I definitely agree with you there, but the article also argued that even well informed people rationalize information to fit their beliefs. I was reading a similar where respondents were asked about fake information given to them about global warming - something like "a ground-breaking new scientific study conclusively proved global warming doesn't/does exist - where liberals were almost universally more likely to find reason to believe it to be false if it said global warming didn't exist, whereas conservatives were almost universally more likely to believe it to be impregnable fact if it said global warming did exist, and vice versa. The point is we ignore and discredit information that undermines our views and accept information that confirms our views as universal truth.

 

That last sentence says it all and couldn't be more true.

I don't know where (if?) this comment fits into this thread, but I've felt that the rise of a legitimate third party will bring at least some semblance of order to our current political chaos. The D's & R's are always going to be the same old D's & R's so long as they're the only ones holding the cards.

 

Nice article, Habib! Thanks for the info!

Seriously, he's not that far off in his assessment. Obama was elected campaigning on a single word, "change". A knee jerk reaction to GWB. The 2010 election was the knee jerk reaction to that "change". I think both elections are perfect examples of what this article outlines.

 

Spot-on!

This exactly where I lie. I get so confused and flustered with politics that I just throw my hands in the air, vote my party line and call it a day.

 

I understand your frustration but I think voting straight ticket or party lines is also part of the problem. Far too many vote party lines. Pick 5 issues that you are most passionate about, educate yourself as much as possible on those issues and vote for the candidate that is most in line with your position. If that means you vote for Trump (tried to use the most extreme example I could) then at least you made informed decision and it wasn't because of the letter by their name. If you can handle more issues then 5 even better but I think for most people that would cover the important stuff.

I understand your frustration but I think voting straight ticket or party lines is also part of the problem. Far too many vote party lines. Pick 5 issues that you are most passionate about, educate yourself as much as possible on those issues and vote for the candidate that is most in line with your position. If that means you vote for Trump (tried to use the most extreme example I could) then at least you made informed decision and it wasn't because of the letter by their name. If you can handle more issues then 5 even better but I think for most people that would cover the important stuff.

 

 

Good advice. I guess I should have mentioned that I am fundamentally a Democrat on most issues. I don't vote a straight ticket as I have voted for a few Republicans sparingly in local and state elections but that number has probably been less than 5 since I began voting in 1992. I definitely need to do a better job of educating myself on issues important to me. Especially when it comes down to where my tax money ends up at and things of that nature. I have not always been a well informed voter and I hope to change that going forward.

Good advice. I guess I should have mentioned that I am fundamentally a Democrat on most issues. I don't vote a straight ticket as I have voted for a few Republicans sparingly in local and state elections but that number has probably been less than 5 since I began voting in 1992. I definitely need to do a better job of educating myself on issues important to me. Especially when it comes down to where my tax money ends up at and things of that nature. I have not always been a well informed voter and I hope to change that going forward.

 

Sometimes its hard. There a lot to absorb with any topic/issue. I too need to do a better job of educating myself. Another big problem I always seem to have is lack of options. The last Presidential election is a prime example of that. I didn't really want any of them winning.

Anyone see the study Howard Stern did before the 2008 election? Although it's probably fake, it's still a little funny.

Sometimes its hard. There a lot to absorb with any topic/issue. I too need to do a better job of educating myself. Another big problem I always seem to have is lack of options. The last Presidential election is a prime example of that. I didn't really want any of them winning.

 

At this point in time that's where I'm at with the governor race.

^ What - no Gatewood?

Good advice. I guess I should have mentioned that I am fundamentally a Democrat on most issues. I don't vote a straight ticket as I have voted for a few Republicans sparingly in local and state elections but that number has probably been less than 5 since I began voting in 1992. I definitely need to do a better job of educating myself on issues important to me. Especially when it comes down to where my tax money ends up at and things of that nature. I have not always been a well informed voter and I hope to change that going forward.

 

Disclaimer: the use of "you" in the following is not directed at PP92. Every time I hear someone yell the "if you don't vote, you have no one to blame but yourself" mantra, I want to puke. What is worse, considerably worse, in my opinion is voting when you don't have a clue about the candidate you are voting for. If you don't take the time to be informed about the candidate, don't take the time to vote.

^ What - no Gatewood?

My man!

Disclaimer: the use of "you" in the following is not directed at PP92. Every time I hear someone yell the "if you don't vote, you have no one to blame but yourself" mantra, I want to puke. What is worse, considerably worse, in my opinion is voting when you don't have a clue about the candidate you are voting for. If you don't take the time to be informed about the candidate, don't take the time to vote.

 

I must respectfully disagree; although I might change "no one to blame (emphasis mine) but yourself" to "don't complain". This might not be exactly apples to apples, but here goes.

 

When I was working, every so often I would ask our insurance agent of record (probably known to you; he's from Fort Thomas) to come to a Board of Directors meeting (community mental health center) and review our coverages - especially when there was some Board turnover.

 

Board members' exposure under the auspices of the D&O policy was always something that was discussed. Let's say that a children's therapist was convicted of child molestation a few months after being hired. It was our agent's contention that a Board member was not exempt from exposure simply because s/he was not at the meeting when the hiring of the therapist was discussed. In fact, it was his contention that the member's exposure was just as great if not greater by virtue of missing the meeting. In other words, it was as bad if not worse than to hide behind the mantle of "I wasn't there so you can't sue me". Indeed, you most certainly be sued. If you weren't at the meeting, you didn't do due diligence.

 

Now, you will say that's what you're asking for - due diligence on the part of the voter - and I agree. But I will not go so far as to say don't vote just because you haven't done the diligence.