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Title: People Are too Dumb for Democracy
Source:
YaHoO
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/people-arent- ... rish-scientists-185601411.html
Published: Mar 5, 2012
Author: Natalie Wolchover
Post Date: 2012-03-05 14:18:48 by Armadillo
Keywords: None
Views: 210
Comments: 13
The democratic process relies on the assumption that citizens (the majority of them, at least) can recognize the best political candidate, or best policy idea, when they see it. But a growing body of research has revealed an unfortunate aspect of the human psyche that would seem to disprove this notion, and imply instead that democratic elections produce mediocre leadership and policies. The research, led by David Dunning, a psychologist at Cornell University, shows that incompetent people are inherently unable to judge the competence of other people, or the quality of those people's ideas. For example, if people lack expertise on tax reform, it is very difficult for them to identify the candidates who are actual experts. They simply lack the mental tools needed to make meaningful judgments. As a result, no amount of information or facts about political candidates can override the inherent inability of many voters to accurately evaluate them. On top of that, "very smart ideas are going to be hard for people to adopt, because most people don’t have the sophistication to recognize how good an idea is," Dunning told Life's Little Mysteries. Poster Comment: If you disagree with my opinions you are clearly incompetent, and a danger to the country.
For the good of the Republic, I declair myself Caesar Caligula Americanus, ruler of North America (including the new provence formerly known as Canada).
Culling begins in 5 minutes...
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#1. To: Armadillo (#0)
This is true. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Democracy is rule by consensus, and if you live in a country full of stupid people, you can pretty well expect to get what you deserve. There are two answers for the individual. The first answer is to forcibly educate the stupid, the willfully ignorant, or the deceptive to make better choices. The second answer is to leave the country, and try to find a place where you can live in peace far away from the morons who make the world a living hell. "Call Me Ishmael" -Ishmael, A character from the book "Moby Dick" 1851. "Call Me Fishmeal" -Osama Bin Laden, A character created by the CIA, and the world's Hide And Seek Champion 2001-2011. -Tommythemadartist
Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions. changing the puppet does not change the play.
You can try, but that is no better than your first choice. I see a third choice. 3) Don't even worry about the idiots. Avoid them but don't give them a second look, unless you are laughing at them. Don't try and set them straight, you'll only 1) piss them off and 2) waste your own time and efforts. Something about a silk purse and sows ear comes to mind here. That was a hard learned lesson. -------------------------------------------------------- Madison was the best! ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
The second answer is to leave the country, and try to find a place where you can live in peace far away from the morons who make the world a living hell. Hmmmm....not much of a choice. I love America. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
People with Unconstitutional opinions are a danger to the country. The keyword is Republic, not Democracy. Those who don't understand the difference are not competent to vote in our governance, nor do we have to risk the ruination of our Republic by permitting those who are opposed to the Constitution, for whatever reason, to vote. There are prohibitions against denying votes based on race, color, previous servitude, gender, and poll taxes. But they would not be denied their right to vote for any of those reasons. They would disqualify themselves due to their disloyalty or Constitutional illiteracy. In fact, "direct democracy" in our Presidential elections is Unconstitutional and has caused severe problems for our country and the world because of Executive Branch administrations that are ignorant of and/or defiant of our Constitution. What the Constitution actually says is that we as citizens have the right to vote for the Electoral College (electors/delegates) who will vote for the President and Vice-President. (Ref: Amendment 12). Gangsters have been running our elections for so long as if it's their personal, rigged gambling casino, they now announce sneeringly before any ballot has been cast that one candidate or another is not going to win the nomination -- admitting that it's not a real, honest election where the outcome isn't known advance. Well, the Constitution is not for them and those they've duped to gamble away and replace with their Mobocracy. That was never the intent of our Founders and we don't have to "beat the odds" to vote out gangster-rule or suffer the government they think we deserve. They're outlaws, not America's authorities. We can have our own elections in accordance with our Constitution and bar them from any vote participation. ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
democratic elections produce mediocre leadership and policies.
