9 Comments

Interesting summary, Mike. Given my ignorance of most South African politics I don't have much to say except this stood out to me: "The biggest failure for democracy was a poor turnout. Only 15 million voted. 25 million did not. That isn't a fault of the People but of Government that has failed us so miserably as to kill hope, especially in the 18-34 age group where half are unemployed."

In the US a third of the eligible voters do not vote and many who do vote do so with all the enthusiasm of going in for a rectal exam. As western "Democratic" governments are more and more hijacked and tuned to the whims of the wealthy, more and more voters are seeing that elections are increasingly irrelevant.

A Democratic consulting group poll of young Americans that went unnoticed by our corporate media is very telling...

"Young voters overwhelmingly believe that almost all politicians are corrupt and that the country will end up worse off than when they were born, according to new polling from Democratic firm Blueprint obtained exclusively by Semafor."

The particulars are interesting and you can link to the story, but I thought the conclusion the pollster came up with summarizes the view of most voters across the west: "They see a dying empire led by bad people.”

A perfect summary in only nine words and even though I am far away from the age demographic of the poll, I agree with it completely.

Here's the link to the story: https://www.semafor.com/article/05/28/2024/a-dying-empire-led-by-bad-people-poll-finds-young-voters-despairing-over-us-politics

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Good, sympathetic link. Behind a paywall but I read 7 paragraphs. Thanks.

The difference, and correct me if need be, is that a lot of young Americans who don't vote got an education, and aren't living in shacks with the fear of gangster violence. If so, then they've got liberty to hold on to, and fight for.

I'm not saying they should vote but it would be nice if they were activists instead of lazy. They could fight politicians, but they could also make their neighbourhood better in some way, or work at a dog shelter.

We just need to be active, like national service for humanity, and then get on with our lives.

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Well, we have thousands of college students opposing the US/Israeli genocide on campuses getting beat up and arrested by cops and Zionist Brown Shirt thugs, kicked out of universities, denied their diplomas and getting doxxed.

Having attended several marches and protests in Madison and Appleton, Wisconsin, I have been very impressed by their organizing abilities, courage, integrity and moral clarity and willingness to march in the face of growing intimidation by right wing harassers and goons.

Those who get any kind of post secondary education in the US are saddled with tens of thousands of dollars (or more) of debt and limited job opportunities with stagnant wages and involvement in campus protests may well have career-crippling effects.

While most aren't living in shacks or chased by gangsters, their challenges are real and the opportunities I had (including affordable college that required very little debt) and plenty of job opportunities, have pretty much evaporated for the vast majority. Between AI, rising fascism and climate crisis, the future all young people face is pretty overwhelming.

One of the "gifts" of the whole Gaza tragedy for we Americans -- or at least the ones paying attention -- is suddenly witnessing just how Israeli Zionists and their American agents really DO control our government and political system. Any illusions about citizens having a say have been stripped away and all of us are really wondering what we need to do. That includes myself, a very diehard cynic and longtime commentator of American politics -- even I marvel at how naive I have been.

As with many of my generation during the Vietnam War and civil rights era, the young people are leading the way. I have great empathy and hope for their emerging leadership and good effect.

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Point taken like a deserved rap on the knuckles. I should have elaborated between entitlement of consumer culture and the educated bottom and middle. Of course, I've watched the protests and it reminds me of of Occupy, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (though that bravery was doomed from the start).

Yes, that's the one amazement of Palestine, witnessing conspiracy and apathy become awareness of reality. And the precursor to that was Aaron Bushnell. He may have been a soldier, but, damn, he was only 25.

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It will be an interesting follow in the months ahead. Will SA continue in the BRICS arc or try to move more into the western orbit?

The turnout issue is one I expect will play here as well. I’m done with national politics but maintain an interest in the local scene. There’s more chance I can get action from someone who I can run into at the local store than someone who I will never see. Also there are local issues that actually can impact me.

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If everyone got involved in their town, the country has to, by default, become a better place. It pisses me off when the majority of people have big opinions about faraway places they will never see, but duck for cover whenever they might get hit by gossip in their street.

BRICS, we'll stay there.

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I’m with you on that completely.

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Excellent analysis as ever...few outside SA understand why and how it's a major chip in the great game, hence the turbulent backdrop to the recent moves of its judiciary.

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They're threatening the Rand if the 'liberals' aren't included in the Government, whereas the easiest path to a semi-stable government is the ANC working with the EFF and PA, or the EFF and IFP. There's also attack on MK, the ex-President's party of personality, especially for its support of Putin. No matter how the MK got power, they won the majority of the vote in KZN, the second most populous province. Essentially, Big Business wants the ANC to ignore who people voted for, and instead unite with the DA. It will never work. Maybe I should repeat this as a post.

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