......People Aren't Smart Enough for Democracy to Flourish, Scientists Say
By Natalie Wolchover | LiveScience.com – Tue, Feb 28, 2012....

The democratic process relies on the assumption that citizens (the majority of them, at least) can recognize the best political candidate, or best policy idea, when they see it. But a growing body of research has revealed an unfortunate aspect of the human psyche that would seem to disprove this notion, and imply instead that democratic elections produce mediocre leadership and policies.

The research, led by David Dunning, a psychologist at Cornell University, shows that incompetent people are inherently unable to judge the competence of other people, or the quality of those people's ideas. For example, if people lack expertise on tax reform, it is very difficult for them to identify the candidates who are actual experts. They simply lack the mental tools needed to make meaningful judgments.

As a result, no amount of information or facts about political candidates can override the inherent inability of many voters to accurately evaluate them. On top of that, "very smart ideas are going to be hard for people to adopt, because most people don’t have the sophistication to recognize how good an idea is," Dunning told Life's Little Mysteries.

....more


http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/2191-people-smart-democracy.html

That could explain why Ive voted for some of the idiots I have over the years   

This is why Australia's politicians will NEVER get rid of compulsory voting, it forces morons to make a decision based on ignorance and self interest.

Mediocre politicians need mediocre intelects to vote for them and the ONLY way to make that happen on a consistent basis is to make it compulsory instead of voluntary.

This is why we stand apart from other first world democracys and hang with third world despots in our voting system. 

Dsmithy70 wrote on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 4:07pm:



WHADDYA MEAN 'WOULD'?

... wrote on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 2:37pm:


A good leader should have good business sense and not even some of the brilliant have that in their makeup.

For a start, borrowing is sometimes necessary but has to be done with care something Labor politicians don't seem to demonstrate.

Mostly, a patriot should put Australia first. If  he knows one better to lead his party, he should stand aside.

I may be wrong but I think that Tony Abbott is such a man.

In my schooldays, I was picked captain of netball.

Realising that there was a better girl for the job, I passed the captaincy over to her.

We didn't win the match but still, I felt better for making this gesture.

Dsmithy70 wrote on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 4:07pm:



You mean to say in every other first world democratic country that has the right to vote, nearly all of them, they suffer from mediocre and dangerous elected officials and to get people to vote they pay them and drive them to the polling booths?

I think I might call that one bullsh1t.

Forcing ignorant and 'lazy bastards' to the polling booths will probably produce mediocre politicians (it has here) but allowing the stupid to stay home on polling day would actually improve the situation. Which is the point of this thread, allowing the morons to stay away from the polling booths to get a better outcome.


Compulsory voting is a scam perpetrated on the people of Australia, most of which are too stupid to realise they're being had.

... wrote on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 2:40pm:


CRAP =

Credible
Reliable
Abundant
Paradoxes

That's what Politicians peddle!

In fact, that's all they peddle!

FriYAY wrote on Mar 7^th, 2012 at 5:56pm:

Recent media releases on a planed increase in US forces in Australia. was a couple of months ago.