Since we have been reading about politicians learning to manipulate uneducated voters (i.e. Harrison's hard cider campaign), I thought this Forbes article about current voter ignorance and the government shutdown is very interesting and surprising. According to a 2006 Zogby survey, only 42% of Americans can name the three branches of government.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/10/01/the-low-information-voter-knows-very-little-about-why-government-is-shutting-down/?utm_campaign=forbestwittersf&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
Btw, I just thought this meme was funny and somewhat relevant. Aliens aren't actually to blame.
This was a great find that holds some special relevancy today seeing as the politicians the American public has elected have as of 2 hours ago shut down the government. Perhaps if voters were more informed, they would vote in politicians willing to compromise. In my experience, the people who desire uncompromising hardliners (on either side of the political spectrum) are the ones who complain most vocally about the lack of progress in government (a result that stems directly from their representatives unwillingness to give in), which might mean that they are not fully informed on how the political process works.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising how much a person forgets something as universal and ubiquitous to us Americans as this. I guess ignorance is bliss. By the way, I wouldn't deny aliens as an answer explaining this...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting find! And you were right - it was sort of funny. It is unbelievable to me that some people vote without even knowing the three branches of government! How are you supposed to make a good, educated decision if you don't even understand the government itself, and likewise, what the candidates promises entitle?
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