The Uneducated Voter

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2007
The Uneducated Voter
9
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 3:39am

20/20 featured a story on voters who know little to nothing about government, issues, or the candidates, but are courted by the "Rock the Vote" movement, as well as others who argue that voting is "civic duty".

If a voter doesn't know much about the issues or the candidates, is it their civic duty to vote, or their civic duty to stay home?

I know that the founding fathers argued about the publics capacity to make decisions that were best for the country, not to mention themselves. So this debate has been argued for over 200 years.

What are your thoughts? Do voters have a civic duty to educate themselves on the issues? Or do they just need to show up at the polls?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 9:06am

I think that it shows the problem with an unlimited franchise.


People who have no idea what they are voting on or the stand of candidates outweigh those who take the time to understand the issues.


Personally, I'd love to see a simple voting knowledge test - before you go into the voting booth, you have to answer a few basic civics questions pertaining to the campaign, and if you don't get a passing score, you don't get to vote.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 10:05am
Would it not be the civic duty to learn about the candidates and then decide whether to vote or not?



 

Avatar for mommastacie
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 10:20am
I totally agree.. It's their civic duty to BECOME informed. With the Internet & cable TV & the get out the vote initiatives NO ONE has an excuse not to be informed.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2003
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 10:21am

i agree (gasp!) but ...

history tells us that such tests are a way to manipulate which "groups" get to vote. we err on the side of letting uninformed voters in to avoid the risk of shutting some informed voters out on purpose.

Bea

Community Leader
Registered: 09-14-1997
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 10:30am

The uneducated

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2008
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 11:46am

<<I totally agree.. It's their civic duty to BECOME informed. With the Internet & cable TV & the get out the vote initiatives NO ONE has an excuse not to be informed.>>


i think it is easy to become informed, the only problem is people have a hard time picking the credible sources.there is so much garbage out there, it's frightening what headlines and sound bytes people will believe.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2005
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 11:52am

I saw 20/20 last night and I was shocked at how little people knew.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2008
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 11:54am

I guess that after being on these boards I am not sure that "educating" oneself about the candidates is what very many people do.


I read the nonsense about Obama not being a citizen or the nonsense about Palin not being the mother of her youngest child and realize that folks who spout these positions may well actually think they *are* educated about the candidates.


Then again I don't know anyone IRL who thinks any of these things ;-)

Avatar for mommastacie
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sat, 10-11-2008 - 12:07pm
Yup... Personally I check out all sides including Fox which has been proven to be super slanted to the right. The full truth is somewhere in the middle. People as a species are very opinionated creatures so what is credible to one is dis-credible to another. That's why I laugh when I see someone say Fox is more credible than Huffington or vice versa. I know none of the media is politically neutral which is why, with the exception of the talking heads *cough* rush & O'reilly & hannity *cough* (as well as some on the left) I pay attention to it all & weed out what appears to be the closest to the truth based on a lot of things including their voting records (which are posted online for all to see & I suggest everyone go read up if they haven't). For example: yes Obama knows Ayers BUT he has never once stated he agrees with his actions in the 60s. Yes McCain was a naval officer and POW & I feel bad for him about his prison time BUT it's not a logical reason we should give him the presidency. Weighing ALL the options and facts Obama comes closest to my own views & positions. NO politician is a good & decent person. They can't be in order to get to where they are. Admit it.. you HAVE to be egotistical & at least slightly power hungry to think you can run the country better than your peers. It's always going to be a lesser of 2 evils because we are human. Ok that was way longer than i intended. hahahahahaha


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