How Many Of Us Are Too Stupid To Vote?
June 5th, 2008, 2:08 PM EDT
Just How Stupid Are We? That’s a new book by Rick Shenkman, and the question is a good one, especially during an election year. Under the original Constitution, only the House of Representatives was directly elected. Our founding fathers knew they couldn’t trust the electorate without enough qualifiers built in. I mean do you really want that guy who just cut you off while you were coming off the highway ramp deciding the next president of the United States?
The major problem, as I see it, Alan, is, as much as we might find disgust with the intelligence of some voters, if you are going to argue that the Electoral College is anti-democratic and wrong because it places too much power in the hands of an elite few, arguing for a voter intelligence test affectively does the same thing, albeit not as narrowly. There is also the question of just who designs the test, or do we default to the current intelligence tests which are themselves accused by some of cultural biases?
What about the mentally retarded (handicapped, if you prefer)?
And do you really want me determining the rights, or privileges, of a bad driver indefinitely?
June 5th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Too stupid? That’s a fairly arrogant title for a book, especially when one considers that the people in power frequently have their own self-serving agendas, and to Hell with the little people. Which I suspect is the main reason why our electoral system works as it does.
It’s not about stupidity. It’s about power.
And, by and large, the guy or gal who cut you off on the entrance ramp is you and me.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Some are plain stupid…some are just emotional voters.
Like Clinton’s voters that announced that if Hillary loses, they will vote for McCain in Nov. Looks like General Election Idol 2008. They vote for a person and not a party, which I found real stupid.
They rather get 4 more years of Bush policies via McCain than stay Democrats cause of a guy named Obama.
Reasons are not better:
He has Hussein in his name.So they believe he’s muslin.
He had Pastor Wright, who went on a moronic sermon, so they associated that with Obama, another lame thing to do.
Then the next pastor, making fun of Hillary. Again, putting blame on Obama too.
No experience…saying Hillary has more? lol
All the BS to not get Obama to win and give the guy a shot at it…cause you know, we already see what’s McCain gonna bring.
So yeah, some people are not or do not want to see through the lies and BS created to veil the issues at hand….Hillary was their choice , so to spit on the Dems party cause Hillary lost is and always be STUPID.
Just my opinion.
TC
Canadian
June 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I’m not going to McCain, though I’m also not actually a Democrat, but would think voting the person first is noble, but you think it’s stupid. Well, those terms aren’t mutually exclusive, but your take is more negative than mine.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I’m gonna have to say that “suntan” is too stupid to vote…
June 5th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
It’s a good question, because, as you point out, Alan, the Constitution never really was intended to let people vote directly for either Senators or the President. They wanted more power in the hands of the States, counties, and local governments, who would, supposedly, be more responsive then those in the federal government. The federales were just there to bind the country together and a few powers, such as national security.
As it stands now, how many people are voting for McCain or Obama simply because of their party affiliation, but know nothing of their actual policies? How many will vote for McCain because of his age and Obama because he is Black?
Too many people I debate with on both sides really do not know what the candidates stand for.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
If you really want to know the truth Alan see “Non Campus Mentis: World History According to College Students” compiled by Anders Henriksson. I read the book and I do not know which colleges those students went to, but I these stories are funny.
Just do not go around asking these college students for directions either, or how many states there are. In fact don’t even ask which states are in the United States because some college students don’t know.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
FuryUs~ LOL!!! He has certainly demonstrated that time and time again.
I place the blame for voter “stupidity” on the education system. Are the current government/civics classes educating and inspiring youth to get involved in the political process?
Here’s another article on the subject:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=132654668&blogID=370713984&Mytoken=9020453A-8627-4F76-A9F4F3B08546087A3196730
WFG, you already saw this one.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Hehe. This is a stupid question and anybody answering it is stupid.
Honestly, I just vote to get my PROUD TO VOTE sticker!
June 5th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
testing
June 6th, 2008 at 12:30 am
On election day,I used to pull the lever and pray.
but now all I see is a video screen and automaticly know Im being Reemed.
who has the Ky?
June 6th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Rod~ LMAO!!!!
I LOVE those stickers, man!
June 6th, 2008 at 1:03 am
yes, i’ve seen that post.
the first guy to leave you a comment should never be allowed to vote. send him gitmo
June 6th, 2008 at 1:07 am
to
June 6th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Where I am out we have these paper ballets now. We fill in these little cirles for whomever we want. We can play muptiple choice here for election if you really wanted to.
Sort of reminds me of those chads from Flordia in 2000. Oh well, it is suppose to work as long as no one votes for more than one person.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:59 pm