Ignorant Voters

@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
November 19, 2008 9:39am CST
Here's a question for you.... Does anyone who doesn't know the names of their Representative, Senator, Governor or Mayor have any business being in a voting booth? Every election year millions of people go to the polls with no idea about who they are voting for or why. These people help choose our elected officials, but they don't care enough about the issues or the candidates to be informed. While I'm not a supporter of poll testing, I can't help but be disgusted with anyone who would care enough to vote, but not enough to be informed.
6 people like this
16 responses
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I was surprised recently to find out that so many in the nation don't know who's been the majority in the senate for the last two years.. How can they not know that?
3 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
20 Nov 08
Because they read the newspapers, which keep them ignorant and uninformed.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
20 Nov 08
Correction, most people don't read the newspaper... they get their news from commedians and network tv (which amount to the same thing).
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
21 Nov 08
Well most get their news from the Daily show and oddly enough, that show seems to spend time mocking republicans so much that you'd think there were only 2 or three democrats in congress.
2 people like this
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
19 Nov 08
It makes you wonder just how they decide how to vote! Is it eeney, meeney, miney, mo? Do they do paper/rock/scissors? Do they just like one name better than the other?
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
20 Nov 08
That's because you care. They don't.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
20 Nov 08
Niether, they vote for who they are told to vote for.
2 people like this
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
20 Nov 08
I would not feel comfortable voting for someone that I knew nothing about.
2 people like this
@cyntrow (8523)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I think it's the reason that people like Ted Kennedy keep getting voted in forever. They know the name and they vote. That's all. They don't pay attention to what he does or does not stand for. And this goes for every candidate. I'm just using Kennedy as an example. Likewise people who vote for a candidate just because they are with a certain political party. It's never made sense to me. A lot of research goes into who I vote for. Many times I do go with an independent candidate as I did this year. I also live in a small town so I have to research the town council. The board of education candidates are very important to me, since I still have 4 children in school. These people are running our country, state, city, county. They are supposed to be speaking for us. We have a responsibility to vote for someone that we feel can accurately give us a voice in the government. People do not seem to realize this.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
20 Nov 08
Yes, name recognition is a big one for the uninformed. I can tell by your comments and articles that you research the candidates. Thanks for being a good, conscientious American.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Nov 08
So True! State and local politicians, and even Congress get away with so much simply by blaming Bush. It's sickening!
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
21 Nov 08
You're so right. I could probably win a local office if I just changed my last name to Kennedy. You're also very wise to learn about your local politicians. So many people ignorantly blame the president for problems that are directly caused by their local mayor, county commissioners, or state senators and congressman.
2 people like this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
19 Nov 08
Tragic, so very tragic. People who couldn't even tell you the posistions or even names in a local or state election, which are arguably more importnata and relevent to one'sday to day life, but can tellyou how much the RNC spent on clothing or other nonsense. We can blame government on the shape of the nation,buut, what many people don't seem to realize, is the blame goes by proxie to those that voted the same government in out of ignorance and belief that these people are the answers to our problems. Words of wisdom from Alexander Tyler; "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury....."
3 people like this
• United States
19 Nov 08
Wow! I never heard that quote! It does seem like a losing battle what with tax payers being steadily outnumbered when such a snowball gets rolling..
3 people like this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I, or course, believe that voters should be informed but, being a free nation, every citizen has the right to be uninformed as well and that's as it should be. Aside from requiring a valid I.D. I don't believe that any restrictions should be placed on voting rights because that opens the door for other restrictions until, before you realize it even happened, voting becomes the right of the elite only. I do keep up with our state and, especially our local government here in Nowhere, Florida but mostly because we so badly need change and growth in my county which the Good Old Boys network blocks at every turn. So, I did know who I was voting for and against locally...with one exception...the Supervisor of Elections. That position is held by the wife of our Sheriff who is a friend and dedicated to our county and town. I didn't even consider her opponant.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
20 Nov 08
True, I don't question their right to vote, but I do consider them idiots for voting without knowing anything about the election. They would freak out if their surgeon was as ignorant about human anatomy as they are about the issues and candidates. They would also be too stupid to see that what they are doing is more dangerous.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Nov 08
I know what you mean. If you do not know who the candidate is or what they stand for then they really are not going anyone any good by voting. But in this country you have the right to vote, even if you decide not to exercise your right to know about what you are voting for. People also tick me off that think....I voted...Now I do not have to pay attention to the government for another two or four years. Depending if they bother to show up for a non presidential election. They do not hold their elected officials accountable. They ignore what they do, which is why they can get away with all the BS they do. No one is paying attention. No one seems to care. And we wonder why our congress is so bad. They know nothing is going to be done to them.
3 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
20 Nov 08
I don't question their right to vote, I just wonder why they bother voting when they obviously don't care in the first place.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Nov 08
I agree. If you do not care enough to find out about the candidates then why care enough to show up to vote. YOur vote is not doing anyone any good.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
21 Nov 08
You have to know who you are voting for and the issues they stand for, or else you are a blooming idiot. And if the candidate has been there for a number of years or has been someone who is on the ballots for the last few terms, you should know his name. Now in Canada the various parties have various issues, and they all vote the party line, but in the States, the candidate may not agree with the party view so one has to know what he feels on certain issues. Obama got in because he was voted because he was the media's darling and no one investigated him. So the people got what they deserved. If you vote for shallowness, that is what you get shallowness and shallow people will turn into tyrants. It is going to be a long four years.
