As  we approach the 2012 elections, there are sure to be innumerable  discussions in the political press about how the Democratic and  Republican parties should reach out to and address the concerns of  Independent voters, who constitute a large and growing segment of the  electorate.  But what if Independents aren’t listening?

The  percentage of registered voters in California who do not follow news  about government and public affairs has slowly but steadily increased  over the last forty years, according to a Field Poll (.pdf) released late last month.  25% of the survey’s respondents  stated that they rarely or hardly ever follow news related to government  and politics.

That  is an increase of five percentage points since the 1990’s and almost  ten since 1979, when 16% of Californians stated that they rarely if ever  followed political news.  41% of respondents to the most recent poll  stated that they follow news on government and public affairs most of  the time, and 33% said they do so some of the time.

Compared  with Republicans and Democrats, Independents and third party supporters  are the least likely to keep tabs on our elected officials.  Just 30% of  self-identified “nonpartisans” and political “others” said they follow  what’s going on in government and public offices most of the time, while  37% said they follow such news some of the time, and 32% reported that  they hardly ever keep up with public affairs.

Republicans  were most likely to be politically engaged, with 50% saying they follow  public affairs most of the time and 29% stating that they do so  sometimes.  Among Democrats, 41% stated that they follow political  developments most of the time, while 34% said they do so some of the  time.

It  is not difficult to comprehend why individuals who do not affiliate  with either of the major parties would be less politically engaged than  self-described Democrats and Republicans.  The refusal to identify with  any party whatsoever is, in itself, a rejection of the politics that  dominate our government and public affairs.  On the other hand, despite  the lip service that is paid to Independents by the representatives of  the major parties and several of their mouthpieces in the mainstream media,  Independent viewpoints are systematically excluded from our nation’s  political dialogue.

On  cable news, Independents are rarely even included in  discussions of political Independents!  Instead, the viewer is much more  likely to be presented with what passes for a debate between Democratic  and Republican party strategists. Much the same can be said of the  political press in general.

If you can reasonably predict the  semi-scripted talking points that will be regurgitated by the token  representatives of the major parties, and are virtually certain that no  other point of view will be included in the discussion, one could easily  be forgiven for choosing to spend one’s time in pursuit of other  interests.

There  is a very simple reason why Republicans watch Fox News and Democrats  favor MSNBC.  Those outlets represent and articulate their viewpoints  and concerns.  But where are Independents to turn if they are flipping  through the channels looking for someone who effectively speaks for  them, who gives voice to their thoughts and ideas?

Though  there are more Americans who refuse to identify with the Democratic or  Republican party than there are Democrats or Republicans, as numerous  surveys and polls have found, our national discourse is dominated by the  factionalists of the major parties.  Is it any wonder Independents are  more likely to tune out than tune in?