Come to think of it, it's not very difficult to define an intelligent voter, right? If you're thinking about the voter who's aware of all the issues involved in the election and is also well informed of the qualifications of the competing candidates then you're on target.
But how does one get to know the candidates and the issues? If you're the average Joe (or, Jose) you rely mostly on the news: traditional radio/TV and newspapers or Internet news (also from the same radio/TV/newspaper networks). In short, you only get to know what media feeds you. I'm embarrassed to admit I also defend on media for my information. Is that good?
It all depends on who's lobbying who and what, of course. And you and I won't even recognize a lobbyist if we met one. The lobbyist is this paid hack who bribes lawmakers into making decisions that will favor their paymasters. But of course! They also manipulate the news by pouring advertising money into media networks. Thus we'll notice one network heavily favors one particular party (e.g. Fox loves the GOP and CNN drools over anything the White House dishes out) while other news networks look at things from a "different perspective." Then there's also the professional "opinion" talk shows (Limbaugh, Hannity, Huckaboom) who heap halos on the GOP and thorns on the Donkey Party.
With all these vested interests vying for our attention, how the heck do we form an intelligent opinion? Hell, we can't! We just guess. We muddle around the issues and try our best to see the nuggets in the pile of crap they dish out. In the end, things boil down to a kind of popularity contest. The more we hear the name, the more it sticks to our consciousness. So when the day comes for us to vote, whether we like Quinn or not (candidate for NYC mayor) we'll feel inclined to favor her over Bilblas and Thompson since we haven't heard much about the last two. Heaven have mercy on you if you still find a pervert (Weiner) a viable candidate! Personally, I believe he ought to be registered as a sex offender!
It's worse in the Philippines - a professional boxer named Paquiao is considering running for president. Why not, if the voters elected an imbecile like Erap to be president or a crook like Gloria Dorobo, Fuckyao... Oops! Paquiao! might make it. If he does, it won't be the first time a certified moron occupies Malacanan Palace. Who knows, he might repeal the law of gravity! If people like Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Yoyoy Villame, etc. can be elected to public office, why not Fuckyao... Oops!
What's the solution to this misdirection of information designed to sway the voters into voting for the scoundrels? Revise the election rules, that's what. There ought to be educational requirements, non-biased biographies to be written by election officials and a probationary period when the candidate wins. Six (6) months in office and he/she proves to be a lemon, we kick him/her out after a written test and public evaluation. Then, to make the public office not so attractive, reduce the perks that go with it - no more Cadillac benefits. If the elected official gets sick, he/she gets services based on Medicare rates!
But who's going to come up with the changes? Not the imbeciles who got elected to office. They will want to perpetuate their kind. And that means a stand off. We'll continue doing things the old stupid way. There's no room in life for intelligence. We're nothing but worms - food for the birds and fish!
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