I overheard some students talking the other day about politics and one asked another who she was going to vote for. She responded," I don't know, who's running?" Back in Nov. '08, I reminded some students to remember to get out and vote. One young lady responded in a serious tone ," what are we voting for?" I have encountered many people over the years who say they usually vote but rarely know very much, if anything, about the candidates who are running.

 

Many will vote for Trump because they liked "The Apprentice." Some will vote for Hillary because they remember Bill or they like her hair or the outfit they saw her wearing on TV. Let's face it, many Americans are pretty ignorant when it comes to politics. Not everyone is as interested or engaged as most of us who post on these political forums.

 

My question: How much faith do you have in the American voting public? Are you confident they will "get it right" ?

The problem with the question is how one evaluates whether they "got it right." What are we measuring?

 

Do I have faith in the American public as a whole that they are making an informed decision? Hello no.

 

However, I also say that's not new nor should we place any requirements upon voting.

I find that most grossly uninformed people just don't bother to vote.

 

Among those who actually get out of bed and head over to their local polling place, I think most of them want what's best fo themselves and for the country. Sometimes those two things match up and sometimes they don't.

 

In the end, I find most voters to be sincere about the things they believe and the personal philosophies that inform their votes. I think most people are trying to do the best they can in an increasing complex world.

 

"Get it right"? I suppose that all depends on one's point of view, eh? I'd like for more people to feel the way I do on every issue, but it's simply not going to happen a lot of the time.

 

So I do my best, just like the rest of the people do.

Sidenote: I wonder how many people are like me in that I've voted in every POTUS election since I was first eligible in 1984 but are having trouble mustering any enthusiasm looking at the likely choices. Will it cause people to forgo heading to the voting booth? I'm struggling.

I do not think voters are by and large ignorant and stupid nor do I think they are sophisticated and intelligent. But I do think voters, broadly, understand their own preferences and which candidates best address those preferences. There is plenty of savvy marketing, superficial fluff, gamesmanship, and all the rest, but preferences matter. For example, Rubio will not win the Latino vote in a general election despite his last name, his bilingualism, or the fact that his parents were immigrants; he will lose it handily because of his policy preferences. I was absolutely wrong about Trump’s staying power (and Sanders as well). So now it’s worth trying to figure out why they are doing so well. It all comes down to their supporters.

 

I think the popularity/support of candidates like Trump and Sanders reflect something troubling about the state of the country. Wealth inequality is staggering. Our system of government is dysfunctional. People across the board feel like the rug is being pulled out beneath their feet and there is no one who is doing anything about it.

 

Trump supporters, who tend to be older and less educated, are likely to blame foreigners. Immigrants and trade deals are taking from them what was once theirs, whether culturally or economically. Sanders supporters, who tend to be younger and college educated, are likely to blame Wall Street or the billionaire class for rigging the system so that they can wring out every drop of benefit and distribute the misery to the rest. Where you sit is where you stand, but both groups’ perceptions are catalyzed by similar disaffection.

 

And there is plenty to that. The economy has only sputtered towards a recovery since the Great Recession (not just in the USA, either) and the primary culprits of the economic collapse are seemingly the only beneficiaries of this recovery so far. People are saddled with debt with fewer and fewer prospects for a good life. The elderly are worried if their benefits will run dry. The United States has been mired in two seemingly endless wars that offer little to no strategic advantage to the country and have only engendered the instability that allows for groups like ISIS to emerge, all the while China and Russia have been flexing their muscles. There are plenty more structural issues to tack on. Ultimately, when Americans expect these problems to be addressed and corrected the way they were in the past, they turn to a political system that is the most polarized it has been in modern times and has all but ceased to function.

 

Clinton and Bush are fitting representatives of the as of now “old way” of politics. Parties put forth candidates that are ideological but pragmatic. Candidates that can appeal to the middle or the other side while at the same time making incremental progress in their preferred ideological direction. With the way the system is screwed up right now, this is no longer a convincing argument. This election has so far tossed out most every understanding of voting and elections that have defined the conventional wisdom for the past 30-40 years.

 

So, I guess in short my point is that something is going on here that isn't simply understandable in terms of the ignorance or sophistication of voters. A large swatch of voters from both sides are feeling disaffected and whether they are "right" in who they support or not they are expressing their disaffection.

I think there is enough down right stupid voters to change election results . So I have very little faith in our CURRENT electorate . I mean look at the candidates . Hillary , and The Donald . And you really need to ask how smart our voters are . Not very freaking smart.

Sidenote: I wonder how many people are like me in that I've voted in every POTUS election since I was first eligible in 1984 but are having trouble mustering any enthusiasm looking at the likely choices. Will it cause people to forgo heading to the voting booth? I'm struggling.

This should help you Controversial attorney Eric Deters to chair Greater Cincinnati Donald Trump campaign - Cincinnati Business Courier

This should help you Controversial attorney Eric Deters to chair Greater Cincinnati Donald Trump campaign - Cincinnati Business Courier

 

I just saw that on Twitter.

I think a lot of people are very uninformed. One example is the common phrase on here that "a vote for a 3rd party is a wasted vote". In a board dominated by Kentucky posters this couldn't be further from the truth...

Sidenote: I wonder how many people are like me in that I've voted in every POTUS election since I was first eligible in 1984 but are having trouble mustering any enthusiasm looking at the likely choices. Will it cause people to forgo heading to the voting booth? I'm struggling.

 

Presidential elections rarely get me as riled up as state and local elections, but yeah, I get where you're coming from. I'll end up voting, for certain, but I can't remember a presidential election where I've felt this apathetic about the effect of my vote.

Things are really screwed up. @Science Friction is using the word "Faith" in a thread title (and not in a negative way).:confused:

How many of you BGP'ers think there are situations where a person votes more than one time, no matter local, state or nationally?

How many of you BGP'ers think there are situations where a person votes more than one time, no matter local, state or nationally?

Widespread voter fraud is a myth.

**********

"Out of the 197 million votes cast for federal candidates between 2002 and 2005, only 40 voters were indicted for voter fraud, according to a Department of Justice study outlined during a 2006 Congressional hearing. Only 26 of those cases, or about .00000013 percent of the votes cast, resulted in convictions or guilty pleas." --ABC News

I have no faith in the person who goes in and votes straight party.

 

Just because Im a republican doesnt mean I dont vote Donkey at times.

 

Yes I think there is voter fraud. Proved in Ohio for Obama last election.

 

Yes I think the Pres election is already determined.

NO WAY TO PROVE WHO VOTES FOR WHO.

I overheard some students talking the other day about politics and one asked another who she was going to vote for. She responded," I don't know, who's running?" Back in Nov. '08, I reminded some students to remember to get out and vote. One young lady responded in a serious tone ," what are we voting for?" I have encountered many people over the years who say they usually vote but rarely know very much, if anything, about the candidates who are running.

 

Many will vote for Trump because they liked "The Apprentice." Some will vote for Hillary because they remember Bill or they like her hair or the outfit they saw her wearing on TV. Let's face it, many Americans are pretty ignorant when it comes to politics. Not everyone is as interested or engaged as most of us who post on these political forums.

 

My question: How much faith do you have in the American voting public? Are you confident they will "get it right" ?

 

For the last 16 years, very little. And I agree with your second paragraph. We've got "if it ain't on reality TV, it's not important" type folks choosing who to vote for.