Is anyone else just completely and utterly done with politics?

I am interested in Politics but I would say I only really gained an interest in it within the last 10 years. I am 35 years old. I’ve been through September 11th, the rise and popularity of social media, the 2008 financial crash and dropped out of a uni degree at the time as a result. Also been through COVID19 and a ridiculous housing market, economic and job instability. I think I may be the generation that is the first to be worse off than parents. It’s super depressing. I’ve given up now. Lost all faith in politicians and parties who favour generations above me and rich people. Oh and those that lie or go back on their promises/manifestos.

It’s all a crock of shit.

It's depressing, isn't it? I was trying to recall when I last voted for a party I actively wanted to vote for (rather than just hoping they were the least bad option). Next time I will struggle to even find a least bad option. There's a worst option (Reform) and then bad options. I voted reluctantly for Labour last time, but I actually wish I'd spoiled my ballot paper.

Well what benefits in society do people habe in their lives because of politics like schools, roads, transport, health people use the good bits of politics

It's really depressing. I find it comes in waves - with periods when I'm really interested and others when I don't want to hear any of it.

I do tend to carefully manage my exposure to news - sticking with written stuff and avoiding radio and tv. The polarisation and dogmatic views are highlighted even more when you can actually hear people saying them and shouting at each other.

I am incredibly disappointed that labour have not used their supermajority as an opportunity to make some really radical changes to health, education and housing right out of the gate. I understand why they may be cautious with the rise of Reform, but the way to tackle that is to show that there is a better way, not pander to them. If they had put changes in place as soon as they got into power, the improvements would be in effect by the next election and Reform would be eating dust.

I know people hate them for Iraq but domestically, Blair and Brown did this very effectively - the changes they made in the first 100 days were revolutionary and ensured that within five years NHS waiting lists had been virtually cleared, unemployment reduced and equality improved.

I don't hate Starmer as much as some other people do (although I am becoming increasingly disillusioned with him) and domestically his government has been crap.

I do think his statesmanship on the world stage has been masterful and given the febrile nature of what is going on at the moment and the likelihood of war in the next couple of years, that is re-assuring.

I think Starmer would be a brilliant foreign secretary, but there is not an obvious replacement for him as PM unless Andy Burnham wants to return to Westminster. I love Jess Phillips but think she can be more effective as an agitator which she can't do as PM and I would not want to see Philipson, Reeves or Streeting in the role.

David Lammy could be an option I suppose

Yes. Grew up in a highly political household and family. Leftwing. Was a member of the Labour Party for years. Left the party during the Corbyn era when awful Monentum men took over the CLP and started shouting down women… the mask dropped re: misogyny and anti-Semitism.

Utterly depressed with the Left’s gender ideology nonsense and throwing women under the bus.

No idea what Labour stand for anymore.

Dont believe a word most politicians say.

Even left my union (have never NOT been a member of a union) as they are more interested in virtual signalling over Palestine and defending gender dysphoric men than doing anything for worker’s rights.

Like a pp, I’ll only vote in future to keep Reform and their nutty populist far right ilk out. No interest in engaging in politics.

Yes, I've felt like this for a while now but it has definitely got shockingly worse in just the last year or so.
I won't give up on politics altogether, because I feel duty bound to keep well-enough informed to cast a vote for my least worst option (or make an informed decision not to vote).
But politics no longer feels like a sphere for casual intellectual interest, or for developing any virtues of engagement or discussion.
It is just a petri dish full of filth that I need to squirt some bleach on at every election.

Gosh when I saw in the Guardian that Labour are now thinking of ousting Keir Starmer I thought WTF seriously here we go again… I despair.

Yes, me. I don't read about it or follow it anymore. I've been interested in politics since I was a teenager and now I don't give a shit. It's all same shit different politicians.

I hate the tribalism of politics. I am a tory voter but admire(d) Angela Rayner and Jess Philips. I hate confrontation but then remind myself a lot of MPs are lawyers anyway.

Yes, I feel the same and I've always been interested in politics, too. Politicians become celebrities now, so it attracts narcissists who have an unbelievable faith in their opinions and sense of justification for self serving corruption. No empathy for how others live, and no care for the consequences of their decisions for others.

I agree 100%, although the difference with me is that I have felt this way for longer. I expected Starmer to do a bad job as I had been reading about him for a while. However, I was very disappointed when my fears turned out to be better than the reality we have now. I can only see Jeremy Corbyn as a potential option, but that’s because the others are rubbish and have at least one major flaw.

Yep! I feel.totally disillusioned with it all.

The only time I'll vote now is to keep Reform out.