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November 3rd, 2008

Voting Smarterer

Just hours before Election Day and the LA Times wants to spoil the party by asking an ominous question: “How Smart is the American Voter?”

Ahem, the answer is, well….not smart. The better question is really, “how not smart?”

Playing nice, the author, Bartels, calls voters “predictably irrational.” We take impressions and build platforms from them. And when studies find large blocs of voters all misinformed about the same piece of information, it shows we are easily manipulated by political communication.

The article is a great read, citing research from the 50’s to the present election. It is not until we can call our collective irrationality by its name that we can begin to fix it.

10 Responses to “Voting Smarterer”

  1. # On November 3rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm Serena said:

    This article really showed how foolishly people really do vote based on what they are TOLD.

  2. # On November 4th, 2008 at 12:57 am Humpty said:

    Saw an interesting interview with Rick Shenkman on CSPAN yesterday. Great article - thanks for the link.

  3. # On November 14th, 2008 at 2:17 am Mary Antolin said:

    President Elect Obama,

    You will surely be more loved and popular among all Americans if you at least consider Hillary (who won the popular vote of Democratic voters) to be the Secretary of State or at least be gracious enough to consider her wishes because we love her too. If you totally exclude her in all your choices, you are making a big big mistake.

  4. # On November 14th, 2008 at 2:19 am Mary Antolin said:

    well done

  5. # On November 16th, 2008 at 9:13 am debbiehuett said:

    Your cabinet staff needs to include a nobel peace prize-winner -Al Gore.

  6. # On November 16th, 2008 at 9:14 am debbiehuett said:

    The Federal EPA shall be run by RFK jr.

  7. # On November 16th, 2008 at 7:52 pm Dawn said:

    For 8 years we have lost. It is time for peace in America and I have faith in the Obama family. I never payed attention to the political race because honestly since the begining of my life 34 years ago nothing ever changed, if not changed got worse and worse with every election. This time we made the right choice. Change and Hope are closer in our reach.

  8. # On January 22nd, 2009 at 3:13 pm Duncan Wilford said:

    Hey, Hi, H0e….lol

  9. # On January 22nd, 2009 at 3:14 pm Duncan Wilford said:

    Raciaol hoews dont know obama

  10. # On January 22nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm Duncan Wilford said:

    Barrack was a faithfully man he is here to wserve our country our poor ecomny just look wut bush fuck up i aint got nothin but two teeth and a leg and a burning situation in my pants

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