In Search of Rational Voters

eight years of going in the wrong direction, but voting for somebody who thinks with his guts, and once his gut tells him he is right , he doesn't look back, despite 30% approval rating for the direction he is going. we elected him and re-elected him, now the republicans are serving up another guy who thinks with his gut, and again seems unable to reassess given the the changing reality around him, If voters elect McCain America will get whatit deservers 4 more years of hell

Why do you wrap your political agenda of criticizing the GOP based on the Iraq war behind the argument of rational, or informed, voters? There are many other examples of voters making decisions based on false information available. Why does this media outlet, like all the other main stream media outlets, constantly use the GOP as the whipping boy? Don???t bother answering, we know already. One example of some other voter false impressions would be the welfare system, or any of the other untold entitlements. The Democratic party holds out these failed systems to the people as their contribution to the poor of this country, when in fact they actually act as traps, forcing the poor into a never ending poverty while enriching the politician by providing high paying government jobs to their friends in high places.

It was curious that during my travels through upper Michigan, a heavily Democratic state, that the only cable news channel available was CNN. Fox was on the channel guide but the TV could not pick up that channel. When John McCain selected Sarah Palin my only access to that information was through CNN. The bad mouthing CNN gave to that selection, commentator to commentator, email to email, guest to guest, was so nasty that my wife and I, strong conservatives, thought McCain must have gone nuts. Only after regaining access to BBC, Fox and the other media sources did we understand what a stroke of genius McCain had made. No wonder Michigan is so heavily Democratic! What other chance do they have to get the big picture? None!

Instead of conducting factual research, many a sheepish voter would rather revel in sluggery and downright stupidity , adhering to heresay instead of truth - on BOTH sides. From the absurd -"Obama is an Anti-American, Baby-killing Muslim who wasn't even born in the USA" to the equally ridiculous "Palin is a book-burning, Creationist -pushing Witch-Hunter". Get your facts straight, America !

Americans are lazy when it comes to doing their homework. They'd rather have blathering "talking heads" TELL them what to think than do the job of informing themselves with some time and effort. Americans are also stuck in the past: they want it all and they want it all right now and they want it cheap. We're as spoiled as they come. We aren't a robust people any longer. Americans accept what they want to hear , not what is true. Americans are disingenuous when they way they want the truth from their leaders. The TRUTH is, no, they don't. They want what they want and the truth too often does not fit that bill. Politicians who tell the ugly truth, don't get elected. The truth has to be pretty and packaged neatly and look familiar, or Americans thumb their noses at it. My ancestors first came here way back in the 1600's and none of them sacrificed and died so their future offspring could become ignorant and irresponsible, lazy and selfish. We do our nation a gigantic disservice and our forefathers disrespect when we don't take the time to make our choices with care, rationality, thoughtfulness and social responsibility. Emotional choices, comfortable choices are the hallmark of those who don't really love their country enough.

Yep - it's good to know that the power balance of Iran/Iraq has shifted to Iran. I think we can all sleep better at night knowing Karl Rove is still in charge. Hello?!

Donna1000 you're the demographic they're talking about. I really think an informed electorate is the Republican's worst enemy.

Zeus:
You can't have a litmus test for voting without people howling that their rights are being taken away. The used to ask very stupid questions to keep black people from voting in the South. The white people would know the answer because they were told ahead of time.
Nice idea, but impractical for that reason. I wish people at least knew more about what they are voting for or against. The founding fathers definitely grappled with this question when founding the nation. The flitted back and forth between whether non-land owners could vote, uneducated, etc. Now we understand the debate as we move through this part of US history. Sad. I'm sure the founding fathers would be spinning right now.

Let's hunt a rational press first. Newsweek, clean up your own house before you point your finger at the American public.

It is of course true that the average intelligence of americans is much lower that of other nations, and democracy might not be the best system for the US. It might help if we give the religiously faithful no, or only half a vote, as they comprise the ignorant side of society.

The "rational voter" is an endangered species. I am 22 and in college and it amazed me how apathetic my generation is. It's like my generation is oblivious to how affected by politics we are. One of my best friends when asked who she was voting for replied with "why does it matter, they are all just they same in the end". I think that politicians play off of this. It's rather infuriating.

All people who vote should have to take a simple test before doing so that reveals whether or not they are aware of the basics of the issues facing America today. If this was put into practice, Obama would win by a landslide of historic proportions, because it would appear that the new support for McCain is based entirely upon his personality and the so-called "victimhood" of his running mate and NOT AT ALL ABOUT THE ISSUES.

It is unbelivable that a certain segment of this country has completely forgotten the last eight years where have you been in a fog! Wake up America before it's too late do we really the right wing element to take away the last of our rights!!!