Why seeming average is becoming a plus for politicians.

[dennilfloss]

It's not a totally new phenomenon but it has picked up speed and may have triggered the engouement for Bush junior and Sarah Palin.

http://www.canada.com/ottawaci...4f26-a6d2-01feac864c38

Looks like the dumbing of the electorate is starting to really change one aspect of politics. Before, we looked to experts and elites for guidance and expected as much from our leaders. Now, the fear of intellectuals and authoritative figures has made the pendulum swing the other way. It's becoming better to be Joe Dirt than Adolf Einstein (if we were to use extremes as examples).

The use of family members as something The Average Bloke can relate to is also becoming more prevalent, particularly in right-wing circles.

http://www.canada.com/ottawaci...4514-b954-00cbc184c5a7

 

[ebaycj]

Albert Einstein ?

 

[dennilfloss]

Yup. My bad. :laugh:

 

[CallMeJoe]

Originally posted by: ebaycj
Albert Einstein ?

Was Adolph his cousin?

 

[StageLeft]

I think it's brutal. I also am positive that if I was born into a noble family a few hundred years ago I would have had NO problem whatsoever thinking that it was right that we didn't let the peasantry vote because they were too stupid/ignorant to guide themselves and needed us nobles to help.

Not sure what that says about me, nothing good, but that's how it is. Please don't bring this up if I ever run for office

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I think it's brutal. I also am positive that if I was born into a noble family a few hundred years ago I would have had NO problem whatsoever thinking that it was right that we didn't let the peasantry vote because they were too stupid/ignorant to guide themselves and needed us nobles to help.

Not sure what that says about me, nothing good, but that's how it is. Please don't bring this up if I ever run for office

Plato agreed with you to an extent so the idea isn't that far off. I actually firmly agree with Plato as well that leaders should be made up of an aristocratic type of people, the most intelligent ect ect rather than average joe schmo who might solely be focused on one issue while ignoring the bigger picture of issues needed to govern a society.

 

[Moonbeam]

Only a benevolent dictator can save us and Obama will have a democratic congress. Only Obama, then, has any chance of bringing change. More McSame will be more disaster so there is no choice but to vote Obama if you can think.

 

[gevorg]

Because its easier to pick a candidate based on how he relates to "me", how he looks, how he speaks, and finally hows his sex life. The other way of picking the candidate by his political history, beliefs and opinions are boring.

 

[nageov3t]

one problem might be how little political history, beliefs, and opinions actually mean once the person is in office.

the GW who has served as president for the last 8 years is not the bi-partisan and successful governor of texas or the compassionate conservative who ran for office and denounced nation building.

 

[fskimospy]

It's called information shortcuts. I've said this before, but after Ford lost the election and someone asked him what he thought his biggest mistake was and what he had learned from it, it was "shuck your tamales". He tried to eat one while still in the corn husk and looked like an idiot doing it. If some guy can't even eat the food you like right, what are the odds he's going to understand what you want and need? (of course in reality the answer is: there's a very good chance he will, but in people's minds...)

My friend's sister is a perfect example of this. She voted for Bush in 2004. When she told my friend and me this, we were dumbfounded. When we asked her why in the hell she would vote for that moron she said "Well I want to be a teacher, and Bush supports teachers!" Of course we told her that actually Bush was an enemy of teachers and the teachers' union, she was honestly taken aback and said she wished she hadn't voted for him. I think this is a lot more common than people think. She liked Bush's personality, so she assumed that Bush was for the same things she was for.

So, if you're an average retard people can relate to you well. They assume you are for what they are for. Only in this insane world does Bush the oil baron who wants to cut taxes for the rich come off as a regular joe, and the guy who spent years of his life getting shot in the mud of Vietnam before trying to help out the poor here come off as an elitist.

 

[blackangst1]

I thought having joe six pack picking our candidates was a good thing? Average, by its very definition, means majority. Do we really want the stupid or the elitists (snicker) picking?

Wheres the problem?

