Podcast Summary
The Paradox of Passion for Politics: Many people's political engagement is more emotional and intellectual fulfillment than a means to make a difference or acquire power.
Many people's engagement with politics in the United States has become more shallow due to the saturation of political news in our culture. Political scientist Eitan Hirsch argues that this engagement often serves people's emotional and intellectual needs rather than attempting to move or empower anything. While some may disagree and feel deeply about politics, Hirsch's research suggests that for many, following the news has become more akin to a hobby than a means of acquiring power or making a difference. This paradox of passion for politics may ultimately lead to a democracy that is increasingly distant from the needs of citizens.
Politics as a hobby vs active engagement: Many engage in politics as a hobby, but true impact requires understanding others' concerns and finding common ground
Many people engage in politics as a hobby rather than a means to acquire power or influence policy. This hobbyist mentality involves learning facts, engaging in discussions, and expressing passion for political events, but with little consideration for moving others towards one's perspective. This behavior is more akin to sports fandom or foodie culture, where satisfaction comes from the engagement itself and the camaraderie with like-minded individuals. However, true political participation requires a shift in focus from hating those on the other side to understanding their concerns and finding common ground to move them in one's direction. By recognizing the difference between political hobbyism and active engagement, we can strive to make a more meaningful impact on the political landscape.
The power of emotions in politics: Emotions can motivate people to engage in politics, but it's essential to channel them into productive actions rather than just experiencing them as hobbyism.
In politics, the difference between hobbyism and effective engagement lies in the use of emotions. While hobbyism is about experiencing emotions without taking action, real politics requires channeling emotions into productive actions. The discussion brought up the example of two elections in Massachusetts, one in 2008 for the presidency, and another in 2010 for a Senate seat. In the 2008 election, Massachusetts showed high voter turnout for the presidential race, but when it came to the 2010 Senate race, turnout dropped significantly, despite the Democrats' control of the Senate being on the line. This shows that people are more likely to engage in politics when they are emotionally invested, but this investment needs to lead to action. Another example given was of students in Massachusetts being asked to canvass for Democrats in 2019. In one instance, they were asked to canvass locally, and in another, they were invited to meet Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. The students showed greater enthusiasm and participation in the latter instance, demonstrating the power of emotions in motivating people to engage in politics. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the importance of turning emotional engagement into action to effectively participate in politics.
Political hobbyism: Viewing politics as entertainment: College students prioritize meeting candidates over local events, and there's a decline in interest in local elections due to changing media landscape and fewer resources for local news. This trend affects both parties, with women more involved in community organizing and men dominating online engagement.
There is a growing trend of political hobbyism, with people viewing politics as an entertaining diversion rather than a means to affect policy or exercise their civic duty. This was highlighted in an anecdote about college students at Tufts University who were more interested in meeting a national candidate, Pete Buttigieg, than attending local events. Additionally, there has been a decline in interest in local elections due to the changing media landscape and fewer resources dedicated to local news. This trend is not limited to any particular political party, but there are differences in how it manifests. For instance, community organizing and party committees tend to be dominated by women, while online engagement and self-reported political interest are more common among men, particularly college-educated white men. It's important to note that these trends have implications for the effectiveness of political engagement and the overall health of democratic institutions.
The Power of Service in Political Engagement: Providing services and addressing practical needs of community members can lead to high voter turnout and political recognition.
Political engagement can take various forms, from passive hobbyism to active service. The story of Nach, a community leader in Boston, illustrates the power of providing services and building trust within a community to influence votes. Unlike political hobbyists, who are more concerned with their feelings and self-expression, Nach and his wife focused on acquiring and using power to address the practical needs of their community members. Their efforts, such as helping people obtain citizenship and advocating for policies, led to high voter turnout and political recognition within their community. This humble form of leadership demonstrates the impact of service on political engagement and influence.
Politics today is about meeting needs and building connections: Effective politics today focuses on relationships and serving people's needs, even on complex issues like climate change and healthcare.
