Here’s why so many voters are so dumb

[Cyrano]

IMO, the reason comes down to one word: Education.

Over the past 30 to 40 years, Republican governors and legislatures have destroyed what was once a pretty good K thru 12 public education system. Their weapons of destruction have been privatization, vouchers, idiotic testing schemes, and an outright disregard for a broad curriculum of the arts and sciences. Add home schooling to this and you end up with millions of Americans who are under educated and over propagandized.

This would explain why so many people consistently vote against their own interests. And it would also explain the current Donald Trump phenomenon.

Disagree? Let's hear your opinion?

[yeoman6987]

1. Yeah how interesting that California want to

Give high school diplomas to kids who do not fulfill the requirements. Yep dumbing down education has been going on for decades.

[angryvet]

2. Faux news adds to the problem

but you are right. The education system has really deteriorated.

[Cyrano]

4. Yes, Fox "news" propaganda, which is

peddled 24/7, is one of the greatest tools in the right wing's arsenal for the dumbing down of America.

[HassleCat]

3. And it will destroy the nation

"God, Guns & Guts Made America Great!" You've seen that bumper sticker, I'm sure. Wrong, Mr. Redneck. It was public education that made America great. Destroy public education and you destroy the middle class.

[tech3149]

5. Since I graduated HS in 1971, I can attest to the diminution of K-12 education

I received a pretty good education, although far from broad and complete, it was very good. Having worked in and around schools all my adult life I observed it from a "fly on the wall" perspective.
The other major factor is the propagandizing of the general public. Most importantly, the vast majority no matter how intelligent and educated don't seem to realize it. Very few seem to understand the massive expense and science is expended to influence public opinion and perception.
I was never a serious consumer of corporate news but with more critical awareness I realize how toxic it is regarding virtually any subject. If a subject is discussed at all, it must be sensational and framed within a narrow lens of understanding. Its relevance to your well being is of no importance. It must grab some emotional hook that leads you toward uncritical acceptance of the story line presented.
Think of the lowest common denominator in presenting news, the nightly network news. Of a half hour broadcast only 22 min is left after commercials. In those 22 min mabey 10 or 12 stories are covered. With those probably 2 or 3 are feel good, fluff, or sensational with no broad importance to the public in general. The remaining stories whether they are of true importance at all only get a few minutes of coverage. There is no way to provide accurate and complete information to understand the subject of the story.

For years I've told anyone that seems to give a shit to broaden there resources for news. I stick with long format journalism, independent non commercial sources, and international media sources. Just as important is to remember those sources who got past stories right on what subject. Even a good source on one subject can be horribly wrong on another.

[Cyrano]

7. The PBS nightly news with

Gwen Ifill an Judy Woodruff is perhaps one of the best news summaries that is easily available.

[tech3149]

14. I began my true awakening in 2002

I tried desperately to watch News Hour as well as other PBS shows to gain a broader perspective but I found them also lacking. While not as obvious ,the narrowed perspective is still there. I think the single appearance of Scott Ritter and repeated appearances of the typical Washington crowd made it obvious. That is when I used the internet as it should be. To find those independent, international and varied perspectives needed to get a better understanding.
I can understand fully why most people don't or can't put in the effort to be truly informed because that is where I was for too long. That's why I see the most common forms of news information as being crucial to make a serious change in public awareness.

Perhaps social media can provide an alternate channel but it is not a resource that everyone has access to for either economic or geographical reasons. Those of us who do need to establish networks in the real world to share what we know with those who aren't as lucky.
Another factor my awakening revealed is that I needed to understand the historical factors that affected the events of today. You simply cannot understand events without context and you need the history to provide the context.

[Nay]

6. IMO, the utter blanketing of the country with RW propaganda has contributed the

most to this disaster. Propaganda against teachers and public schools gave the privatizers a chance to horn in, and once they did, education was no more than another way to steal tax money -- they didn't give one shit about the kids, education, or the future of the country, only about the millions they would rake in.

In colleges and universities, once students became 'customers' and professors became belittled employees who had to pass everybody or lose their jobs, that was the end of the U system (except for the elite universities, of course -- the 1% has to have a place to send their kids, after all). The propaganda against the supposed uselessness of the liberal arts killed whole sections of learning that might have had an influence on the thinking of students; just teaching them enough to get a job didn't make them aware citizens. Another win for the propagandists.

What's somewhat of a mystery is why so many Democrats buy into the school reform crap, charter schools, etc. The only reason could be money, so with both parties doing this, there's hardly any way for regular folks to make sense of things.

Frankly, Bernie is the only person even talking about this stuff.

