1. Voters by and large are poorly informed with respect good and bad government policy (liberals, independents, and conservatives alike)
2. Voter ignorance is rational because the cost of becoming well informed is far greater than the potential benefit received from casting a single vote that most certainly won't change the outcome of an election (this is an economic concept known as "rational ignorance")
3. Most voters consequently cast their ballots based on emotion and/or potential to receive a financial benefit from government
4. Therefore, politicians get elected by appealing to emotion (fairness, equalty etc.) and by promising government handouts or free services (healthcare, safety net, etc.) rather than by promoting policies that are for the general good or that promote personal freedom
5. Ever more programs (without limit) are needed to promote more "fairness" and provide more free services
6. Government must control ever more financial resources (i.e., increased socialsim) in order to deliver the promised benefits
There is only one remedy: voter education
The best blog that I know of to get the average voter educated about good vs. bad government policy is: http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/ PLEASE give it a try. If you agree with me about its value, pass it on. We need educated voters!
your comment "We need educated voters!" is absolutely vitial for our country...if we did have educated voters most of the elected officials would be unemployed today.....great blog David....
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