We live in a time when it has become common for nearly everyone that follows politics, both Left and Right, to label the opposition as being the party of Stupid ("low information voters", etc), I thought the following streaming talk at the CATO Institute may be of interest. At noon EST tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov 6) there will be a live streaming talk featuring author Ilya Somin, Professor of Law, George Mason University; with comments by John Sides, Associate Professor of Political Science, George Washington University; moderated by John Samples, Director, Center for Representative Government, Cato Institute. He will be talking about political ignorance in America and the ramification for the effectiveness of Democratic governments. The following excerpt describes the nature of the talk: You can watch this event live online at www.cato.org/live tomorrow at noon, est. Political ignorance and the size of government? It could make for an interesting discussion here at PF.
Let's see if I can't dig up some relevant and also interesting videos.. [video=youtube;jwPGzkui8ow]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwPGzkui8ow[/video] [video=youtube;XKANfuq_92U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKANfuq_92U[/video]
I'll watch the second one a little later on tonight. Nevertheless, I agree that it is natural (and logical) for people to feel disconnected and their votes don't count. It's also understandable that they don't take required time to be informed. But I see an even worse problem for a voting Democracy. Not only are "they", the masses, not well informed, but there is a natural tendency for even the so-called "informed" to become one-sided partisan hacks that have little appetite or even capacity for hearing anything that doesn't fit snugly within their preconceived notions. They become brainwashed by their monolithic choices in where they get their information and thereby become brainwashed into their beloved ideology. Unfortunately, each side can see quite plainly how their opponents are involved in this paradigm of mental fixation while at the same time remain stubbornly blind to their own partisan brainwashing. Eventually we have what we see today. An ideological split into two camps whereby most of the people in those camps have no idea of how indoctrinated they have become. Both sides typically and in knee-jerk fashion reject almost everything their opponents have to say, and believe with near religious conviction that everything they themselves believe is TRUE to an almost absolute degree.
Such is human nature, sadly enough. I personally experience this when I talk to my friends about politics. I go to a very left wing school in an already very left wing country you see. These people -whom I of course do not judge because of this, they are still great people- know very well which groups to dislike and what buzzwords they associate with it. But they don't really know what the other group stand for, and when I explain the argument -without naming th group and avoiding buzzwords- they agree with me. The worst -no funniest- thing is that while these people obviously don't know much about politics, they sure seem to be very vocal and engaged in opposition to this group. Typically my conversations are like them starting by saying how racist and intolerant that group is and I say yes indeed, and go ahead and explain that group's argument -concealed of course- only to have them agree with it. It's just.. I don't know. It's rather depressing to know that the bulk of the electorate, are people like this.
Why should anyone go out of their way to be informed when they already know the politicians are just going to lie to them anyways? We don't have a "low information voter" problem in America, we have a "low morality politician" problem. It's so bad that people often become fixated on some object that is symbolic of it all, such as a stained blue dress or a faulty health insurance website or those infamous three letters of the alphabet "WMD". And, don't get me started on all the propaganda in the media. Sheesh. I mean, I try to watch the MSNBC because I know they support Democrats and I want to find out who they like in that party and why, but instead it's like Al Sharpton just being a (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)-bag mocking and ridiculing Bill O'Reilly most of the time, stuff along those lines. People can do that themselves already, they don't need quote" journalists "/quote to coach them on it. It's pretty obvious they just want their audience to shut off their higher brain functions and merely live vicariously through the images on the screen, be mesmerized and hypnotized into making impulse purchases at the supermarket without knowing why. Whenever somebody gets caught out in the open thinking for themselves, watch out, here comes the drones!
I'd rather say we have a problem with human nature. The question is quite simply how to get the best results working with the obviously flawed nature of ours. What we can say gather about the current situation is that the system in place gives incentives for politicians to be as bad and corrupt as they are, and that people to be uninformed. How could the system be remade to give people better incentives to act better?
I hope they talk about why there is so much political ignorance. I don't take the side of, "blame the stupid American people" as much as many here, and those in the White House do. I have 2 possible reasons for the political ignorance: 1. The 2 party system itself creates the ignorance. With the help of various media organizations, the Democrats and Republicans work together to muddle any issue. Finding the truth on any issue requires much effort. Just establishing a simple foundation of the current political situation in the US and worldwide is difficult, as the "facts" vary according to which media source and/or which politician. I believe people have a natural instinct to see through this smokescreen for what it is, collusion between govt agents and the media in order to hide facts. And it pisses them off. People that aren't interested in politics usually say so with a tone of disgust and/or anger, as I believe they refuse to participate in this game that serves the DC establishment. So they formulate their opinions mostly by their own morals and instincts. These opinions then seem uninformed to those that consider themselves informed Republicans or Democrats. 2. The other reason is related to the first, in that even if people don't give up trying to follow politics, it is such a convoluted business, that they are simply unable to become informed despite their best efforts.
However being " democratic " has been so corrupted by the current Socialist and Commie Czars affiliated within the Democrat Party it holds a totally different standard of application,where being Democratic should mean : a government elected By the people For the people.With social equality,Liberty and dignity for each and every citizen. By that standard and definition,it would be near Impossible for Obama to do what he spends much time doing.Having fundraisers where he openly mocks,derides and has such a fun time Disrespecting The Tea Party for one.Then on to whomever disagrees with his Failed and reckless policies,like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell. I just proved that this current Democrat Party and Obama in particular are in no way ... DEMOCRATIC. Former speaker Tip O'Neil was " Democratic ". We are being Ruled and made servants by this Iron-Fisted Presidency. In that there is no longer any debate.
Well, I'm happy to exact some "enhanced interrogation techniques" on politicians who tell lies. I really like the term "pain compliance", too. But then, who is on the giving and receiving end of the torture? You know, it might satisfy some barbaric urges, but it's not honorable.
