Comments on: Trivial Matters Important to U.S. Elections http://donklephant.com/2008/05/22/trivial-matters-important-to-us-elections/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:07:11 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Joshua http://donklephant.com/2008/05/22/trivial-matters-important-to-us-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-408018 Joshua Fri, 23 May 2008 01:57:33 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=5755#comment-408018 A couple of weeks ago on the Volokh blog there was a short series of posts about voter ignorance and how it impacted political campaigns. (<a href="http://www.volokh.com/posts/1209353894.shtml" rel="nofollow">Here's one of those posts, with links to the others in the series.</a>) One of the main points made was that staying adequately informed to make a sound rational decision would be a full-time job, and thus entirely impractical for most people. Furthermore, most voters are well aware that their own individual vote is highly unlikely to influence the outcome of an election. With these things in mind, it's no wonder, and maybe even just as well, that our votes so often turn on trivial matters. A couple of weeks ago on the Volokh blog there was a short series of posts about voter ignorance and how it impacted political campaigns. (Here’s one of those posts, with links to the others in the series.) One of the main points made was that staying adequately informed to make a sound rational decision would be a full-time job, and thus entirely impractical for most people. Furthermore, most voters are well aware that their own individual vote is highly unlikely to influence the outcome of an election.

With these things in mind, it’s no wonder, and maybe even just as well, that our votes so often turn on trivial matters.

]]> By: BenG http://donklephant.com/2008/05/22/trivial-matters-important-to-us-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-408007 BenG Thu, 22 May 2008 21:42:31 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=5755#comment-408007 ASC, Great post - always enjoy the historical perspective. The previous comment brings to mind Englands political option: They can, at any time, bring to the floor a vote of No Confidence and kick the bloke out. How nice! I especially like your final point about politicians saying one thing to get elected and doing the exact opposite once in office. This is what I both like and dislike about J. McCain. He often says what he really thinks and backs it up with actions, like the immigration bill he sponsored that got him in so much trouble. But he feels so strongly about issues that I don't trust his 'meeting them half way' promise, which is an important characteristic he offers to many moderates. The dig about the 'percieved elitism' trait of Obama's is perplexing. Where he comes from, what he stands for and why he swears he's in the race to start with is so contrary to any elitist tag. I just don't get how that one statement he made - that one word even- will stick with him to his detriment. ASC,

Great post – always enjoy the historical perspective. The previous comment brings to mind Englands political option: They can, at any time, bring to the floor a vote of No Confidence and kick the bloke out. How nice!

I especially like your final point about politicians saying one thing to get elected and doing the exact opposite once in office. This is what I both like and dislike about J. McCain. He often says what he really thinks and backs it up with actions, like the immigration bill he sponsored that got him in so much trouble. But he feels so strongly about issues that I don’t trust his ‘meeting them half way’ promise, which is an important characteristic he offers to many moderates.

The dig about the ‘percieved elitism’ trait of Obama’s is perplexing. Where he comes from, what he stands for and why he swears he’s in the race to start with is so contrary to any elitist tag. I just don’t get how that one statement he made – that one word even- will stick with him to his detriment.

]]> By: May http://donklephant.com/2008/05/22/trivial-matters-important-to-us-elections/comment-page-1/#comment-407981 May Thu, 22 May 2008 18:23:27 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=5755#comment-407981 "our nation has been using triviality as a part of the election process for almost our entire existence. All-in-all, I’d say we’ve managed to do pretty well for ourselves" I disagree. I think this is the crap that keeps us way behind Europe in terms of social & economic progress. Loved this post! “our nation has been using triviality as a part of the election process for almost our entire existence. All-in-all, I’d say we’ve managed to do pretty well for ourselves”

I disagree. I think this is the crap that keeps us way behind Europe in terms of social & economic progress.

Loved this post!

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