09-10-2004, 06:00 PM
Hi,
Well, maybe not 'never', but at least not until the politicians are working with a better electorate.
Will a population, many of whom cannot even make change, be able to understand fiscal policy? Can a population mostly ignorant of all other cultures to the extent that most have not even studied *one* foreign language or ever left the country, understand international relations? Does population that is so ignorant of science that it shuns "Nuclear Magnetic Resonance" but warmly embraces "Magnetic Resonance Imaging" have the ability to follow arguments on global warming, pollution, or power generation?
The politicians are masters at working their audience. And since for every informed voter that rationally follows the issues, there is a mob of ignorant fools who are won over by third rate rhetoric, why should the politicians bother with the informed minority?
"A country gets the form of government it deserves."
As long as anyone can vote and as long as most people get no education we will continue to have the caliber of officials and the class of 'discussion' that is prevalent at the present. And, what's worse, is that the situation is self enforcing. Ignorant people will vote for ignorant candidates who will perpetuate the ignorance by watering down school systems and continuing to substitute training (and poor training at that) for education.
--Pete
Well, maybe not 'never', but at least not until the politicians are working with a better electorate.
Will a population, many of whom cannot even make change, be able to understand fiscal policy? Can a population mostly ignorant of all other cultures to the extent that most have not even studied *one* foreign language or ever left the country, understand international relations? Does population that is so ignorant of science that it shuns "Nuclear Magnetic Resonance" but warmly embraces "Magnetic Resonance Imaging" have the ability to follow arguments on global warming, pollution, or power generation?
The politicians are masters at working their audience. And since for every informed voter that rationally follows the issues, there is a mob of ignorant fools who are won over by third rate rhetoric, why should the politicians bother with the informed minority?
"A country gets the form of government it deserves."
As long as anyone can vote and as long as most people get no education we will continue to have the caliber of officials and the class of 'discussion' that is prevalent at the present. And, what's worse, is that the situation is self enforcing. Ignorant people will vote for ignorant candidates who will perpetuate the ignorance by watering down school systems and continuing to substitute training (and poor training at that) for education.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?