... the level of apathy is directly attributable to the Democratic leadership's unwillingness to:

1. Demonstrate commitment to core principles by drawing a few lines in the sand (like taking up the fight to impeach Bush to protect was is perhaps the most basic human right -- the right not to be tortured);

2. Get out there and advocate for a few "game changers" like universal health care and free access to college, instill confidence that we can those changes done, and enlist people to vote elect more Dems to state and federal offices make it happen.

I am NOT a "Democrat hater" (or "self-hater" as one poster asserted). I am pointing out failures on the part of the Democratic leadership. There are countless Democratic Party heroes, inside and outside the halls of power, who have been fighting the good fights.

My goal is simple: encourage a recognition of how wrong and destructive the leadership's rationalizations for inaction have been. I think it is vital to expose how counter-productive "can't win, so don't fight" is. That rationalization has derailed battles that would have shown the nation that Democrats have core principles they are willing to go all out for, win or lose. That rationalization has kept them from "going Big" in ways that would have demonstrated the sort of strength the public is desperate for. I think it is vital to point out the extent to which fear of 'backlash' blinds them to the benefits of demonstrating the courage of their convictions. I think it is vital to put up a mirror to help them see how absurd notions like "I opposed Alito by casting a losing No vote on the floor (even though I refused to join the filibuster that would have actually stopped him)" are.

If we can put a "stake in the heart" of the rationalizations that keep them from fighting the good fights, we will either see a whole lot more action (which would bring a whole lot of those "opt outs" back in), or we'll see a new set of irrational rationalizations for inaction crop up (which we'll need to tear down).

And as you point out, there are an enormous number who would get out and vote if we actually had "free and fair" elections. The Democratic leadership must also make the fight for "free and fair elections" a top priority. For starters, a concerted effort to fight for:

a) zero tolerance for lines on election day (voter suppression through under allocation of resources),
b) legislation that sets minimum standards for what constitutes a "free and fair" election ; and
c) an end to the appalling disenfranchisement of felons.