Blame the voters. | Rob Port | TEDxFargo

We often blame politicians, billionaires, lobbyists, the media, or social media for the problems facing our communities and our country. But what if we're overlooking the most important part of the equation: ourselves?

Political columnist and writer Rob Port takes a provocative look at modern American politics and argues that voters have more responsibility for the government they criticize than they may want to admit.

From the national debt and competing demands for taxes and government services to the influence of social media and the high rate at which incumbents are reelected, Port examines the tension between what Americans say they want from government and the choices they make at the ballot box.

His challenge is uncomfortable but straightforward: democracy doesn't just ask us to choose our leaders. It asks us to take responsibility for the choices we make. Rob Port was a pioneer in political blogging in North Dakota, founding SayAnythingBlog.com in 2003. Before beginning his writing career, he spent 10 years working as a private investigator specializing in insurance fraud, accessing public records, and criminal defense.

He publishes digital and print columns covering North Dakota government and politic in publications across the state, and also hosts the Plain Talk podcast along with his co-host Chad Oban. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx