Does a workable democracy require a well-informed electorate?

ugabuga:

Unlike Koa, my gut feeling (intuition) makes me think that somehow we'd be a better nation/society if we were better informed.

Koa:

(Again, I didn't say that and I don't think that. You are making up sh-t.)

Koa,
I re-read your posts & you're right: although you say "it doesn't take a well-informed electorate for a workable (representative) democracy," you didn't say we don't need to work toward a better-informed electorate.
I'm glad you didn't say/think what I attributed to you in error.
I apologize for misinterpreting & misrepresenting you view.

I agree. Hopefully, folks are using the internet to inform themselves on important issues & not just playing games & viewing porn.

When my son was in Boy Scouts, I taught the merit badges on Citizenship in the Community, in the Nation & in the World (3 separate badges). I'd like to think that the scouts that got the badges under my mentorship became better informed citizens & maybe even developed an interest they'd take into adulthood.
So, I'd say, volunteer your time to help inform/interest young people in important issues. Glenda Wood is doing this: check out the thread "The Dreyfuss Initiative" on this forum.

Even though the folks on this forum have different worldviews, I hope most of us can agree that a well-informed citizen is a better citizen.

I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful mentor and boss for seven years; one who is committed to public service to Florida and the United States. He has retired now and is working very hard to bring civic education to our school system. Here is a review of his handbook, American - The Owner's Manual -- http://www.naspaa.org/jpaemessenger/Article/jpae-v16n1/hu.pdf. I hope to use this to teach a class starting in January...I truly believe our country will be better off when more people understand how our government works and how it was designed to work...it is appalling to me how little so many know about our government and current affairs...the real issues, not the talking points from some political operative with an agenda.

It is only when people think for themselves that knowledge and wisdom are gained. We owe more to our children than we have been providing for them in the recent past IMO. This effort in Civics Education is a step in the direction of nurturing a better informed citizenry and is sorely needed today.

Our Well-Informed Electorate?

Nearly one in five people, or 18 percent, said they think Obama is Muslim, up from the 11 percent who said so in March 2009, according to a poll released Thursday. The proportion who correctly say he is a Christian is down to just 34 percent.

The largest share of people, 43 percent, said they don't know his religion, an increase from the 34 percent who said that in early 2009.

Does a workable democracy require a well-informed electorate?

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/08/18/us/politics/AP-US-Poll-Obamas-Religion.html?hp

I guess I'm a little slow, but last night, I was watching CNN and they were talking about Obama's religion, as if there weren't more important issues.

according to your report:
18% say he's Muslim
34% say he's Christian
43% say they don't know
5% of the data samples is absent

I see many news stories in this data. If Obama received the majority of the votes, yet only 34% of Americans think he is Christian, Obama's own voters don't even know what his religion is. 66% of Americans don't think he is Christian, is another way of looking at the stats. That isn't such a shocker since I doubt 34 % of the voters could make an A on the citizenship test. I bet we'd be lucky if that many could name the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Senate Majority Leader.

I think most well informed voters don't care what religion he affiliates with; or if he does at all.

Those who would incite hatred and divide among the citizenry use the question of his religion as a wedge issue. (They don't really care which religion it is either--if the question was settled, then, they would not have a fear based issue to use for their agenda)

It is hateful, divisive, and inappropriate in America IMO.

We elected a president, not a minister.

GOP knows Obama's not a Muslim, but what's a little misunderstanding?

GOP knows Obama's not a Muslim, but what's a little misunderstanding?

Not GOP's job to make voters better informed on this issue.

GOP knows Obama's not a Muslim, but what's a little misunderstanding? - CNN.com

american style capitalism is fueled by stupidity ala overconsumption, marketers zero in on the intelligence level of their clientel. i'm sure most have seen the average tv and political ads. what must we assume?

Rev. Franklin Graham's Disinformation Campaign

Rev. Franklin Graham is leading a "disinformation campaign" against President Obama by attacking Obama's Christian faith and distorting Islam's theology, says a leading religion professor.

Evangelist leads 'disinformation campaign' on Obama: Religion professor - Faith & Reason

Rev. Franklin Graham is leading a "disinformation campaign" against President Obama by attacking Obama's Christian faith and distorting Islam's theology, says a leading religion professor.

Evangelist leads 'disinformation campaign' on Obama: Religion professor - Faith & Reason

Graham made a good point actually, Islamic faith passes responsibility down by the father. Obama's father was Islamic, hence Obama, whether he likes it or not, is Islamic in his father's eyes.

Graham made a good point actually, Islamic faith passes responsibility down by the father. Obama's father was Islamic, hence Obama, whether he likes it or not, is Islamic in his father's eyes.

In theory, an Ayatollah could consider him to be Muslim on the same basis & declare a fatwah (sentence of death) on him as an apostate.

Graham made a good point actually, Islamic faith passes responsibility down by the father. Obama's father was Islamic, hence Obama, whether he likes it or not, is Islamic in his father's eyes.

His father's dead. The views he once held are most likely inconsequential at this point, and that may have even been the case while he was alive.

Graham made a good point actually, Islamic faith passes responsibility down by the father. Obama's father was Islamic, hence Obama, whether he likes it or not, is Islamic in his father's eyes.

Absolute bull$hit, Islam is not a race. If he was a sailboat in his fathers eyes would he be a sailboat? Franklin Graham is an intolerant dangerous a$$hole fueling religious hatred. It's sad enough when religions disrespect each other but to lie and attempt to redfine a persons faith to justify your hatred is going to far.