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
I thought having joe six pack picking our candidates was a good thing? Average, by its very definition, means majority. Do we really want the stupid or the elitists (snicker) picking?

Wheres the problem?

We want average people voting, but we should be picking the best candidate. Not the candidate that is most like the average voter.

 

[her209]

Its the same reason why people try out for American Idol.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: blackangst1
I thought having joe six pack picking our candidates was a good thing? Average, by its very definition, means majority. Do we really want the stupid or the elitists (snicker) picking?

Wheres the problem?

We want average people voting, but we should be picking the best candidate. Not the candidate that is most like the average voter.

Dont we accuse policians of being elitists? Why wouldnt average joe be a good candidate? Would a Rothchild heir be able to relate to average joe?

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

The average American is an idiot. That's the sad truth of it.

Those that vote Democratic tend to be more enlightened on the issues.

 

[cwjerome]

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
The average American is an idiot, like me. That's the sad truth of it.

Those that vote Democratic tend to make the most amazingly stupid mass generalizations.

Agreed.

 

[venkman]

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
The average American is an idiot. That's the sad truth of it.

Those that vote Democratic tend to be more enlightened on the issues.

And one half of the population is dumber than the average American.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: cwjerome

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
The average American is an idiot, like me. That's the sad truth of it.

Those that vote Democratic tend to make the most amazingly stupid mass generalizations.

Agreed.

If most feel this way, we cant bitch about politicians being out of touch can we?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: venkman

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
The average American is an idiot. That's the sad truth of it.

Those that vote Democratic tend to be more enlightened on the issues.

And one half of the population is dumber than the average American.

The half that voted for Bush in 04?

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: venkman

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
The average American is an idiot. That's the sad truth of it.

Those that vote Democratic tend to be more enlightened on the issues.

And one half of the population is dumber than the average American.

The half that voted for Bush in 04?

And the other more than half voted for Gore in 00 :laugh:

 

[cwjerome]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: cwjerome

Originally posted by: OneOfTheseDays
The average American is an idiot, like me. That's the sad truth of it.

Those that vote Democratic tend to make the most amazingly stupid mass generalizations.

Agreed.

If most feel this way, we cant bitch about politicians being out of touch can we?

Read again.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Wheres the problem?

The problem has been in the White House for the last 8 years.

Now Republican John (I voted 90% of the time with Bush) and the connected Republican lobbyists and old guard who run his campaign want to take back Washington . . . from themselves.

The problem is that there are too many stupid people like yourself more than willing to believe all this.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Wheres the problem?

The problem has been in the White House for the last 8 years.

Now Republican John (I voted 90% of the time with Bush) and the connected Republican lobbyists and old guard who run his campaign want to take back Washington . . . from themselves.

The problem is that there are too many stupid people like yourself more than willing to believe all this.

What % did Barack Husein Obama vote against the president?

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
It's not a totally new phenomenon but it has picked up speed and may have triggered the engouement for Bush junior and Sarah Palin.

http://www.canada.com/ottawaci...4f26-a6d2-01feac864c38

Looks like the dumbing of the electorate is starting to really change one aspect of politics. Before, we looked to experts and elites for guidance and expected as much from our leaders. Now, the fear of intellectuals and authoritative figures has made the pendulum swing the other way. It's becoming better to be Joe Dirt than Adolf Einstein (if we were to use extremes as examples).

The use of family members as something The Average Bloke can relate to is also becoming more prevalent, particularly in right-wing circles.

http://www.canada.com/ottawaci...4514-b954-00cbc184c5a7

You didn't mention Obama and Biden, are they average?

If Palin and Bush are average where does that put you, are you above or below?

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Wheres the problem?

The problem has been in the White House for the last 8 years.

Now Republican John (I voted 90% of the time with Bush) and the connected Republican lobbyists and old guard who run his campaign want to take back Washington . . . from themselves.

The problem is that there are too many stupid people like yourself more than willing to believe all this.

What % did Barack Husein Obama vote against the president?

Obama voted against Bush about 60% of the time in 2007 according to FactCheck.