I understand the pessimism. I feel it deeply myself these days. But people do care. Labor fought like hell in the second half of the 19th century & early 20th century. Sometimes literally fought with workers being beaten or gunned down or falsely imprisoned. But in the end, they won much of what they wanted. Ended child labor, got 8 hour days, two day weekends, workplace safety, fairer pay.
Other causes have had similar successes. The cause of abolition (or at least unease about slavery) was enough to elect Lincoln in 1860 despite Lincoln not appearing on the ballots of the entire South. Which, of course, started the process & war which ended slavery. Abolition won, albeit in a very bloody way.
I think it's not a case of people not caring. It's a case of people care enormously but they feel powerless and they feel alone in their caring. This goes on until that day when they realize they're not alone.
> It's a case of people care enormously but they feel powerless and they feel alone in their caring.
It's interesting that we live in the most connected age ever where creating, building, and coordinating social movements has never been easier or more possible yet the labor movement and unions are dying, consumer protections and regulations are inadequate, privacy protections are nonexistent and constitutionally protected freedoms are flagrantly ignored and bypassed. I'm not sure what the problem is, but it seems like every social movement and organization that fought for the rights of the average person up until around the time of the free speech movement got much more accomplished while overcoming much more than we'd have to deal with now.
Other causes have had similar successes. The cause of abolition (or at least unease about slavery) was enough to elect Lincoln in 1860 despite Lincoln not appearing on the ballots of the entire South. Which, of course, started the process & war which ended slavery. Abolition won, albeit in a very bloody way.
I think it's not a case of people not caring. It's a case of people care enormously but they feel powerless and they feel alone in their caring. This goes on until that day when they realize they're not alone.