February 25, 201610 yr The "Michael Moore" types of the world: the worst types. Michael Moore? He really isn't that crazy. He's liberal, and tends to ask some tough questions of conservative values, but he doesn't seem like the conspiracy nut spewing some of the ideas LB was mentioning. For the thread title, people get behind what they believe will enforce change. They value that over common sense sometimes. Bush 1 better candidate than Bill, Gore better candidate than W, and Hillary and McCain better candidate than Obama. In all these incidents Americans wanted a different path for our country, and that's what we picked.
February 25, 201610 yr Michael Moore? He really isn't that crazy. He's liberal, and tends to ask some tough questions of conservative values, but he doesn't seem like the conspiracy nut spewing some of the ideas LB was mentioning. For the thread title, people get behind what they believe will enforce change. They value that over common sense sometimes. Bush 1 better candidate than Bill, Gore better candidate than W, and Hillary and McCain better candidate than Obama. In all these incidents Americans wanted a different path for our country, and that's what we picked. I stand corrected. I thought that he was behind the "9/11 was an inside job" and "Sandy Hook Hoax." However, my opinion of him really doesn't change, but that is for another thread.
February 25, 201610 yr 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. But that's the way it's supposed to be.
February 25, 201610 yr I've never seen a candidate that truly fits my idea of the perfect president. And I know that is not going happen. Most of the time I feel we are just voting for the "LESSER OF TWO EVILS". As far as the topic at hand, I beleive the answer lies in the last two elections.....
February 25, 201610 yr Americans don't know what they want. The very things they ask for, are often hated in practice. For instance many that hate Obamacare will vote for Bernie, who would like further government involvement in private affairs.
February 25, 201610 yr I have zero faith in the voting public. I'd wager more than 50% of those who vote have no clue where the two candidates fall on the issues. I have more faith in the voters than I do in most of the people running for office........but it's close. Yes, 50% of those who vote have no clue where the candidates fall on the issues........but that's because most candidates won't say where they stand on the issues!! Can't say I entirely blame the candidates because a good explanation can take more than 15 second media clip and most voters won't pay attention any longer than that.
February 25, 201610 yr I have faith in most voters who work or have worked for a living. I have little faith in voters who vote for their living.
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