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unblock

(56,186 posts)

4. of course, it's far more complicated than that.

Fri Dec 25, 2015, 11:12 PM

Dec 2015

you can't pin it all on individuals. there are institutions devoted to providing misinformation, to convincing people to vote based on things other than what's in their own best interests.

fixate on this issue, not the many other issues that affect you.
rule out this candidate because of a personal scandal.
ignore that man because he does not smoke the same cigarettes as you.

we've been told that trust our gut instead of our brain and to prefer someone who appears to be "like you" in the white house instead of someone who actually "likes you", who wants to do things to help you.

we've been told that the best candidate is the one you'd like to have a beer with.

we the people would be far better positioned to evaluate candidates and policies if the institutions that produced candidates and campaigns and covered them in the media weren't so completely screwed up.

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People Aren't Smart Enough for Democracy to Work [View all] Danascot Dec 2015 OP

Even it true, snot Dec 2015 #1

It is more likely that 535 politicians don't know about it yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #24

THIS is exactly why free college tuition and decent public education is so vital 99th_Monkey Dec 2015 #2

Because?? Lurker Deluxe Dec 2015 #51

So you think an uneducated electorate is 'good for America'? Really? 99th_Monkey Dec 2015 #55

We are better educated than at any point in history. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2015 #63

Not on civics, public affairs, world affairs we aren't 99th_Monkey Dec 2015 #65

It doesn't help that the MSM spins and contorts the issues farleftlib Dec 2015 #3

of course, it's far more complicated than that. unblock Dec 2015 #4

clearly I have been spending too much time on FB hfojvt Dec 2015 #8

lol! i think you found it.... unblock Dec 2015 #11

"Reply to this post" makes a great like button! FrodosPet Dec 2015 #42

Agree, and very well stated. senseandsensibility Dec 2015 #30

But if you have critical thinking skills, none of that matters BuelahWitch Dec 2015 #58

it's gotten so bad mere critical thinking skills aren't enough. unblock Dec 2015 #61

If you have some experience in micro politics... lumberjack_jeff Dec 2015 #64

Dunning-Kruger! longship Dec 2015 #5

I failed to see anything in the article that was important. BlueJazz Dec 2015 #14

Yes - A Well Researched Phenomena cantbeserious Dec 2015 #19

Madison and Jefferson were hoping saltpoint Dec 2015 #6

Unfortunately what we have is a misinformed citizenry. TryLogic Dec 2015 #29

IMO you have good cause to saltpoint Dec 2015 #34

what exactly is an "incompetent person"? hfojvt Dec 2015 #7

absofuckinglutey Spot On. Phlem Dec 2015 #9

Democracy relies on people making choices, for whatever reason pinboy3niner Dec 2015 #10

People propagandized by a coporate press aren't capable of making the wise decisions Warpy Dec 2015 #12

The arrogance of this blurb is breathtaking lordsummerisle Dec 2015 #13

You have to admit though that Americans are definitely not the sharpest tools in the box... BlueJazz Dec 2015 #18

Actually, chervilant Dec 2015 #23

That explains a lot of what I see on DU. n/t Lil Missy Dec 2015 #15

Consider that democracy AT work could be a key to help democracy work better in the public sphere. Ron Green Dec 2015 #16

I'm going to guess that The2ndWheel Dec 2015 #17

Well Dubya was a two term POT. Rex Dec 2015 #20

But the alternative is to give absolute power to incompetents starroute Dec 2015 #21

Elitist, egotistical, and nihilistic kjones Dec 2015 #22

Agreed. People don't evaluate politicians directly, we use.... cprise Dec 2015 #36

there is an old saying about the shoe that fits SoLeftIAmRight Dec 2015 #53

"Future Shock" moondust Dec 2015 #25

Conservative Uncle Gives Himself Immunity from Providing Evidence LS_Editor Dec 2015 #26

Mee Knot Unnerstant Luke Notyourfather Dec 2015 #27

That explains all of the terrible, so called "singers" trying out for American Idol who believe Dustlawyer Dec 2015 #28

despite the fact that I diagree with this article DonCoquixote Dec 2015 #31

"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin struggle4progress Dec 2015 #32

+1 NobodyHere Dec 2015 #33

Democracy has worked well enough for me NobodyHere Dec 2015 #35

Seems to me the Greeks understood this well.. TreasonousBastard Dec 2015 #37

Kings, tsars and emperors have been saying this for centuries. It's about time that liberals pampango Dec 2015 #38

Maybe we should require passing a civics test before being allowed to vote. JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2015 #39

It's even easier than that. We should just ask them who they're going to vote for, and if they give hughee99 Dec 2015 #46

That method is tried and true JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2015 #49

Don't say that Mnpaul Dec 2015 #60

He (or she) was being sarcastic philosslayer Dec 2015 #66

Reads like satire. The 'funniness of jokes' is not exactly an objective standard that can Bluenorthwest Dec 2015 #40

according to wiki (snork) hfojvt Dec 2015 #44

Does that explain Obama's 2 terms in office? B2G Dec 2015 #41

I, for one, welcome a Camacho administration. Facility Inspector Dec 2015 #43

I have always loved history and other social science glasses. jwirr Dec 2015 #45

That's why the founders made it a Republic treestar Dec 2015 #47

People think they are smarter than they really are. alarimer Dec 2015 #48

very true and very sad SoLeftIAmRight Dec 2015 #50

PNAC never left. Octafish Dec 2015 #52

It isn't a question of intelligence. Baitball Blogger Dec 2015 #54

Our form of government is the WORST form of government... MohRokTah Dec 2015 #56

Horseshit - from Ending the Wars to Guaranteed Healthcare, the people know best, just check this pol grahamhgreen Dec 2015 #57

To quote Churchhill sailfla Dec 2015 #59

The issue isn't intelligence, it's experience. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2015 #62