In Search of Rational Voters

Many Americans have proven that they are clueless when it comes to voting. They voted in Bush Jr. TWICE and they are proving that they will vote by sound bytes - not issues. I am very disappointed in the electorate - I would expect more from we Americans.

What makes a one voter rational and another irrational? Sometimes it is obvious to all and sometimes it depends on what the logical expectations are and when those logical expectations aren't what is happening rationality can be questioned instead of what might well be faulty logic.

This is an easy election to misread. A candidate with a huge wow factor, Barack Obama, but in reality a very thin resume, can give the impression this election is going to be walk in the park especially given the mismanagement by the Bush administration and the neocon republicans.

Then along comes a man no one logically thought would get the republican nomination with a deep resume, with a reputation of non-paritsanship so strong he was considered as a vice presidential candidate by the democrats in 2004. A man much maligned by Bush is 2000, a man who has stood up to Bush on important issues, no matter how often he voted with the president and suddenly we aren't talking about political parties anymore. We are instead talking about one candidate with a career record of real reform in Washington politics against a candidate who also has based his campaign on change.

Rational voters have options that pundits and experts can't see given what those experts and pundits expected to happen. This should be a strange election, this should be an inpredicatable election, this should be an election where the old paradigm of politics no longer works. We even have a woman on one ticket and a black on the other, the times they are a changing and with that change come options for rational voters not easy admitted to, or wanted by those who want things to go as planned, or as they traditonally do.

Two things are evident to me after reading this article. One: neither the author or Rick Shenkman like the fact that the elections went their way in 2000 and 2004. The only informed and intelligent voters are the ones that go along with more government and government control. In other words give us bread and circuses and we''l all be happy.

The real problem in this country in not with irrational voters, nor is the problem confined to politics. It's just magnifed in an election year. The probelm is that vast numbers of Americans let somebody else do their thinking for them. From talk radio to bloggers to political spinmeisters to talking heads on television, there are plenty of folks who will gladly tell you how to think. The scary thing is that people are actually buying into such horsehockey and taking it as gospel. I'm, acquainted with some educated and intelligent people who ought to know better, but they regularly forward some of the most outrageous and untrue e-mails on politics and urban legends that you will ever see. You could certainly describe most of them as "irritational." The American who thinks for himself or herself is fast becoming a vanishing breed. That's one reason this country is headed righ into the toilet

A rational electorate? Well, if we shipped the bible-thumpers off to a third-world country (whose laughably backward views and values they are FAR more in tune with!), it would certainly be a step in the right direction.

RBOLEND

Sincerely friend you are not understanding where I come from. When I posted "where were you in the last 8 years" I ment the Republican party . The fact rbolend is that for 6 years the Bush Administration had full control of Washignton.

The results are plain for all to see to the point that now you Republicans want to change from the Republicans!!! Understendable with Bush's record, but what to me is incredible is the way you guys rationalise your change. Your candidate of "change" is the same man that; 1) The Right savaged in 2000 and discarded in favor of Bush because he was too much of a "Maverik" and not represntative of your party. 2) The change you want comes after your party supporting and defending the Bush administration 100% of the time now has an ephiphany comming right on time for the election...... Forgive my skeptycism but that sounds just too convenient. In a Democracy my friend it is incumbent upon the people that elected the party in power to pressure the party in power while THEY HAVE THE POWER for the changes they seek!!!! Not to waith until they are about to loose power to ask for a change!!!!

Also, in your answer you assume I believe that the Rich are over taxed when in fact I could care less about who gets what, and in what proportion in tax cuts..... MY point is that we can not continue as a country to have it both ways.. We want less taxes, and we want more spending...... And OH yes, we want politicians to lie to us about spending cuts that allways come at voting time, but never get identified, or implemented.

You take me for an inocent kid friend? You think I was living in Mars in the last 8 years???

Let me add another chapter to your Economic 101 book. We keep on spending like drunken sailors, saving 0 Dollars for our retirement, and cutting taxes left and right and we are looking at real trouble for us as individuals, and for our country.

And on another book off the shelves. Common sense 101. A politician will say anything to get elected. When push comes to shove what he can deliver does not only depend on him, but in many, many differerent constituencies. At the end of the day I was hoping that we were mature enough to uderstand the difference between change, and more of the same.

If you tell me that McCain will "cut spending" ..... I will answer with a "so will Obama" . If you ask me where are Obama's cuts? I will answer....... Sitting next to McCain's. Feel better now?

Ready to vote for Obama now?

SO much for the phantom cutting that allways comes at election time.... With the tax cuts from your party.... Allways at election time as sure as the sun will rise.

Now that's real change .... It all smells so fresh!!!

Two things:
1. Excellent article. My father (in his 70's) has been saying for years that we made a big mistake when stopped teaching civics in high school. I was pleased to see something as simple and straightforward proposed as a solution to a serious issue in America. I don't care who you support, just do it with some facts. The 9/11 data is as compelling as any when you consider how it effected the last election.
2. Some people just like to make fools of themselves - evidenced by way too many of the posts that highlight the articles main point.

09/10

Yes, indeed, Timotheus, I certainly want rational, reasonable people who believe as you do governing our country...

ProChoiceandIVote

Rational people no longer can vote. Since both candidates offer a Federal government of increasing scope and activism. Advocates of limited government are the rationalists. We have nowhere to turn.

I have read all of the comments and it is wondrous that there are actually a few rational, intelligent, honest, well-researched entries. We must accept that not all persons can build their beliefs in this manner, but a few million more. would unquestionably help our great country!

You only need to look at the dangerously widening gap between the haves and the have nots to understand the economic policy that the Republicans want to maintain. CEO compensation when compared with the average worker salary is truly approaching a feudal lord system. The few have their's and way way more then they could ever need while the rest struggle. This isnt capitalism ... it is capitalism out of control.

The Republicans will always protect those at the top thinking they will cure our ills ... all evidence to the contrary. In this time where the rich have become far far richer while the rest of us have suffered the slow pain of credit shortages, foreclosures, layoffs, energy costs, college costs, the air we breath and the heat we feel in the air but can't pay for in our homes.

When the economy falls apart those at the top will be cash rich and be fine and go world wherever things are good leaving the rest behind to deal with the mess they created and leave behind.

Face it .. it has always been and will always be .. the Republicans are for business (Halliburton, Exxon anyone?) and the Democrats are for the workers .. regardless what the Republicans say right now to suit their short term election goals. But in the end Republicans will be Republicans and business and the rich will rejoice in their victory. If you are not the rich or the privileged or if the chasm between the have and haves not disturbs you then you must vote Democratic to be fair to yourself.

The founders of the nation were rational. They were mostly Masons, not Christians or Jews and reason is their "god". I'm not a Mason but think they did a good job. I also think we are close to a time when the constitution will be in danger and it will not be from the left, it will be from the right. The present campaign is one step closer to reasonless voting. I think the historical question "who would you rather have a beer with" ...and answer, "George Bush" is an example of where we are.and have been leaning for a long time. American people may have some smarts but they are not people who respect reason very much any more. The respect gratification and anyone who can promiss it. Evangelicals promise gratification. "if you do this or that, and had some sign that it was from God, then it is good." That is gratification. How about a poll that asks something like: Answer please: "Yes, I feel that a lot." or "No, I don't feel that much": Question: "When Sarah Palin speaks about how great the country is, do you feel really warm and happy?
You will likely find a perfect match between this response and a voting pattern. That is why the Republicans want to keep it a happy feeling, an upset feeling, or, a "sacrificial feeling, or an "angry feeling." They have no issues and must win on "feeling." Lots of American will love it.