I asked Ibn Abbas, "How is faith taken away from him?" He said, Like this," by clasping his hands and then separating them, and added, "But if he repents, faith returns to him like this, by clasping his hands again. (Hadith 8:82:800e [So, with the clap of a hand, they can do whatever they want?]

The Prophet said, "The one who commits an illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer at the time of committing illegal sexual intercourse and a thief is not a believer at the time of committing theft and a drinker of alcoholic drink is not a believer at the time of drinking. Yet, (the gate of) repentance is open thereafter." (Hadith 8:82:801)

(Isolated incident) ...then prostrated himself, and all who were with him prostrated too. But an old man took a handful of dust and touched his forehead with it saying, "This is sufficient for me." Later on I saw him killed as an infidel. (Hadith 5:59:311)

[yes the Jews and Muslims are both descendents of Abraham, but here is the attitude towards descendants of Abraham through Isaac (the Jews]: "If they find you, they will be your enemies, and will stretch forth towards you their hands and their tongues with evil, and they ardently desire that you may disbelieve. Your relationship would not profit you, nor your children, on the day of resurrection; He will decide between you; and Allah sees what you do. Indeed, there is for you a good example in Abraham and those with him when they said to their people: Surely we are clear of you and of what you serve besides Allah; WE DECLARE OURSELVES TO BE CLEAR OF YOU, AND ENMITY AND HATRED HAVE APPEARED BETWEEN US AND YOU FOREVER UNTIL YOU BELIEVE IN ALLAH ALONE (60:2-4)


Again, Mohammad first went to the Jews as a prophet, writing of peace; was rejected. Mohammad then went to the Christians claiming to be a prophet and wrote peace; was rejected. Mohammad went back to his own people and was rejected until he (for a short time) said Allah allowed them to worship Allah's daughters.

Then what did this terrorist do???

Mohammad then began to slaughter unbelievers and masterminded over 60 massacres, and the Quran changed dramatically to hate, that is why there are so many contradictions. That is also why there are so many familiar phrases and precepts between the religions. Mohammad appeared on the scene over 600 years after Jesus was resurrected, he tried to claim to be a prophet, though illiterate, he knew the scriptures of the Bible well. But "Allah" certainly can't be the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The characters are exactly opposite! In fact the Hebrew phonetic word Allah (aw-law) means to lament, mourn and curse. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #421, 422, 423)

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Okay, forget these words and the 14 centuries of history that is driving "true' muslims to kill us...focus in on their deeds, actions and inactions.

Open up your eyes you appeasers!

 

Sorry...these animals never "hijacked" the religion. It IS what it IS...

On the other hand, if you do not live a life set forth in the koran and under sharia law, YOU are "not muslim enough" and hence the reason why "true" muslims are killing "not muslim enough" muslims.

The koran is perfect to all "true" muslims and the life of their terrorist prophet can never be questioned nor criticized...EVER, or else!!

 

just plain garbage...completely incorrect...you have no clue about the many different sects and their beliefs and the way they approach the religion and the wide variety of muslims in this world, whole sects with tens of millions of followers that do not commit terror acts...you are simply trying to dictate the only way a person can approach a religion as if the only true muslim is a terrorist. You cannot do that...although you will obviously try.

Its as if I picked up a bible, read old testament passages such as:

"Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death."

"If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed"

"If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death."

They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

and the new testament where it says

For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place."

Then I look at the Westborough Baptist church www.godhatesfags.com and www.godhatesamerica.com and say...these people are TRUE Christians...Look at the Inquisition and say THAT was true Christianity...ignoring the millions upon millions of good, non-violent Christians who simply do not follow the brutal evil punishments put forth in the bible...It is IN the bible and are indeed gods laws…but they have no place in modern times thus they stress other parts of the bible…they CHOOSE not to heed these parts. They fully justify it even though others could argue that the old testament is still valid.

What you do would be like a person who has only a minute understanding of the many different sects, reforms, and schisms in the Christian church, reading the bible and taking everything the bible says as law that MUST be obeyed or you are not a TURE christians...just because IN the bible it says all the laws in the bible are unchanging till the end of time.

I would say it is from complete ignorance on your part...You simply cut and paste bad bits of the Koran you find, you have never read it...you do not know about the different types on islam in this world and the many non-violent ways it is practiced...you simply see bad bits in the Koran and run with it...but I dont think is as much ignorance but malignant hate and purposeful deception...

sigh...why do I waste my time…its like a brick wall…I will let you have at it now...rage on little crusader...rage on...

 

Like I said, you can't show a blind person the light, they simply don't have the eyes to see. Unfortunately, this guys is also deaf but can still talk gibberish. It's clear no message has gotten in for many years and the tune hasn't changed even after new facts surface.

 

Just the opposite. The more people vote the better the Dems do and the Dems are on the upswing

 

The democratic party has always been larger in party numbers then the republican party. Every presidential election is an election that the democrats should win and could only lose if they lose it themselves. It is there lack of turn out that hurts them the most, it is there lack of a leader that keeps people either home or switching pary lines for that vote.