People Aren't Smart Enough for Democracy to Flourish, Scientists Say

The professors today who teach the subject state that it is impossible to understand political science today. So, it is no surprise that many just go with the flow or what sounds good.
 

Alligatorob said:
An interesting article: https://www.livescience.com/18706-people-smart-democracy.html

I see some truth in this, but don't know of any better alternative. Except maybe to put me in charge!
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in my opinion the problem isn't that people are too stupid, it's that governments are too easily corrupted. Legislators pass laws that give them more power and the people less, the rich buy the power to shape government, and elections do little to change any of that.
 
Murrmurr said:
in my opinion the problem isn't that people are too stupid, it's that governments are too easily corrupted. Legislators pass laws that give them more power and the people less, the rich buy the power to shape government, and elections do little to change any of that.
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Good point! if you watch the news, there is plenty of that going on right now!
 

Murrmurr said:
in my opinion the problem isn't that people are too stupid, it's that governments are too easily corrupted. Legislators pass laws that give them more power and the people less, the rich buy the power to shape government, and elections do little to change any of that.
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Ultimately isn't that our fault? We elect those legislators and if we would only vote for uncorruptable candidates it should all change. Right now we don't have many choices of such candidates, but that is at least in part because we aren't supporting them when they do come along.

The rich only get one vote, just like us, its just easier for them to get to the politicians. There will always be rich, its up to us not to let them take too much control.
Tish said:
I will vote for you @Alligatorob
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Big mistake!!
 
Grampa Don said:
I don't think it's just intelligence. It's gullibility. Even highly intelligent people can be led to believe nonsense if it's something they want to believe.
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Good point, intelligence does not necessarily go with wisdom, judgement, or common sense. The best voters would have all four.
 
Alligatorob said:
Ultimately isn't that our fault? We elect those legislators and if we would only vote for uncorruptable candidates it should all change. Right now we don't have many choices of such candidates, but that is at least in part because we aren't supporting them when they do come along.

The rich only get one vote, just like us, its just easier for them to get to the politicians. There will always be rich, its up to us not to let them take too much control.

Big mistake!!
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One way to take power away from the wealthy, who can easily influence politicians by filling their coffers, is to have publicly funded elections. Get big money out of politics and you get rid of a lot of the corruption and dishonesty.
 
Irwin said:
One way to take power away from the wealthy, who can easily influence politicians by filling their coffers, is to have publicly funded elections. Get big money out of politics and you get rid of a lot of the corruption and dishonesty.
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The problem is who is going to legislate that? The people benefiting from it? It'll be difficult to clear the decks of them with no big money on our side to replace them.
 
the only fix for planet earth will be the combination of ALL countries into one all working towards the same goals(whatever that will be) story tellers oft get the problem right but few listen to what is told....
 
Here's what I mean: Two politicians running for office. One says "Our problems are complex. I don't have all the answers. But, if we work together and make some sacrifices, we can make things better for all." The other says "The answers are simple. It's all what's their names fault. Elect me and I'll fix everything."

Who's going to win?
 
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cdestroyer said:
the only fix for planet earth will be the combination of ALL countries into one all working towards the same goals(whatever that will be) story tellers oft get the problem right but few listen to what is told....
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No way. I am anti-globalization. Each country is an individual entity with its own culture. Each one should see that any contribution to climate change on its part must be addressed and corrected by said country.
 
Grampa Don said:
Here's what I mean: Two politicians running for office. One says "Our problems are complex. I don't have all the answers. But, if we work together and make some sacrifices, we can make things better for all." The other says "The answers are simple. It's all what's their names fault. Elect me and I'll fix everything."

Who's going to win?
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That's exactly how dictators come to power. They claim only they can fix what's wrong, and then when they do get elected, they proceed to make everything worse, but people don't like to admit that they were wrong, so they regurgitate the lies they're fed to defend their leaders, which effectively ends civil discourse. When people can't agree on facts, there's no way there can be a productive discussion and it just breaks down into an insult-fest.
 
Grampa Don said:
Here's what I mean: Two politicians running for office. One says "Our problems are complex. I don't have all the answers. But, if we work together and make some sacrifices, we can make things better for all." The other says "The answers are simple. It's all what's their names fault. Elect me and I'll fix everything."

Who's going to win?
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Considering this is all hypothetical, the first one is lying through her/his teeth in our political culture and the second is very scary.
 
Grampa Don said:
Here's what I mean: Two politicians running for office. One says "Our problems are complex. I don't have all the answers. But, if we work together and make some sacrifices, we can make things better for all." The other says "The answers are simple. It's all what's their names fault. Elect me and I'll fix everything."

Who's going to win?
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For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. H. L. Mencken

And we all too often vote for that clear, simple, and wrong answer...
 
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Politics has always been a dirty business. You have to have an oversize ego to get into it. And, that ego leads to a desire for power that is hard to resist. Even someone well intentioned can be corrupted by it. And, there will always be people who are fooled by false promises. I don't believe there will ever be a utopia. Can we all sing Kumbaya?
 
Nathan said:
I would modify the statement to read "SOME People Aren't Smart Enough for Democracy to Flourish"
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Of course you are right, but how to weed out those who are from those who are not??
Grampa Don said:
Politics has always been a dirty business. You have to have an oversize ego to get into it. And, that ego leads to a desire for power that is hard to resist. Even someone well intentioned can be corrupted by it. And, there will always be people who are fooled by false promises. I don't believe there will ever be a utopia.
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Probably true, since Cincinnatus anyway.

Maybe its because we remember the myth more than the truth, but I have always thought of George Washington as pretty uncorrupted. He could have been King, but stepped down at the end of his term. 1 of 46 ain't a great record...
 

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