• United States
21 Nov 08
I felt the same way after Bush won the previous 2 elections. If we're talking about buying votes, that's classic Republican strategy with their promises of tax cuts, as if that's all that each of us should care about. Unfortunately for the GOP, the economic crisis has shown that you can still be worse off under a Republican president, even if you might pay less taxes. For me, the Democrats have always been more about idealism and a better society than just appealing to selfishness. This has been an election where many have been inspired to believe in a new start and a better day. You don't need to know your local representative to care about that and to be motivated to vote for it.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 Nov 08
So now allowing people to keep more of their own money is "bribery"? If you don't know your local representative is you don't give a flying flip about anything at all. The Representative is the one speaking for the people, not the president. This has been an election where people have been inspired to believe in a new start, but many of them didn't know or care what that new start would be. Now they are going to go back to not giving a crap what happens, as long as it's Obama doing it. Freedom is wasted on the ignorant.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 Nov 08
Of course there were a lot of people who made informed choices but voted differently than how I did. Not all Obama supporters are mindless Obamabots, just the ones who rave on and on about him, but if you ask them specific questions they can't seem to come up with real answers. For example, I talked to a lot of anti military lefties, only a few of them knew that Obama's plan calls for an increase in military spending and troop strength. Some even called me a liar. Yes, there are also mindless Republican voters and I would like to see a Zogby poll done with McCain voters, but there isn't one. However, we do know there is one for Obama voters and the outcome wasn't very flattering. So according to you, all money belongs to the government and they should decide how much of it we get to keep? As far as your class warfare bigotry, why do you want to be a bigot?
2 people like this
• United States
22 Nov 08
There were probably as many ignorant McCain voters as Obama voters, if not more. I'm surprised the election was as close as it was. But the majority seemed to understand the issues just fine. But of course I wouldn't say a person is ignorant just because they don't vote the same way as me. And I do think lower taxation is used as a form of bribery. "We'll let you keep a little more of your money, provided you let these super wealthy people and corporations bleed the country dry"
1 person likes this
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
20 Nov 08
I think maybe we should go back to the monarchic system and not leave the business of electing a leader to ignorant voters. I think political leaders are pretty ignorant too. Cheers!!
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Nov 08
Sounds like defeatist stupidity to me.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Nov 08
People choose who to vote for for a myriad of reasons. Some actually know where their politicians stand on the issues; some just remember the name. Some vote straight tickets. Some get a list from their party. Some are told who to vote for by their church/minister/priest. Some just listen to their spouses. I agree that it's a sad thing that more people don't care why they are voting for a candidate, but they still have the right to vote. I don't believe that anything should be done to prevent them from voting. It's not a perfect system, but I don't know of a better one. Do you?
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
20 Nov 08
Agreed, I don't think I would support any legislation telling the ignorant they can't vote.... but I also have the right to consider them anti American idiots. ;~D
1 person likes this
@aero89 (422)
• United States
20 Nov 08
It is kind of frustrating watching all these videos come out of people not knowing anything about the election or the government besides how much Palin's clothing was worth. I think that if a person hasn't voted in six or more years, their right to vote should be automatically forfeited. There's no reason anyone should go that long in the first place - so if they do, they should know they are risking their future say. It's kind of like saying "Either you are a concerned citizen or you are not, choose". There's no justification for not giving a crap. And if a person doesn't give a crap, then there's no justification for giving him or her a vote. Of course none of this will ever happen, but it's an idea that I'm willing to accept. Word of mouth is a good way to pick where you'll eat, but a horrible way to pick a politician. But that's what has happened this time around, and the after taste will stick around for up to eight years. Better stock up on some gum.
1 person likes this
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
21 Nov 08
This year, it wasn't even just the Representatives and Senators or local politicians that people didn't know anything about. Many had no clue what Obama was for or against, and they still voted for him. Sad.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 Nov 08
They voted for him for one reason... they were told to. They are ignorant little lemmings who care more about the faces on their boob tube than anything that goes on in real life.
1 person likes this
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
21 Nov 08
Correct!! I agree with you.. why you did not post this before the election? it might help those people who are voting without knowing.. LOL..am serious!!! there are voters who just cast their votes without thinking,, they just listen to the bias media polls and reports.
@roo2605 (40)
20 Nov 08
I think perhaps, whilst it is important people vote for the right reasons, a lot of the time, especially in the uk, the resources arent available for us to really 'see' who we're voting for. Voting is important but yeah voting for the right reasons is more important!
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
26 Nov 08
I agree, I think you should only vote for issues or positions that you studied up on. Thats how we ended up re-electing Clinton! I like to stay informed. I make it a point to meet my local up to State Reps. This is good, I see them all of the time and can let them know my views.
• United States
8 Jan 09
The district I vote in has always had a detailed ballot in which you needed to make clear decisions. Most years the names of the candidates appeared but not their party affiliations. As a result I have never pulled a lever for strait party or gone to the polls without learning who was who. It makes the process a little time consuming but it makes it very difficult to be an uninformed voter and still be effective. Some go in to vote for one or two major candidates and/or issues and leave the rest of the ballot blank but, most are simply forced to inform themselves or pick at random which give a fairly even chance.