Following politics shouldn't be about firing yourself up to overthrow the government, or you've missed the point. It's about gaining an understanding of what's true in the world. We may not be able to change the world in a "big" political way, but it is certainly important to understand what is going on in the world, so that you can know what to expect and how to respond.
I think this is especially important for people on the spectrum, since they may not necessarily have good social skills, and therefore may be disadvantaged from understanding first hand the issues facing people other than themselves. A necessary part of making friends and being able to socially connect with the world on any level is to be able to understand and empathize people and groups, and unless you are a social butterfly who knows everybody, then this is sort of impossible to do without a solid understanding of the issues, struggles, victories and triumphs directly affecting them.
For example, it's going to be kind of hard to connect with anyone LGBTQQIA unless you can empathize with their everyday struggles and the VERY direct impact that societal and political oppression has on their lives. When people are ignorant or choose not to pay attention to things like this, then they are going to significantly isolate themselves, and I wish them good luck.
Last edited by flybirdfly on 20 Nov 2010, 11:14 pm, edited 4 times in total.