We are not alone… I know, that’s a book, movie, game, theory, etc. But I’m talking about political apathy. Now that we’re past a rather humdrum primary election weekend here, let it be known that Hawai`i is not alone in its lack of potential candidates interested in even filing. I wrote about this a while back but didn’t realize that this is a nationwide epidemic (no masking required).
According to Ballotpedia, through July of this year, of the 23,363 elections held in 52 states and territories, an astounding 17,058 (or 73%) went uncontested! Looking over the last six years, the site says this uncontested total is the highest since 2019 (when 54% went uncontested). It appears that city council races nationwide have the lowest uncontested levels at 58% so far this year. Yet locally, fewer ran for council seats on all islands this August than in 2022, except on Hawai`i Island.
There are all kinds of suggestions as to why fewer people care to even run for office- biased redistricting, campaign costs (especially for non-incumbents), social media lies, leeches and trolls, family considerations, mediocre pay, headaches, bureaucratic intransigence, the “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” ethos, duplicitous, self-serving cliques… the list goes on and on.
But again, we’re not the worst! Through July, 71% of elections in Georgia have been uncontested; 90% in Iowa; 83% in Arkansas; 81% in New Mexico. It’s rather astounding, until you consider the literal costs that some possibly well-intentioned people weigh when ultimately opting not to play.
If you go back to the country’s Founding Fathers, you might be surprised to learn that many didn’t want a lot of (poor) people to vote, let alone run for office. John Adams wrote this in a letter in 1814: “Remember Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes exhausts and murders itself. There never was a Democracy Yet, that did not commit suicide.” Yikes; head for the hills!
This lack of passion to seek office might partially explain the Hues Corporation Syndrome we see so often in local politics. You know, “…don’t rock the boat, baby”. (“Rock The Boat” was an early crossover, disco hit in 1974). Why raise issues or take possibly controversial stands when (often) no one runs against you? Why stir the pot and encourage competition? The nail that sticks out gets hammered down… or stepped on; which hurts. Ainokea prevails; everywhere.
Think about it…