US Electorate; Ideological or Fickle?

1. 69

   Rogochuksposted 14 years ago

   In observing our US elections, I am struck by how unpredictable and reactive the electorate is. The United states by my estimation may have the most reactive electorate in all the world. What strikes me the most is that the US electorate votes more out of emotion, than substance or consciousness.
   Politicians on both sides of the aisle are well aware of this trend in the electorate, and they try to prey on their fears and insecurities.
   Another thing that strikes me about this electorate, is the fact that we may not be as loyal or committed as voters in other countries of the world. We simply do not vote for a party or person because we know them, belong to their party or relate to their cause; we vote mostly out of the emotion we feel inside us, relative to the information we are fed at the time of an election; this fuels our choice.
   When I think of the US, I like to think of a country that thrives on patriotism and respects its leaders. In matter of fact however, history shows that US leadership is diminished by negative emotions, rhetoric and attitudes that are the right of every American.
   As a US citizen, I will like to see a day when we are not so driven by emotion, but by ideology and social need. I also long for the day when every man or woman that holds the office of the presidency is dignified by all Americans with no regard to party affiliation. A sitting US president should never be rediculed, disparaged or disrespected. If we cannot respect that office, we cannot command respect in ours.

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   1. 61

      dutchman1951posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Respect is earned, reguardless of the Office or the title.
      
      also Like you I see the emotion take folks, young and old.
      not enough factual study.
      
      My Boss here told me, she has no Idea, she always goes with her family and ask's them who to pick..! Said She does not worry about it..!  amazing...

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2. 82

   tmbridgelandposted 14 years ago

   If you are familiar with the elections in other countries you will find that not much is different. Right now the French are rioting because the government decided to raise the retirement age to 62 from 60. A bunch of spoiled children, from my point of view.
   
   In the US there are conservatives, liberals, and a large group who swing different ways. Both the cons and libs are very loyal to their beliefs. The reason the electorate seems to swing so much is the undecided middle.
   
   These are people with no strong foundations or political beliefs, and they tend to vote on emotion. Whichever party makes them more angry will get punished. Four years ago, in 2006 they punished George Bush and voted in the Democrats to Congress. So the Democrats have had 4 years of control of Congress to screw things up. This year it looks like they will punish the Democrats, giving the Republicans an opportunity to screw up again.

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