I think the majority of people who don't vote out of laziness are neither extremely smart nor extremely stupid, neither extremely right-wing nor extremely leftist, neither extremely gay nor extremely straight, etc. That's the point, they're not extremists.
I know that the lazy moderates aren't the sharpest tools in the shed, but I also know that once they're out of the picture there's much less ballast to keep the radical lunatics in line. To use a specific example: I think that the Tea Party does a better job of convincing their lazy supporters to vote than either of the major parties do, and if we accept that logic then the inescapable conclusion is that the Tea Party's influence is being inflated by America's non-compulsory voting system.
It's not just the dullards who aren't voting, either. I think you would be shocked at how smart and well informed you have to be before you actually decide you care enough to vote. Just look at Konkvistador - surely LWians and their ilk are the people we want MOST to vote?
To use a specific example: I think that the Tea Party does a better job of convincing their lazy supporters to vote than either of the major parties do, and if we accept that logic then the inescapable conclusion is that the Tea Party's influence is being inflated by America's non-compulsory voting system.
You do know tea party activists are actually above average on nearly any stat you'd care to name? Education, political knowledge, ...
Just look at Konkvistador - surely LWians and their ilk are the people we want MOST to vote?
Well sure! Any plan on...
Don't let your minds be killed, but I was wondering if there were any existential risk angles to the coming American election (if there isn't, then I'll simply retreat to raw, enjoyable and empty tribalism).
I can see three (quite tenuous) angles:
But these all seem weak factors. So, less wronger, let me know: are the things I should care about in the election, or can I just lie back and enjoy it as a piece of interesting theatre?