Even with the swelling of patriotism and the renewed sense of civic purpose
many people felt after September 11, many Americans still feel disconnected
from government, feel they lack any voice, and, while often angry and upset, are
unclear about how to participate in the policy process. This alienation is reflected
in low rates of electoral participation and registration (particularly in nonpresidential
elections), as shown in Figure 2.11, a trend that continued in the 2002
congressional elections. To those who value voting as a form of civic participation and engagement, the relatively low participation in the 2002 congressional
elections was particularly troubling, considering that at the time the nation was
debating whether or not to extend the so-called “war on terrorism” to an attack
on Iraq in order to depose its dictator, Saddam Hussein. Such momentous decisions
did not, apparently, motivate higher voter turnout in the midterm elections.
There is little evidence that there has been much change in the undercurrent of
antigovernment sentiment that has been a persistent part of American politics
for more than forty years