2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumInformed voters: A poll
Which of the following statements most closely represents your views.
The statements are not meant to convey nuance. Most of us would qualify the responses below to some extent. The task here is to choose which response comes closest to representing your views. You should then feel free to elaborate or qualify your response below.
10 votes, 2 passes | Time left: Unlimited | |
I believe too many uninformed people vote. | |
1 (10%) |
|
I would like to see every American vote, regardless of how informed they are. | |
9 (90%) |
|
2 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided. | |
Show usernames
Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll |
BootinUp
(47,165 posts)the government should fund programs encouraging and educating voters.
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)Barring that, they should not vote just so that they feel civically engaged. I chose the "none of the above" option. I may lean more to the first option, but I decline to answer because I have a fair idea of the intent of this poll.
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)BainsBane
(53,035 posts)I started to write it there, but then I thought it might lead to primary discussion so opted to put it here. It was a close call though.
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)I was thinking too cynically.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)then again, an hour reading each candidates website is plenty of info and does not require everyone to be a political consumer of every hiccup.
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)but since that doesn't exist, which of the above two options comes closer to representing your views?
ETA: I see you responded. Thanks!
bravenak
(34,648 posts)in place of the circus.
PoliticalMalcontent
(449 posts)I picked too many uninformed people vote, because too many people don't educate themselves on the issues. Uninformed voters hurt more than they help. Uninformed voters are the reason why people like Trump and Ben Carson can maintain a lead in the polls for this long.
Soooo, in short, we need to have an informed electorate. If you're not informed it won't break my heart if you don't vote.
Response to PoliticalMalcontent (Reply #12)
PoliticalMalcontent This message was self-deleted by its author.
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)PoliticalMalcontent
(449 posts)I wish I had explained a bit more in depth, especially as the outlier in the poll, but meh.
Have a great week, folks!
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)I respect that.
reformist2
(9,841 posts)That just seems crazy to me.
Journeyman
(15,036 posts)and simply stuffing the ballot booth is no guarantee the ballot box will reflect wisdom or even self-interest.
Two illusions of democratically-ruled countries were shattered in the early part of the 20th century by the rise of totalitarian movements in the European nation-states. The first was that a modern democracy is always governed by majority decision. What was shown instead is that the politically neutral and indifferent masses can be manipulated and prodded to act against their own interests and, in the proper situations, can easily become the majority in a democratically ruled country, proving that democracy could function according to rules actively recognized by only a minority.
And the second illusion shattered by the political involvement of these disinterested masses was the belief that democracy rests upon the involvement and participation of an enlightened citizenry. On the contrary, by drawing the disinterested into the process, and thereby turning it on its head, totalitarianism showed that democracy rests as much on the silent indifference of the inarticulate as on the articulate and visible institutions and organizations of the country.*
Rather than seeking merely to get-out-the-vote, we should instead be far more interested in cultivating an educated citizenry who will act for the good of the nation because it will be in their own interest to do so. Once a people is properly involved and motivated, they'll seek the polls for themselves.
But when we encourage the politically uninvolved to vote we may quickly find that such voters can be easily swayed not by reason or self-interest, but by flash & filligree and a little fear for good measure -- perfect candidates for current Republican nonsense, and potential backers of a host of even more unsavory political movements.
*Paraphrased from Hannah Arendt, Totalitarianism 1952.
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)MH1
(17,600 posts)so they can make an informed vote. Well, that's what I believe and hope, anyway.
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)That's especially true for me with the lower offices like water commissioner, which I don't think about often.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)But I could never say it wasn't the nations choice.
Everyone should vote in every election.
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)I prefer everyone vote and not get my choice than have fewer vote and get the person I believe best.
0rganism
(23,957 posts)... but voting day should be a FEDERAL HOLIDAY, let's call it Democracy Day or something.
Fuck the electoral bias we get by forcing working Americans to choose between their paychecks and their civic duties.
Cheese Sandwich
(9,086 posts)Certainly that's a personal choice though. People can only decide that for themselves.
BainsBane
(53,035 posts)Judges especially. I don't want to make the wrong choice if I don't have time to read up on them.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)JEB
(4,748 posts)and every vote should be well informed.
Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)everyone votes regardless of their views so that their voices can at least be heard and so the lives of people who died for this right won't be in vain. On the other hand, I also think that many voters and non-voters lack knowledge about politics and civics. As many of us here know, there are those out there who falsely equate the 2 major parties despite all the evidence, while others overlook Congress's and the SCOTUS's roles in implementing laws and expect a dictator rather than a president.
baldguy
(36,649 posts)How often do we see that argument used on DU by one camp against another?