When Good People Sit Out, Bad People Step In

Okay, so I’m going to get on my soapbox a little bit for this one….hope you don’t mind.

So I’ve been mulling over this quote by Plato: “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” It kind of haunts me — partly because I am one of those “good men” in question, the kind who’d rather read a novel than scroll through policy briefings, and partly because I keep seeing around me the consequences of folks opting out of the civic arena. So here’s me wrestling with what this quote means, what it _feels_like, and why I think it’s especially urgent in the US right now.

What the quote means (to me)

When I read “the price good men pay,” I imagine someone like—well—me: decent intentions, maybe a little world-weary (or utterly exhausted!), hoping things will turn out okay. And “indifference to public affairs” means things like: not voting, not following the news, assuming “someone else will fix it,” staying quiet when something happens. Then “to be ruled by evil men”– that’s the kicker: if you sit out, you forfeit your voice, you leave a vacuum, and guess who fills it? Not always the nicest folks.

It’s not just moralizing; it’s practical. If we don’t show up, others with less benevolent motives and more energy will. That means decisions about our taxes, our rights, our democracy, our communities could drift into the hands of people who neither share our values nor our best interests.

The current-US-events connection

I pulled up some recent data and examples because this isn’t just theoretical.

• According to the Pew Research Center, in the 2024 presidential election, turnout was higher than usual—but still, nearly 36% of eligible Americans didn’t vote. (The Guardian)
• Another source notes that in the US, voter turnout lags many other developed countries. (Pew Research Center)
• In Louisiana for example, turnout was particularly low, meaning that local leaders will get to shape local life with fewer voices weighed in. (Axios)
• And there’s work suggesting that when more people participate, things like extreme polarization and special‐interest dominance become less likely. (GISME)

So yeah — people opting out isn’t a harmless shrug. It is giving up influence. If you don’t read the news, you might miss some legislation creeping up. If you don’t get involved in your community (town hall, school board, PTO, local advocacy), decisions still get made — just not with your voice in them.

Why it matters (for us)

Okay, now I get a little personal: as someone who writes novels and runs a blog and generally worries about the state of things, this hits home. I’m used to the world of imagination, but I live in the real world too. And I feel uneasy when I see people assume that “someone else will do it.” That someone else may not share their concerns about LGBTQ+ rights, about environmental policy, about economic justice, about community resources.

Here are some reflections:

• If you skip local elections because you think “that’s boring,” know this: those local decisions affect your daily life more than national ones sometimes. Zoning laws, school policies, municipal budgets — all that.
• If you don’t stay informed, you’re handing narrative control to voices that are paying attention. And guess what? The loudest voices often carry the day.
• If you believe “my one vote doesn’t matter,” there’s evidence the aggregate of thousands of “one votes” absolutely does.

I feel a mix of frustration and hopeful optimism. Frustration because I see avoidable problems caused by disengagement. Optimism because I believe many folks want to care — they just may not feel empowered, or think “what can I do?” So I keep reminding myself: yes, you can.

A few anecdotes (because I’m me)

Back when I worked at that small bookstore, I overheard a customer saying “I don’t vote; it doesn’t change anything.” My stomach knotted. I told them: “Well, if everyone felt like that, you are handing the outcomes to the people who do care (or perhaps care more than you want them to).” They looked at me sideways. But the truth felt heavy.

Another time: in my neighborhood, the city proposed a change to a park’s budget, reducing maintenance. A few people showed up; many didn’t. The result: cutbacks. It wasn’t dramatic—just a park less nice, fewer programs—but it was. It made me feel: small choices do ripple.

What I think we can do

Since I prefer doing to despairing, here are some things I believe that help (and that I’m trying myself):

• Set aside one hour a week to scan the local news (city council meeting, school board, local candidate).
• Vote — not just in big presidential years. Mid-terms, local elections: they matter.
• Talk with friends (yes, you) about community issues. Casual chats over coffee count.
• Support groups/organizations that inform citizens (registering voters, doing outreach). The more voices involved, the better.
• Join local protests and marches if it’s for a cause that you believe it (like…I dunno…protesting an authoritarian takeover, perhaps?)
• Understand that “indifferent” isn’t passive. It lets outcomes happen to us. Choose to be active instead.

So — thanks for reading (and sorry if I got a bit serious there). I believe the cost of sitting out is higher than most of us imagine. And I believe each of us has more power than we give ourselves credit for.