While the numbers you cite are historically valid, I don't think they tell the real story. In previous posts I have suggested the actual number of people for which politics is very important is very small. I unscientifically guess less than 10M, and probably closer to 3M - 5M. When I use the word politics, I do not mean people who simply vote, dedicated voters , knowledgeable voters, or pass by voters. I mean those who have made their voice heard and so have a visible profile, which has attracted attention. So for everyone else the only real meaningful politics any are interested is the economy, otherwise does it really matter who is in charge, be they benevolent kings or evil dictators? I don't judge them for this, as I think it true across the board, be it here or in some foreign land. For some however, there is a higher calling. For me I am one of Irked's group #3's. I prefer having a more forward looking party in power, but can easily tolerate a more regressive party. Like I have said, we can survive bad policy, no matter from where it emanates. What I am not sure about is whether we can survive the destruction of the Foundations of Democracy. Based on what Trumpists say and have said, I don't think so. They don't use the language of Democracy, rather the words from dictatorships. Certainly within the group of people who are not intimately involved in politics, there are large groups which have beliefs which run contrary to Democratic principles, so in the short term I don't see a vocabulary of unification. However, on the bright side for our future generations, as I have typed numerous times, the inexorable inertia of progressivism will win.
