The Overton window is happening because 1/3 of the country doesn’t vote. Repubs are still able to take elections despite a majority of Americans opposing their policies. If it were impossible for the further right party to win, both parties would shift left.
Low voter turnout is a voter access and apathy issue. Disenfranchised voters tend to not vote and that’s a platform and outreach issue for the DNC. Low voter access is shit that elected dems should put first and foremost in their agenda once elected, but only Abrams and Sanders have talked about election reform since Carter was president.
The apathy is directly tied to the DNC pushing conservative and moderate policies instead of progressive ones. When voters see so little difference between the two parties, where neither party is promising the policies they’re looking for, then they see no point in showing up at the polls.
I wish they would prioritize that. It is a bit of a chicken and egg problem currently. Instead we’re losing voter protections from a corrupt SCOTUS, so it is becoming harder to vote overall.
Is there a name for the subject you’re speaking of, or do you just mean as a general part of political science?
Like I’ve seen memes referring to the subject, but I don’t take it as fact.
I do know a bit about the multi-party Parliament and local governance of Sweden, but admittedly nothing deep. What would you suggest I further read up on in their system? And what study of Germany do you suggest I read in relation to this?
My own experiences in studying Vietnam have actually led me to the opposite position, where despite a voter turnout of 99%+, the country is still quite socially conservative.
The Overton window is happening because 1/3 of the country doesn’t vote. Repubs are still able to take elections despite a majority of Americans opposing their policies. If it were impossible for the further right party to win, both parties would shift left.
Low voter turnout is a voter access and apathy issue. Disenfranchised voters tend to not vote and that’s a platform and outreach issue for the DNC. Low voter access is shit that elected dems should put first and foremost in their agenda once elected, but only Abrams and Sanders have talked about election reform since Carter was president.
The apathy is directly tied to the DNC pushing conservative and moderate policies instead of progressive ones. When voters see so little difference between the two parties, where neither party is promising the policies they’re looking for, then they see no point in showing up at the polls.
This is my understanding of the problem as well. Moderate dems are selling the party to billionaires
I wish they would prioritize that. It is a bit of a chicken and egg problem currently. Instead we’re losing voter protections from a corrupt SCOTUS, so it is becoming harder to vote overall.
That seems like a bit of an oversimplification based on the frequency of Dem wins to the voting percentage.
If true though, wouldn’t the US have been the more right wing under 2012 Obama than Trump since he had a lower voter turnout?
You can’t use evidence of a trend as evidence of political motivations is kinda what I’m getting at.
It’s a well regarded theory in political science. It also is present in many other democracies, look at Germany or Sweden for a current example.
Is there a name for the subject you’re speaking of, or do you just mean as a general part of political science? Like I’ve seen memes referring to the subject, but I don’t take it as fact. I do know a bit about the multi-party Parliament and local governance of Sweden, but admittedly nothing deep. What would you suggest I further read up on in their system? And what study of Germany do you suggest I read in relation to this?
My own experiences in studying Vietnam have actually led me to the opposite position, where despite a voter turnout of 99%+, the country is still quite socially conservative.
Oh, no. I was referencing the Overton window in general. Not voter turnout as a function of conservatism vs liberalism vs progressivism.
Here’s a quick article that will give some jumping off points for further research.
https://brockpress.com/the-overton-window-on-media-criticism-is-not-as-wide-as-it-needs-to-be/