Our Disinformed Electorate

I agree with mespoppa. I was struck in this campaign that it was just mostly "bad form" to lie egregiously. There are no consequences to the most blatant and damaging falsehoods -- not of opinion, but fact. It`s not just the moral question, it`s that the electorate -- busy doing their jobs, raising their children, helping their communities -- can`t possibly stay ahead of the tide of gunk, and makes decisions that get them what they didn`t want. Factcheck organizations work hard, and I looked at them frequently, but I struggled to keep up with the truth.

Maybe it should be a federal crime to disseminate lies in a political campaign with severe penalties. The penalties should be doubled or trippled for those issued in the final three weeks of a campaign.

This is why I don't trust the People. I trust a good old-fashioned left-wing government to guide those who are less intelligent.

As far a whether or not Obama will raise taxes on most small business and individuals: Wait 3 years and revisit this question. What he says and what he will do may be 2 different things. He will not be able to do what he says he wants to do without raising taxes, so if someone believes he will when he says he will not, that does not mean that person was "bamboozled"; they may just have a realistic view of the situation.

Aggressive fact checking by the media yeah when it came to Palin's daughter or her wardrobe but not when it came to anything that might hurt Obama. Newsweek is the worst at it. Of course they wanted Obama to win and thats ok i wanted anyone but Obama to win (McCain). Just be honest about it stop pretending you are unbiased. It is a joke even the premise of this article; McCain never siad he was going to cut medicare and when he was asked he said he would not. Obama's tax would of course raise taxes on some small businesses not would it raise the taxes of most? It is hard to say cause it changes so much and who knows how it would change after he gets in office. He is liberal and he believes in raising taxes so why wouldn't he raise the taxes of most small businesses. Remember many small Businesses make over the $200,000 that Obama thinks should share with poeple that make less. Poeple that make more do so because they invested their time, money and hard work to do so. They are poeple that are inteligent and desciplined. They have succedded. Helping the less fortunate is a good thing. Donate to your chuirch and to your favorite charity. but for the Governement to take my money because they say i make to much and then waste alot of it and give some of it to pleople that make less thank me, that didn't invest the money time and hard work to get where i am is dumb. Obama think it is a good idea so why wouldn't we think he will raise the taxes of most small businesses. Newsweek wake up. If you are going to report on things like this at least get right.

Aggressive fact checking by the media yeah when it came to Palin's daughter or her wardrobe but not when it came to anything that might hurt Obama. Newsweek is the worst at it. Of course they wanted Obama to win and thats ok i wanted anyone but Obama to win (McCain). Just be honest about it stop pretending you are unbiased. It is a joke even the premise of this article; McCain never siad he was going to cut medicare and when he was asked he said he would not. Obama's tax would of course raise taxes on some small businesses not would it raise the taxes of most? It is hard to say cause it changes so much and who knows how it would change after he gets in office. He is liberal and he believes in raising taxes so why wouldn't he raise the taxes of most small businesses. Remember many small Businesses make over the $200,000 that Obama thinks should share with poeple that make less. Poeple that make more do so because they invested their time, money and hard work to do so. They are poeple that are inteligent and desciplined. They have succedded. Helping the less fortunate is a good thing. Donate to your chuirch and to your favorite charity. but for the Governement to take my money because they say i make to much and then waste alot of it and give some of it to pleople that make less thank me, that didn't invest the money time and hard work to get where i am is dumb. Obama think it is a good idea so why wouldn't we think he will raise the taxes of most small businesses. Newsweek wake up. If you are going to report on things like this at least get right.

When the media (Newsweek, in this case) purposely misreports, it has a political agenda. THIS is the key fact.
The opening statement about Obama's taxes is blatantly false. His plan to allow unions to take secret votes to build unions up in America will force small businesses out in record numbers, if his plan is successful. Liberal spinners should have their butts held to the flame for this sort of purposeful misinformation.

