The biggest, most influential, and most unpredictable of all voter blocks remains poorly understood by either party, and almost unreported in the press.
No, I'm not talking about the AARP or the NRA. It's not any women's group or gay rights movement. Not African-Americans, Cubans, not even the all-powerful and all-knowing Jews. It's bigger than Union Labor, more diverse than the American Independent party, and found in every state, age group, and economic bracket.
It is rarely tackled directly, but every politician and every reporter knows about it. In an almost sinister fashion, they leave vague hints and references to this unfathomable power. Nixon brazenly invoked it as "The Silent Majority." The modern euphemism of choice, clearly influenced by political correctness, seems to be the "Low Information Voter." Some have suggested that "Joe the Plumber" and even "Hockey Mom" are coded references to this group.
But you all know who I'm talking about. I'm talking about the Moron Block.
There is no more potentially destructive force, and none more long-lasting, than the influence of morons. Plato, in The Republic, argued passionately that governance should be left to philosophers, and even though he agonized over the potential for corruption, found this form of government superior to a true democracy -- a government beholden to morons. Yet morons are a natural force, as old as humankind. As any statistician will verify, almost 50% of the people in any generation will be of below average intelligence.
There are clear signs of the moron effect in the present election. Some columnists have stated unequivocally that the outcome of this election is already not in doubt, save only the last-minute and concentrated caprice of morons. Other reporters, so badgered by morons, have diverged into a meta-argument of the stupid things morons clamor to hear more of:
But since this force is so strong, and so ingrained into human nature, surely both campaigns are aware of and actively trying to take advantage of it.
Thus, the question: How? Which campaign has pandered more to the moron movement?
In the article above, Ben Smith notes that the moron demands seem to back the Republican candidate by about 20 to 1. However, there is no reason to suspect this is not artifactual rather than political -- those begging for a scandal may be simply supporting the underdog, and had McCain been leading in the polls, it is reasonable to assume this behavior would be reversed.
There is a colorable case for both Republicans and Democrats intentionally energizing the moron base, though the strategies are different. The Democrats traditionally court morons through registration drives, both legitimate and sketchy, focusing on people who for whatever reason cannot figure out how to register or otherwise couldn't be bothered. Republicans, in contrast, take a more direct approach, using charged rhetoric such as "elitism" and offers the unwashed an opportunity to earn a gold sticker of acceptance in his "real America."
The Democrats promise a renormalization of wealth -- in moron terms, taking money from the smart rich people and giving it to us. The Republicans retaliate with boogeyman stories about how this is "socialist." Both memes appear to have traction. Both positions can be argued intelligently, but rarely are.
But who is the worse offender? Whose pleas for the moron vote are more effective? And who do we blame if the election winds up being decided by morons? I welcome your thoughts, regardless of your own party affiliation, voting tendencies, and personal bias.
Don't be a moron. Educate yourself. Encourage each and every candidate to elevate the discussion, give straight answers, and deal with real issues. When both parties run a smart campaign, everybody wins. Even morons.
No, I'm not talking about the AARP or the NRA. It's not any women's group or gay rights movement. Not African-Americans, Cubans, not even the all-powerful and all-knowing Jews. It's bigger than Union Labor, more diverse than the American Independent party, and found in every state, age group, and economic bracket.
It is rarely tackled directly, but every politician and every reporter knows about it. In an almost sinister fashion, they leave vague hints and references to this unfathomable power. Nixon brazenly invoked it as "The Silent Majority." The modern euphemism of choice, clearly influenced by political correctness, seems to be the "Low Information Voter." Some have suggested that "Joe the Plumber" and even "Hockey Mom" are coded references to this group.
But you all know who I'm talking about. I'm talking about the Moron Block.
There is no more potentially destructive force, and none more long-lasting, than the influence of morons. Plato, in The Republic, argued passionately that governance should be left to philosophers, and even though he agonized over the potential for corruption, found this form of government superior to a true democracy -- a government beholden to morons. Yet morons are a natural force, as old as humankind. As any statistician will verify, almost 50% of the people in any generation will be of below average intelligence.
There are clear signs of the moron effect in the present election. Some columnists have stated unequivocally that the outcome of this election is already not in doubt, save only the last-minute and concentrated caprice of morons. Other reporters, so badgered by morons, have diverged into a meta-argument of the stupid things morons clamor to hear more of:
SourceBen Smith @ Politico.com said:
But since this force is so strong, and so ingrained into human nature, surely both campaigns are aware of and actively trying to take advantage of it.
Thus, the question: How? Which campaign has pandered more to the moron movement?
In the article above, Ben Smith notes that the moron demands seem to back the Republican candidate by about 20 to 1. However, there is no reason to suspect this is not artifactual rather than political -- those begging for a scandal may be simply supporting the underdog, and had McCain been leading in the polls, it is reasonable to assume this behavior would be reversed.
There is a colorable case for both Republicans and Democrats intentionally energizing the moron base, though the strategies are different. The Democrats traditionally court morons through registration drives, both legitimate and sketchy, focusing on people who for whatever reason cannot figure out how to register or otherwise couldn't be bothered. Republicans, in contrast, take a more direct approach, using charged rhetoric such as "elitism" and offers the unwashed an opportunity to earn a gold sticker of acceptance in his "real America."
The Democrats promise a renormalization of wealth -- in moron terms, taking money from the smart rich people and giving it to us. The Republicans retaliate with boogeyman stories about how this is "socialist." Both memes appear to have traction. Both positions can be argued intelligently, but rarely are.
But who is the worse offender? Whose pleas for the moron vote are more effective? And who do we blame if the election winds up being decided by morons? I welcome your thoughts, regardless of your own party affiliation, voting tendencies, and personal bias.
Don't be a moron. Educate yourself. Encourage each and every candidate to elevate the discussion, give straight answers, and deal with real issues. When both parties run a smart campaign, everybody wins. Even morons.
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