Politics today is less about grand ideologies and more about meeting people's immediate needs and building personal connections. This was illustrated through the example of a Ukrainian boss who gained power by providing basic services and showing kindness to his community. Even on issues like climate change or healthcare, which can be complex and hard to explain, the most effective approach may be to focus on building relationships and serving people's needs. Additionally, political scientists have noted a shift towards "hobbyism" in politics, with people becoming involved in issues that are not necessarily about economic welfare or education, but rather about smaller, often frivolous matters. Furthermore, a survey found that people are willing to donate large sums of money to attend political events, even if the money doesn't directly impact policy or campaigns, suggesting that hobbyism plays a role in donations as well.
Political hobbyism impacts voters, donors, and media: Large donations driven by self-expression and photos, small donations by hobbyism and outrage, media frames politics as a sport, politicians cater to short-term demands
Political hobbyism, the desire for entertainment value in politics, significantly impacts various stakeholders, including voters, donors, and the media. This study suggests that a considerable portion of large donations is driven by self-expression and the desire for a photograph with a presidential candidate, rather than specific policy outcomes. Small donations, on the other hand, are fueled by political hobbyism, with provocative and outrageous behavior yielding the most significant fundraising results. The media plays a role in perpetuating this trend by framing politics as a sport with daily winners and losers, rather than an opportunity for meaningful engagement and learning. Politicians, in turn, are encouraged to cater to these short-term demands, leading to a focus on instant gratification and sensationalism over substantive policy discussions.
Politics as Entertainment and Self-Expression: Understanding different motivations and approaches in politics is crucial for taking meaningful action instead of wasting energy on social media arguments.
Politics in America has become a form of entertainment and self-expression for many people, similar to how sports fans engage with their teams. This can lead to a lot of energy being wasted on arguing about the latest outrage on social media instead of taking meaningful action. However, there are also individuals and groups who are more focused on acquiring and wielding power, and they may use different tactics to build support, such as offering help to those in need. The example of the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina illustrates this, as they targeted opioid addicts with promises of help instead of promoting their hateful ideology. This highlights the importance of understanding different motivations and approaches in politics.
Meeting Practical Needs Builds Trust: Politicians can build trust and loyalty by addressing immediate concerns through practical services and addressing community needs, rather than just focusing on ideology and endless advertisements.
Effective politics goes beyond ideology and extends to meeting people's practical needs. This approach, as seen in groups like Hamas and political parties, builds trust and loyalty by addressing immediate concerns, such as social services and safety nets. A notable example is Tufts University's backup childcare and elder care services, which demonstrate the institution's concern for its employees. Politicians could adopt similar strategies by providing emergency childcare and eldercare, contracting with service providers, and focusing on community needs instead of endless advertisements. This approach is historically within the role of political parties and can help build a strong party brand. An anecdote from activist Dave Fleischer illustrates this idea, as he shares a personal story about his high school girlfriend to connect with voters on a deeper level.
Effective tool for building connections and understanding: Sharing personal stories through deep canvassing can create mutual understanding and foster healthy democratic communities, despite political differences.
Personal stories can be an effective tool for building connections and understanding across political divides. The practice of deep canvassing, where individuals share intimate stories with people holding opposing views, has been shown to be an effective method for persuasion, despite initial skepticism. These conversations aim to create mutual understanding, rather than just trying to convince others to change their minds. In a time where political tensions are high, engaging in open and vulnerable dialogue may seem challenging, but it's crucial for fostering healthy democratic communities. This approach is not about following the news or having a hot take on social media, but rather about actively participating in conversations that matter to those around us.
Empowering Individuals to Make a Difference: Individuals can make a difference in their communities and contribute to policy changes, even if they feel insignificant. Building communities, getting organized, and taking action are key to moving policy forward.
Individuals have the power to make a difference in their communities and contribute to policy changes, even if they feel insignificant in the national political scene. Climate change and local transportation systems are just a few examples of issues where citizens can make a significant impact. Eitan Hirsch, a political scientist at Tufts University, emphasizes the importance of building communities, getting organized, and moving policy forward, rather than just following Twitter or voting alone. The production team of Hidden Brain also encourages listeners to share their stories of past actions that have haunted them or defined them, whether good or bad, by emailing hiddenbrain@npr.org with the subject line "haunted."