It's not just disinformation, it's money as well. The same dumb Americans who believe false information also sent money to the Obama campaign, believing him to be some kind of messiah, not! Obama had $750M to spend to get elected. This allowed him the half hour infomercial and media saturation. I think it is true to a certain extent to say that he bought the election. Another problem is the constant polling which led to the feeling that the election of Obama was inevitable. I rarely saw a poll which had McCain-Palin or McCain alone before Palin, above 42% of the vote. But in the actual election McCain-Palin got more than 46% of the popular vote. Don't forget that the major media outlets (all liberal) control the polling!

The majority of voters vote their party line, few are independants let alone neutral. Understanding the issues if not all of them is last on their agenda! You need to be an INFORMED VOTER to make an intelligent choice, voting by any other method often leads to disappointment and apathy!

Voters confused? Not really, just stupid! They have no idea what really is going on in the world. They are too busy watching American Idol or some other lower I.Q. entertainment. They don't even know who their representatives are, how long their term in office is or their voting record!. Dumb is as dumb does. These confused idiots deserve what ever comes their way.

How could anyone be surprised that almost half the country is stupid- almost half the country voted for dumbya TWICE-
what more proof do you need that Americans are the dumbest people in the world.

This is a good article! I am fortunately one who knows the facts of legislation in this country. It is a simple rule of constitutional law and a historical fact that no sitting president has ever enforced any new legislation without the aid and support of congress and/or the supreme court. Our president can enforce only parts of legislation without the approval of both or either of these two branches of govenment. I am entertained by the level of importance the public places on issues such as healthcare, and taxes, when the reality is that no one president can take the sole credit for any of those changes. War is one thing our commander and cheif can act on that can influence such changes to these issues.
I thought that this was taught to most american children at an early age. I know I learned it. i suppose we all need to go back to the basics and reeducated our public. Show more shows like "School House Rock".
I think polls have shown the general level of educated americans to be cery low. I hate to say that without ruffling feathers, but the fact is that we are all not so intellegent. I guess it could be traced back to all the drug use so of us have been involved with. That would be an interesting poll! Find out how many voters used some sort of nonperscription substance for more than a year. Then ask them of their education level and then about there priorities on voting, Ask them why they voted for one or the other candidate. Then I promise you there will be an enormous shift to one side or the other in different direction due to education levels and drug use!

In his autobiography, Ghandi said, "You say you want peace, why do you come at me with bombs?" That is my recall of an attempt to read his book before my life continued to be interrupted, which it is now. I find the media DUE public demand of CONSCIENCE driven priorities when covering the news.

But, backing up to a historically effective leader, Ghandi, just checking on the biography v autobiography, my recall was dim, the Wikipedia encycloped offers some other good quotes, although I believe Americans need that first quote, above, "you say you want peace" then WHY threatened innocent countries with nuclear weapons which you say are not allowed. WHAT IF THE WORLD AGREES AND IS WAITING FOR THE U.S. to wage PEACE not war, NOW, and with IMPEACHMENT of Bush to prove the democracy and people rule in America?

But, here are some Ghandi quotes thanks to Wikipedia:

Gandhi explains his philosophy and way of life in his autobiography The Story of My Experiments with Truth. He was quoted as saying:

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall ??? think of it, always."

"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?"

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

"There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for."

My comment to Obama is CURRENTLY SELF DEFENSE IS NOT THE ISSUE and NO EXCUSE for his behavior up front in the face of PEACE ACTIVISTS and an UNWITTING and BAMBOOZLED nation who thought they voted for CHANGE!

They should do their homework, The League of Women Voters who used to host the debates suggested in 2008, to do your own scorecard, put your top ten issues on the left in a column and then check the stands of each candidate and se who earns your vote. Baldwin, Barr, McCain, McKinney, Nader, Obama. SIX could be compettive for majority results on track, not off track. Democracy means the people vote out the bums if the new leadership is wanted! If approved as is, then they stay in. The media is not the voter, as we all know, and the POPULAR VOTE is supposed to be informed. The present says the powers that be are against change, and every individual has to do their own homework to net an informed electorate. The media gave TWO incumbents as if they were the only viable choices. An outright LIE and railroading of no change as if wanted, when it was NOT.