#2. To: Armadillo (#0)
#3. To: TommyTheMadArtist, Armadillo, BTP Holdings (#2)
James Madison
#4. To: TommyTheMadArtist, 4 (#2)
The second answer is to leave the country, and try to find a place where you can live in peace far away from the morons who make the world a living hell.
Somebody ought to tell the truth about the Bible. The preachers dare not, because they would be driven from their pulpits. Professors in colleges dare not, because they would lose their salaries. Politicians dare not. They would be defeated. Editors dare not. They would lose subscribers. Merchants dare not, because they might lose customers. Men of fashion dare not, fearing that they would lose caste. Even clerks dare not, because they might be discharged. And so I thought I would do it myself... Robert Ingersoll
#5. To: farmfriend (#3)
James Madison
#6. To: TommyTheMadArtist (#2)
The first answer is to forcibly educate the stupid, the willfully ignorant, or the deceptive to make better choices.
#7. To: Armadillo, All (#0)
#8. To: farmfriend, all (#3)
Anyone offended by this post, click here.
 | "The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion." -Albert Camus. |
#9. To: Armadillo (#8)
LOL you should post that on FB.
changing the puppet does not change the play.
#10. To: Armadillo (#0)
Some of the comments from the nearly 2,000 posted: veritas • The Dalles, Oregon • Actually, the Electoral College is what makes this country a Republic, not a Democracy. In the Electoral College, all the states are equally represented. Otherwise we would be ruled by the five most populous states -- say, TX, NY, FL, OH, and California. It's worked very well since its inception, and is why presidents have been elected who lost the popular vote. Kirk • Jefferson said at the very beginning, that it would take "an educated, involved, and informed public" for it to work. We have none of the three. +8 SirEnity • Hence the dumbing down of our society by media. I don't think bright people use Facebook, or text each other, play video games, or watch loads of TV. But that's the majority of our society and it's getting worse every year.+95, -15 Upheevl • So true, SPin and OMission = SPOM from the media. They still spin that neocons are conservatives and that liberals want to benefit the people. After WWII the media patterned themselves after the Nazi system of having all media centralized. Propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, who made effective use of film, mass rallies, and Hitler's skillful oratory. Does any of this seem familiar? +5, -14 Greg • Anyone find it funny that this article basically says that people are stupid, and then a bunch of stupid people flock here to make dumb comments? +99, -12 Democracy itself is a farce because with more than two candidates seeking election as little as 25% of those voting get to decide who makes the laws, and usually it's not because all of the candidates are brilliant.
#11. To: Tatarewicz, All (#10)
SirEnity • Hence the dumbing down of our society by media. I don't think bright people use Facebook, or text each other, play video games, or watch loads of TV. But that's the majority of our society and it's getting worse every year.+95, -15 Treason: Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson, and the Constitution That article is an interesting history lesson on the election that made Jefferson President by one vote and Burr his Vice-President in 2nd place. It also tells of Burr's Traitorous acts that got his boats seized by the Ohio militia and him arrested twice for Treason. When Jefferson said that it would take "an educated, involved, and informed public" for it to work, that doesn't mean that an uneducated and uninformed majority of the public would be free to wreck the Republic and its Constitution for those of us not in their majority because they outnumber us. That means it would take "an educated, involved, and informed public" for it to work without them until they get a proper comprehesion of and respectful allegience to the Constitution. So, study well, Publicans, to be rightfully part of the electoral process of America's Republic or stay out of the way. Jefferson said at the very beginning, that it would take "an educated, involved, and informed public" for it to work. We have none of the three. +8
-------
"They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
#12. To: BTP Holdings (#1)
I don't know that I would rate them that high. A Constitutional Monarch with a strong legislative branch would be high on my list of preferred governments. Although I tend to side with Thoreau: "The government which governs best governs not at all." Or Thomas Paine: "Government at its best is a necessary evil, at its worst an intolerable one." democratic elections produce mediocre leadership and policies.
#13. To: Original_Intent (#12)
Or Thomas Paine: "Government at its best is a necessary evil, at its worst an intolerable one." Both very good quotes! ;) Although I tend to side with Thoreau: "The government which governs best governs not at all."
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
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