[ladjf]

8. Ignorance and stupidity. nt

[alc]

9. I think they're smarter than they get credit for

They think about core issues rather than their own interest. They think about the precedent a government action sets and what the next step may be. A lot of rural people in particular have been screwed in the long term (and even short term) by help by they've received (and I'm not talking about people who hate civil rights).

I think the problem is more apathy than stupidity. And if you want to understand that look at the Iran deal senate vote. There is a lot of room for debate (maybe not on DU but in general). There are a lot of pros and cons. Maybe 5 senators looked at it and fewer discussed it. They intentionally created a process where they wouldn't have to discuss it. On something pretty significant where a debate may change minds and would at least get some headline coverage so more people would understand it the end result was a vote based on "us good. them bad." (and I don't mean us/them as US vs Iran but D vs R). You cannot make me believe that all the Rs voting against it think it's bad and all the Ds voting for it think it's good. They represent to wide a diversity of districts to agree that solidly with their party.

Name any significant, controversial issue in the last 10 years that's been about the issue rather than D vs R and what procedural games can be played by the majority. Where congress members from either side were allowed to have an opinion that differed from the party. If an issue is significant and controversial there will be members of congress who disagree with the party and who's constituents disagree with the party. But it's not allowed. So why should we care much. Pick the party that most aligns with your core beliefs and hope they don't screw up too much. No matter what the issue is or what your interest is, the congress member is siding with the party not with you. And that goes for ALL issues not just the one you like or don't like so don't pick the party based on issues.

As far as education goes A LOT of people believe just the opposite of what you said (and it probably doesn't matter who's right to you or them though you'll both agree it's government's fault). Education hasn't done so well in all D-run areas either. These are things our representatives should be having an open and honest debate about but they aren't allowed. So many people blame the entire corrupt system. And in cases where they prefer less government they decide R is in their interest because they believe that R means less government. And if you are going by a single issue Rs are the ones who more often say they want less government even if they don't deliver.

[tabasco]

10. I'm sure it's a big factor.

Downright laziness is part of it too. People just want to stay glued to their TV sets and are not curious about the world the way many people once were.

[0rganism]

11. not really it, i think

K-12 deterioration over 30-40 years? i don't disagree that things have gone downhill in a lot of ways.

however, that basically means voters under 45. younger voters aren't typically the ones voting for self-destruction.

it may have a long-term impact on their voting habits, but i think so far the collapse of K-12 education over the last 40 years hasn't led directly to especially destructive electoral behaviors. if anything, younger voters seem to retain their sense of hope and idealism in the face of such setbacks.

the parents, on the other hand, may have had their faith in government sorely tested by the decay they've seen -- and that's the 50+ crowd right there that watches Faux News.

i propose an alternate cause: people, voters included, were never all that bright. we all have at least a latent authoritarianism rooted in our amygdala, we are easily distracted by shiny objects, we worship celebrity, and we all like to believe we're special snowflakes who will someday be rewarded by fate itself for our endeavors. history tells a story of billions of fools, over thousands of years, following idiots and villains as readily as we've followed wise men and heroes.

the "Donald Trump phenomenon" as you call it, seems to me a continuation of humanity's tendencies toward authoritarianism and idolatry rather than something truly new and different.

[Cyrano]

12. Interesting opinion and I agree with

much of it. As far as younger voters under 45, I think their views differ depending on the part of the country in which they were educated. There are differences from region to region and state to state.

Regarding people 50+, I live in Palm Beach County and there are many seniors here. From what I can tell, most of them think that the entire Republican Party is bonkers and that Trump is just (as Paul Krugman put it) "an ignorant blowhard." There are die hard Republicans here, but they are in the minority. However, I'm just looking at a small slice of those over 50, so I really don't know how representative it is. I do know that many here are retirees from the north east, (NY, NJ, New England), so where they were originally educated and grew up contributed to their views.

[snagglepuss]

15. /\/\/\/\this/\/\//\/\

[JI7]

13. shitty media ,people wanting to be famous etc

Am i the only one who doesn't like taking pics of myself ?

[ghostsinthemachine]

16. TELEVISION!

Have you watched that shit lately? WOW! the stupid is flying around all day everyday on there and it seems the dumber you are the bigger the ratings you get. Couple that with a mean streak and you are gonna get rich as shit!

I've been off TV since November, except for some sporting events and man, I don't miss any of it.

When I was in the hospital for a few days all I had was TV and I couldn't believe the dumb that came out of that thing.

[steve2470]

17. I'd say ignorance and not paying attention, not lack of intellect in general nt