Every voter should compare SIX not TWO and see who you, as an individual, thinks is BEST to lead a nation on track!

The names of the SIX on the ballot nationally, who could win if the media had given them the proper competitive limelight for the basics of education, track, and AGENDA, then we might have a real winner, by a majority of informed citizens ABLE to choose freely with a proper and honest press giving us the FACTS.

Chuck Baldwin, Constitutional party, Bob Barr, Libertarian Party, John McCain, Republican Party, Cynthia McKinney, Green Party, Ralph Nader, Independent Candidate, and Barack Obama, Democratic Party.

No state was RED or BLUE all were up for grabs as DUE A MAJORITY WINNER to be shown by the popular vote, of SIX not TWO showing nationally on the majority of state ballots, 48 states are "winner take all". So, of the SIX, look at their education, track, and agenda, and then decide.

As to my knowledge of Foreign Policy, I looked at the Barack Obama's website to see what it said, because I know people believed something other than who and what he is and said so, the media portrayed a lie. His site, barackobama.com on the "issues" tab, and then the "foreign policy" tab, has a video of a speech he delivered. He is upfront offering unwanted war and it is not the proper duty of a president and not honorable peace policy, he is saying in front of everyone he wants to invade freely without any censure of his doing so and using "unmanned" warplanes to execute his cowardly tyranny. he is not a Commander in Chief he is an offender in chief. The audience clapped. But, i believe if the entire nation knew the truth, they would not clap, they would be horrified at what he thinks he is being given permission to do, BUSH UNCHECKED at a worse level. Check out the video on his site. Reality Check! NOT MY FOREIGN POLICY, NO THANKS. I voted for Nader. Check out his site, too, votenader.org - he offers reversal of the Middle East policy and restoration of law and order and, of course, the peace and global harmony that would come with that.

THE MEDIA SUPPORTS THE BUSH OFFENSIVES AGAINST SANE SAFETY AND PEACE AND EVEN THE BUDGET ON TRACK FOR GOVERNMENT NOT MILITARY CONTROL -- WITH OPEN EYES AND NO CONSCIENCE. BOB SCHIEFFER DOESN'T CARE ABOUT HIS DUTY TO PROTECT PROPER SAFETY AND POLICY WITH NO NUKES AS REQUIRED AND OBVIOUS.

Nuclear Weapons used as threats is not a proper policy by any standards, and it is against the proper international peace policy of the Anti Ballistic Missile Defense Treaty. The cold war is over and there is no such thing as WON, by the worst villains holding ugly trophies. The weapons currently held are an offense to world order and peace policy and the United Nations is waiting for the proper compliance and elimination of nuclear weapons, the U.S. is in the lead of non-compliance and I believe the U.S. is heinous and Bush is responsible. There is no cause for the current invasions by the U.S. and refusal to get rid of nuclear weapons with proper U.N. membership compliance and honor with a Global Peace Community in view. The United Nations has tried to be patient and offer diplomatic peace efforts to support world order. Certainly nukes ARE NOT part of U.S. peace policy...do you see U.S. peace policy? No, it is not there. Nader offered it and the media refused the proper contest of SIX not TWO on the ballot for DEMOCRACY to happen.

NADER is sane, and whether or not I am, my reasoning on safety is certainly ok. I have a blog, which I will refer you to, and you can read the profile background there. I was a volunteer writer for the FREEZE in 1985 and interviewed people who were selected by a steering committee to speak out to the public audience on the subject. Howard Nash, former Director of the Naval Underwater Systems Command, said, "It is pure insanity, they [nuclear weapons] have no use but to prevent their use; each new round makes the world less safe, not more safe."