Thursday, Mar. 27, 2014, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)
Even with all the money spent on political ads, it seems to be a mystery why so many of the working poor vote against their own best interest. In his book, Deer Hunting with Jesus, Joe Bageant explains that they are trapped in ignorance. They don't even realize what is their own best interest. Bageant was raised in that culture but was able to escape and is now a self proclaimed socialist. Yet he tells the story from the view of the people he grew up with. Here is an interview he gave about the book.
suggested reading (a Rand Paul brief talk)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/embed/svGDZOW-brA?rel=0
The Student Loan Bill that Rand Paul was raving against was HR 1911 which was a Republican bill that originated in the House. It passed the Senate 81 - 18. Only one Republican voted against it, and it was not Rand Paul.
DeleteHere a link to the Senate Vote for HR 1911, which occured on July 24:
Deletehttp://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00185
The bill was reconciled with the House on July 31, then Congress left for the summer break. Had the bill stalled like Rand Paul wanted, student loans would have doubled from 3.4% to 6.8%. That was why the bill was rushed through.
People may vote against their own best interests in these conditions,there are likely many more. Ignorance may or may not be the controlling factor.
ReplyDeleteFirst if they believe that their vote is for some greater good and their personal interests will not be catastrophically disadvantaged.
Second, if they cannot sort out the misinformation or disinformation given them by trusted sources who themselves have a hidden agenda.
Third, they may be a single issue voter and there are multiple issues in a single vote. Congress itself seems to make sure there are few single issue votes, adding poison pills so members will vote against the main issue they would otherwise support.
Fourth, in California referenda are purposely confusingly worded in the negative so a positive vote is against the single issue.
Some of the issues you brought up are in Tom Frank's, "What's a Matter with Kansas?" Here is a Bill Moyers interview:
DeletePart 1
Part 2
I think way too many voters succumb to office seeker's efforts to frame social isues as the compelling reason to vote them into office. Usually these are combined with the infamous negative campaigning technique of demonizing the opponant on those issues. This works especially well in light of most voters general ignorance on issues not covered or slanted their way on their favored channels,n'papers, mags., etc. Even if "the base" can discern their best self-interest on on complex issues, candidates can be counted on to stir the social issues pot so furiously as to suck them to the top as in the Maslow prognostication.
ReplyDeleteConnections between self-interest and policy issues are so intentionaly obscured that when the special interests come on hard the social interests are pushed to the top. Frankly, tho, I think maybe too many voters have given up on trying to understand just what their self-interest might be on the big issues. Going to self-interest entails knowing what that might be on the biggies and I must confess that I sure don't discern my own best interest on many issues. I often find myself right in the middle. Muddle is my middle name .
From Skye:
ReplyDeleteIdeas for Thursday discussions
A lot is going on in Africa. How about African wars, the CAR situation, Nigeria, or something like that?