"Intelligent People" vs. "Voters"

[Yeggo]

I freely admit that I've referred to the American people as "stupid" or "ignorant" in the past. That doesn't mean everyone's an idiot, but, as a whole... well, we're pretty idiotic. So, when Bloomberg released a survey showing people have absolutely NO CLUE what's going on with the economy, it wasn't a huge surprise.

But when the pollster blamed the DEMOCRATS for not educating people, the record player skipped. Why is it a political party's job to inform us? Apparently "personal responsibility" goes out the window when it comes to information.

http://conversation101.squarespace.com/generic-ballot/2010/10/29/intelligent-people-vs-voters.html#entry9323376

[emulatorloo]

1. Media basically repeats and amplifies the Republican Talking Points.

The only actual reporting I see is on the Rachel Maddow show.

[Jim__]

2. He's talking about the Dems ability to get their message out.

People on the street repeat the puke talking points, not the reality. I know that a lot of that is the media. But, the point he's making is that the Dems aren't getting their message out. And, yes, if they want to win the election, it is their repsonsibility to get their message out.

[cynatnite]

3. It's a responsibility shared by all...

The media should responsibly inform the public, political parties have to get their message out, and the voters have a responsibility to inform themselves.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

4. People are stupid but that Bloomberg poll was somewhat bogus

People thinking their federal taxes have gone up is ignorant.

People thinking the economy has contracted is, however, not stupid.

The counter is that the economy has grown in nominal terms. Yes it has. Whoop-de-do.

And the recession ended a year ago. It did, in technical terms... but do we brand people ignoramuses for saying we are still in a recession?

Below-trend job creation and below trend GDP growth do represent the economy shrinking in effective terms even as there are nominal gains.

So the people are not Morans for thinking the economy has shrunk or is shrinking, any more than they are fools for thinking we are not creating jobs.

[OHdem10]

5. The Pollster is correct. Republicans were given free reign by

Democrats to go on 24/7 and give the Republican Version
of the Democratic Legislation.

The Politics of the issue often counts more than the
issue itself. You can pass marvelous meaningful legislation
that will improve the country, BUT if you do not get out
and sell it making sure every detail is understood, the
hard work goes down the toilet.

The Pollsters are right this time The Democratic Party
makes a serious mistake over and over. Thinking the
President can do all the selling. Defies common sense.
The President goes on TV and gives a speech. Only a
certain amount of people are even able to watch in the
daytime. Millions never see that speech. You must have
Democrats going on Tv constantly repeating the Message.
This is the only way it gets to all viewers eventually.
Communication is the Achilles Heel of the Democratic Party.
and this weakness has had a major role in putting us
where we are at this time.