Do you think if every American was heavily involved with politics, we would see better candidates for Pres.?

Question

It seems (as always) that people generally pick a candidate for the wrong reasons:

1. the way they look

2. the exposure they get

3. their family names

4. their political party.

So if EVERY single American was involved with politics as much as the orignial political junkies, would better candidates step up to the plate and help run this country?

please note: this is a political party/ideology neutral question

Answer 1

Excellent question. The truth is that more than half the voters in America are either indifferent or ignorant of the issues and viewpoints of the candidates. Like you pointed out, they vote for a particular candidate based on inconsequential criteria.

However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Until we rid ourselves of the Electoral College and dramatically overhaul campaign contributions, we're stuck with a group of self-serving buffoons. An independent candidate--no matter how qualified--could never be elected under our current two-party system.

Answer 2

I think this is a great question but I if I may, I would like to make one small amendment and change "heavily involved" to just simply "informed". The average American is not even informed about politics. A lot of people hear the world "politics" (sometimes even "news") and change the channel, tune it out, scroll down the page, etc. I think that if America, as a whole, was just better informed, then obviously everyone would have to step it up. Potential candidates, candidates, and even already elected, in-office officials would all be forced to do a better job because the American people would be, in effect, another form of "oversight". I can't believe some of the answers to some of the political questions on this site (well, actually I can). Most of the answers (and questions) about presidents & presidential candidates have something to do with how they look, political parties, personal problems/scandals, etc. Hardly anyone talks about the issues. I wish I had a solution to this problem. I don't know how to get people riled up and excited about politics. We've got to get a intelligent, informed national discussion going about REAL issues to make any kind of change.
Alright, sorry for the rant. Anyways to answer your question, yes. If every American was involved with politics, the candidates would have to be better. The people would DEMAND it.

Answer 3

You would think, but alas there a lot of lazy people out there and they do not take the time to research who they vote for. You would think with all of this technology where every bit of information you might want is at your fingertips people could at least spend a few hours researching the candidates they are thinking of voting for.

This is also a neutral answer.

Answer 4

Agreed. Simply judging from what I read on various blogs and their responses, in addition to conversations I hear in person, I believe that most don't research even the candidates they support, and certainly not the ones they don't. Instead they tend to adopt ideas and talking points from the pundits, whom are no experts but are simply pushing their own agenda for ratings. This sad state of affairs leads to far too many uninformed votes being cast.

Answer 5

It goes without saying, if we as a people put as much effort into our new Presidint as we do into picking a new house or car we'd be in far better shape. Unfortunately, we are getting conditioned into living off of the sound bite du jour and making our choices from that.

Answer 6

stable. that's slowly yet definitely destroying the parable of "christ" as quickly as and for all. there is not any longer a christian majority that stands for authentic separation for church and state once you think approximately that that's what the bible instructions. Ever. maximum theists hate secular liberalism too lots to permit something social liberal (i.e. "evil") to bypass. you have the two theocratic christian fascism or you have a freedom that brazenly makes it possible for submit-xian unfastened theory. era. No center floor right here. that's a conflict between fundamentalists and atheists. "i individually think of that status by way of and gazing secularism take carry interior america without doing lots of something approximately it over the final in keeping with danger one hundred years has been a worse mistake."-Alan ^ SEE? they can't stand freedom of religion because of the fact it logically concludes to freedom FROM faith. So the religion of one hundred+ years in the past became extra powerful? Slavery became extra powerful? you want theocracy circulate to Iran.

Answer 7

I think if polititians quit making stuff up about other polititians, better people would run.
Why would any of the brightest minds in America make themselves subject to lies and rumors, that those on the internet assume as fact?
They themselves have made it that way, and unfortunately, if you read what you see on Y/A, most of America believes what they say.....

Answer 8

You've forgotten something too!

Americans dislikes some cadidates with real intents.
I tell you, you dislike Cheney because of his croonies.
you didn't beleive al gore and his managements and so forth. BUT! these are the real guys Americans should be putting in the oval office! the real problems are, you dislike them, because you knew too much...

Answer 9

I doubt it. I don't think anyone runs out of a sense of duty to the country. I think people run today for the power and ego boost. I doubt that would change.

Answer 10

Absolutely, and especially if the candidates were held more responsible for their promises and platform messages (get caught in a lie....Good-bye )