Registered allowable voters in the USA 2004 Presidential race was well over 200,000,000.

Total that voted was about 60%. If they aren't going to take the time to vote they aren't apt to do anything else constructive.....

On a smaller scale just look at the membership on this forum VS the participants.

Paredo's Law...80-20 rule.....usually in any group there is always a core that does all the work....participation....responding...volunteering ...the 20%.

For our population in general...if it does not involve them directly it is nigh unto impossible to get 'em involved. That is why I keep harping about energy independance....it is the one event that will involve everybody. But here again, it is the nature of our citizens to wait till they see the bottom of the barrel before worrying about how to get more into it.

It is sorta like pushing a cooked noodle....it doesn't work. Hence I fear we are doomed
to the operational mode of when it breaks we'll worry about fixing it.

Some how we need to capture their attention...or else nothing will change.

On the other hand, take special interest groups, they have found that it does not take many to make a recognizeable quorum. The ACLU has fewer than 500,000 members.....but they sure get their 2 cents worth.
NRA....6,000,000 is a sizeable lobby base. AARP 6-8,000,000.

I am rambling ....again.

BTK