Silence Isn’t Neutral — It Shapes Our Politics
“I Don’t Like Politics” — Sound Familiar?
We all have those people in our lives who avoid the news and say they hate politics. Recently, I spoke with someone who told me she hates when family conversations turn to politics. She doesn’t follow the news closely and only occasionally tunes in by accident — when the TV cuts into her day with a newsbreak or when a debate happens to be on. She admitted she didn’t vote in the last presidential election, and when she does vote, it’s often based on snippets and impressions: “Maybe Trump is good now — I heard he said he ended a number of wars.”
Conversations like this are both common and unsettling. They remind me of what the Founders feared most: not simply tyranny imposed from above, but a citizenry that disengages from its role in self-government. Jefferson, Madison, and Adams all believed that an educated and engaged public was essential for democracy to survive. Widespread avoidance, they warned, would open the door to manipulation, extremism, and ultimately the kind of unrepresentative government their revolution sought to escape.
When a significant portion of the public tunes out, they leave decisions in the hands of a much smaller group of highly engaged partisans, activists, and elites. Government then reflects their priorities rather than the broader needs of the people. Because the disengaged are often those who sit closer to the political middle, their absence makes political life feel more polarized, with fewer moderating voices left in the room. Politicians face less accountability, misinformation spreads more easily, and public trust in the system erodes.
For many people, this avoidance isn’t just apathy — it’s a way of coping with the stress and conflict that politics so often brings. Walking away can feel like the only way to protect one’s mental health. I get it. Yet avoidance becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more people retreat, the more extreme and alienating politics becomes, which only deepens the impulse to step back.
This is the cycle the Founders feared: not simply that citizens might disagree or even clash, but that too many would abandon the responsibility of engagement altogether. And in that vacuum, power concentrates in the hands of the few.
The woman I spoke with may never become a listener of Outrage Overload. But her perspective matters, because it’s a window into the millions of people who are quietly stepping back, choosing denial over civic participation — and unknowingly creating the very conditions they most want to avoid.
That’s why I keep doing this work. Not to add more noise, but to slow things down, make sense of the outrage, and explore healthier ways to stay engaged without burning out. Because the arc of the moral universe doesn’t bend toward justice on its own. It does so only when citizens — all of us — keep showing up.
👉 Have you ever felt like checking out of politics? What helped pull you back in? I’d love to hear your story.
Reminder: Selma, Beacon of Hope — A Community Screening & Conversation
Join Outrage Overload for a special live event featuring a screening of Rich Harwood’s new short documentary, Selma, Beacon of Hope.
In just 15 powerful minutes, the film connects the courage of 1965 Selma to the urgent need for a new civic path today—one rooted in belief, connection, and action in our local communities.
Following the screening, we will talk with Rich Harwood about the inspiration behind the film and the lessons Selma still holds for us. Then, we’ll open the floor for a live Q&A—your chance to join the conversation and explore how we can bridge divides, rebuild trust, and take meaningful steps forward together.
This exclusive virtual event will take place on Sep 16, 2025 at 2pm Eastern / 11am Pacific. The screening is free to attend, but registration on Zoom is required to secure your spot.