Phew, I almost ended my title with a preposition.
Contrary to some people's opinion there are thoughtful and principled people in our country. Everyone who has commented on this site is in this camp, let's call us the "intellectual ideologues" (iis). However, there is also a group of people out there that are blown about with every gust of wind in the political landscape. This group, who I will call the "unthoughtful undecideds" (uus), are won or lost based on the rhetoric, and general "feeling" that they get from the different candidates. Because this group (which is between 10 and 20% [at least] of voters) always decides who the President will be, we see the type of smears, fear tactics, and general disrespectfulness that the candidates display toward each other. They aren't doing all of this to win the iis but to win the shallow uus. The iis understand the principles, experience and issues on which the candidates stand, and make their decisions based on those factors. The uus "go with their gut" and are persuaded by the lies and rhetoric of political ads and sound bites.
Unfortunately politicians find themselves in a position where they have to play these people's game because they decide who will have power and who will not. Until we have some kind of voter requirements (like a competency exam) I suppose we will have to allow the least informed, and least intelligent among us to decide who will be the President and wade through the rhetoric and lies (of both sides). I'm sure this wouldn't be a very popular position and certainly wouldn't win friends and influence people, but if you are reading this don't be offended because I'm probably not talking about you.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The Unfortunate Political Situation In Which We Find Ourselves
Posted by JB at 8:51 PM
Labels: Election Politics Ignorance
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6 comments:
ugh! so true! your case and point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wroj0FLvzs
not sure if that link worked. the title is "Patriotic Drunk Rednecks", i think, on youtube.
I left a comment last night that has not been posted. All I said was that I agree with your comments. I believe it should take more than registering to vote. Thumbs up on this one.
The problem with voter requirments is that it can be seen as violating the liberties of Americans. Now, there are many people who vote who are single issue voters, social issues voters, and party voters. These people will usually vote for the same type of candidate no matter what is going on in the election year. And I think that as a Representative Democracy these people have the right to vote as any one else does. Here in lies the real problem. What if a test was manditory for people to vote? What type of questions would be on this test? Would it be pass of fail or would it be graded on a scale? Could a person qualify to vote in national elections but not local or state (or vice versa)? I mean I appreciate what you are advocating Jonathan, but no matter how underqualified the field of voters in certain states may be, in truth this is why our Founding Fathers established the electoral college so that it could be a checks and balances against the people. The creators of the constitution knew that many people would vote not knowing or understanding all the facts, so they established the electoral college to protect against such things. This is why it is possible for a president to lose the popular vote but still win the election. Yes, it does limit the campaigning of candidates into states with more electoral college votes, but that in no way bothers me. Trust the system Jonathan, and ultimately trust God. Romans 13, brother, puts all of this in perspective. Which of course you know!
I would just want a minimum competency test to make sure people have some minimal understanding of politics and have at least a lick of sense.
I don't know what particular questions would be on the test, but I hate that people who have no idea what is going on are the ones who put most of our officials in office.
I'm also for those who pay most in taxes having more weight to their votes (to help prevent others from using the government to pick their pockets). By the way, I wouldn't have higher weight to my votes.
People think that voting is their right, and it's really not. It's a privilege that can be revoked and should be in some instances (for instance- inmates in jail).
Again, my positions on this issue won't win me Mrs. Congeniality, but this all seems pretty fair to me. Especially if you know that the constitution does not describe voting as a basic right.
The Constitution may not insure the right to vote as a basic right but remember when it was first written it didn't give women the right to vote and black people were considered 3/5 of a person. I think your view about voting not being a right is taking the Constitution out of context. Just because it isn't a right doesn't mean that it should not be open to all. Education isn't a right but it doesn't mean should disallow people from being educated. We allow all people to vote to give them a chance to participate in our Democratic system. If they sign up and register to vote then it is their responsibility to be the best voter they can be. It is not governments job to set the standards it is the responsibility of the voter to be prepared.
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