Given the complexity of politics, is ANYONE competent to vote?

[Speck Tater]

Do any of us really know all the ramifications and implications of the local issues we vote for and against, or the local or statewide candidates, or even the national candidates.

Can any member of the general public ever really know who the best candidate is? Or is all our voting no more than a big electoral random number generator based on popularity, vague slogans and half-baked hunches?

In other words, unless we are actually well informed, do we have the moral right to vote?

[DURHAM D]

1. I think the answer you are seeking is "only the Christians".

Do you work for the repubs, the group that has been dedicated for the past 40 years to creating/promoting the feeling among the voters that their vote does not count. Unfortunately they have succeeded all to well - witness the under 30 voting participation numbers.

[phantom power]

2. That's true, but it's not

Nobody can predict the ultimate consequences of their actions. But we're obligated to make decisions regardless.

There's a famous saying: Democracy is the worst possible system of government, except all the other systems.

You can put government in the hands of many people (everybody) who are uninformed, or you can put it in the hands of a few people, who are equally un-informed, in the larger picture.

[phantom power]

3. There is also the "market-wisdom" theory

A system of people acting in large groups is capable of exhibiting decision-making beyond the capabilities of the individuals.

I don't subscribe to the belief that this is always the best way to make a decision, but it's not completely without value, either. Each of us can only act from our limited viewpoint. But when things are generally going badly for a country, then most people are going to perceive that "badness" in one way or another. In general, our viewpoints add up to a vote that ideally will remove those responsible.

As we've seen over the last few years, there are ways for this system to fail. But then, what would you replace it with?