Does China's censorship policy show the consequences of the decline of Americans protesting?

Do you actually believe this? There are people in prison for posting "rumors". If a post considered to be a rumor is forwarded 500 times or read 5000 you are in prison. These rumors began as outing officials of taking bribes or wearing expensive luxury items.

 

People are too busy enjoying their milk and honey to protest. Obviously things are broken, which is why you don't see people protesting or voting, but things are cushy right now. As soon as things get tough, you'll see people out in the streets and you'll see some degree of change. I used to vote, and I'm firmly of the opinion at this point that my vote doesn't matter. I've protested in the past. In fact, the only time I've been arrested was in Washington DC at the National Mall for protesting without a permit. (I'm sorry, but I didn't know a permit was required to exercise the rights ensrined in the Bill of Rights.) The fact of the matter is that we're too well off for voting or protesting to matter. There will be a day when things aren't good, and people have nothing to lose and they'll make time to get out and take a stand, but today isn't that day.