Can we change the face of American politics

Let’s talk about politics.  I know, I know it’s probably your least favorite topic to talk about any day.  But today, after CNN’s GOP debate, maybe a few more people than usual had an opinion about the debate.  I’m not going to pick a winner, or proselytize my opinion about the direction the country is moving.  Rather, I’m going to note that Donald Trump is still leading the polls. PERIOD.  It’s reported that 23 million people watched this debate.  I’ll speculate that if Trump had not been on that stage, less than half that many would have tuned in.  The public likes Trump because he’s the antithesis of American politics.  He has brought to the fore front the populace’s distain for American politics, politicians, and government as a whole.  That, and he entertains us; especially when he skewers his opponents.  There is zero substance to his policies, proclamations, etc., but we don’t care, because we’re fed up with a government that we widely acknowledge is at best, corrupt.

In our everyday lives we rarely talk about politics.  At work, at play, in social gatherings, we talk about our kids, our families, sports, schools, our work, cars, the weather, what restaurants we like, and television.  We don’t talk about the constitution, the bill of rights, or even the economy.  We talk about football, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Criminal minds, The Big Bang Theory, America’s got talent, Grey’s Anatomy, 60 Minutes, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Law and Order; special Victims Unit, or you name it.  We talk about our immediate lives.

Politics? Not so much.  Perhaps because we feel so powerless to make a difference.  I mean, if you can’t get your boss to see things your way, what chance do you have to affect national or even State and local politics.  Granted we all know people who are constantly preaching politics; negative as well as the “right” way to think.   But the majority of folks do not.  I can say majority because less than 50% of registered voters turn out to vote in an election year.  We turn a deaf ear to talk of politics.

But whether you think, if you think about it at all, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Carly Fiorina, or Ben Carson will bring a breath of fresh air to Washington or not, you may agree with me that Trump has galvanized the American people.  I predict that IF Trump gets the nod; the Republican nomination, we’ll see well over a 50% voter turnout for the 2016 presidential election.  I don’t know if this is a good thing or not, but at least we, as a public are paying a little more attention to politics and what we want from our leaders.