Islam isn't a race. You are correct. Speaking of race, why does Obama say he is black instead of mixed race, which he is? He seems to like to ride the fence just like any politician, leaving more questions than answers.

The fact that this poll is worthy of being on the major news shows how shallow the news is these days. Is it all a distraction from the bigger issues concerning this country?

why does Obama say he is black instead of mixed race, which he is? He seems to like to ride the fence...

The long-existing standard in this country was (until just recently?), if you have one drop of black blood, you're black. Maybe we're more enlightened in 2010?

Graham made a good point actually, Islamic faith passes responsibility down by the father. Obama's father was Islamic, hence Obama, whether he likes it or not, is Islamic in his father's eyes.

Actually his father was more likely agnostic. It was his father's father who was Muslim. So you think the seed got passed down to the President through his agnostic father? You think there's a genetic component to faith? Was his father just a carrier? Is Obama too? Could he turn me into a Muslim if I drink out of the same glass as him?

Boy you guys sure don't like the idea of Obama being a muslim do you. What's wrong with being muslim? Is Obama embarrassed by his heritage? Are you embarrassed by it? Personally I could care less, but I do enjoy watching you all get so worked up about it!

Boy you guys sure don't like the idea of Obama being a muslim do you. What's wrong with being muslim? Is Obama embarrassed by his heritage? Are you embarrassed by it? Personally I could care less, but I do enjoy watching you all get so worked up about it!

You're wallowing in ignorance and misinformation, and you think it's funny. What part of truth don't you understand?

Boy you guys sure don't like the idea of Obama being a muslim do you. What's wrong with being muslim? Is Obama embarrassed by his heritage? Are you embarrassed by it? Personally I could care less, but I do enjoy watching you all get so worked up about it!

Really? You could care less?
Maybe you mean you couldn't care less?

Anyway, if this is a source of enjoyment for you, your threshold for enjoyment is pretty low.

Ai, yi, yi, yi, yi.

Ai, yi, yi, yi, yi.

no kiddin!

I think most well informed voters don't care what religion he affiliates with; or if he does at all.

Those who would incite hatred and divide among the citizenry use the question of his religion as a wedge issue. (They don't really care which religion it is either--if the question was settled, then, they would not have a fear based issue to use for their agenda)

It is hateful, divisive, and inappropriate in America IMO.

We elected a president, not a minister.

This is what I took from the poll. yes, there are those who are truly convinced Obama is Muslim - people just love to say it (with disdain) and now I guess they believe it - these people are beyond reaching with education and awareness anyway. so forget about them. I think most informed voters are not interested and not focused on what religion Obama practices, if any. During the presidential campaign, much was made of his Christian church and minister - after which people should know he is Christian - but I guess they keep going back and forth and can't decide - as if someone's religion is up to them to decide in the first place.

yes, I do wish americans were more informed. our children deserve so much more than they are being given and it will affect their whole lives and their childrens lives and so on. I believe some of the sensationalized TV and radio programming to be at the heart of feeding BS to the masses - but whattayagonnado?

there are only three choices that I see:

get rid of all news/entertainment-news - unplug.

stop buying any product sold by any advertiser on the programs you find inappropriate

take to the streets in protest of ignorance and stupidity on the airwaves....

Boy you guys sure don't like the idea of Obama being a muslim do you. What's wrong with being muslim? Is Obama embarrassed by his heritage? Are you embarrassed by it? Personally I could care less, but I do enjoy watching you all get so worked up about it!

quite the contrary, one half of white america has been windmilling their collective arms over the election of a black man without a slave name.

Franklin Graham - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Early years

The fourth of five children of evangelist Billy Graham and wife Ruth Bell Graham, Franklin Graham was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina.

As a teenager, Graham attended Stony Brook School, a Christian private school on Long Island, New York, and finished high school in North Carolina.

In 1972, he attended LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas, and was expelled from the school for keeping a female classmate out past curfew.[1]

He graduated from Montreat-Anderson College (now Montreat College) with an A.S. and Appalachian State University with a B.A.

In 1974, 22-year-old Graham became a Christian in a hotel room while on a trip to Jerusalem. He married Jane Austin Cunningham later that year. They have four children: William Franklin Graham IV (Will), born in 1975, Roy Austin Graham (1977), Edward Bell Graham (1979) and Jane Austin Graham Lynch (Cissie) (1986). Lynch is now married to the NFL's Corey Lynch, safety for the Cincinnati Bengals. Graham and his wife have five grandchildren.

As a young man, Graham was actively mentored by two senior members of the Billy Graham Team; Roy Gustafson and John Wesley White. These men worked alongside Billy Graham and had a desire to positively affect the life and ministry of the eldest son of their longtime friend and colleague. Franklin began conducting events for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1989 and became the CEO in 2000 and its president in 2002.[2] Each year, he conducts at least five Graham Festivals around the world as an evangelist associated with the BGEA. Since 1989, he has preached to more than three million people in 126 evangelistic events.[citation needed]

He went to Hong Kong from November 29, 2007, to December 2, 2007, to host the Hong Kong Franklin Graham Festival, the first major evangelistic rally in Hong Kong since its 1997 transfer of sovereignty, which drew more than 420,000 attendees.[citation needed]

Graham spoke at the 1999 Columbine High School memorial, and he also gave the opening prayer at the 2001 inauguration of George W. Bush ...............like GW, nobody without daddy