Maybe thinking Joe Schmo is stupid is part of the problem?

[Bonobo]

Average folks don't know a lot of the academic terms thrown around by the academics and political pundits.

But they do know bullshit when they hear it.

As I have said before, they have more finely honed bullshit meters than those with money, those who can afford to get bullshitted and ripped off without losing their rent money for the month.

They may not know the term "Oligarchy", but I guarantee you they know one when they see it.

[Kalidurga]

1. I think it's a problem of time

I know for me it was when I had three children in school and I was working full time and it took me an hour to get to work an hour and a half to get home because I frequently had to pick something up on the way home. Then when I got home make dinner, check homework, etc...it left me very little time to follow politics. And there are a lot of people who have even more demands like children and elderly parents to look after that was my sister, she didn't have the commute I had, but our mom and dad lived with her and they were both on disability.

[Bonobo]

2. I'm talking about arrogance.

I'm talking about losing touch with the base.

These Joe Schmoes being looked down on are SUPPOSED to be our supporters.

And what do they sense from the elite of the Democratic party?

Arrogance and contempt.

[Kalidurga]

3. I know and the reason people think voters are stupid is because they are not informed.

Voters are not informed for the most part because they don't have the time. At least not the group of 25-40 year olds, not any I knew in that age group anyway. And they do get talked down to for that. Instead of talking in sound bites I think we need to be reintroduced to the idea of actually talking policy and not spouting off talking points at every opportunity.

[Bonobo]

5. Absolutely. You're right and I think Bernie is a great example of straight talk. nt

[Kalidurga]

7. Yes he is

and his message is getting out. I am going to a Bernie event on July 19th it is sort of a block party/voter registration party. Free food, music and people from the DFL getting the message out on their candidates in the primary so there will be Bernie, O'Malley, and Clinton supporters there handing out literature, bumper stickers, pins and so forth. Oh DFL is the Democratic party in MN, I have been here so long I forget we are weird. I suspect that we will have 10-1 support over O'Malley and 5-1 over Hillary Clinton.

[eridani]

4. Lack of interest in politics isn't stupidity

It's just lack of interest in politics

[Bonobo]

6. Yes, I know that.

It also has nothing to do with the ability to know you are being screwed over.

[Fast Walker 52]

8. Average voters aren't stupid, the better term is low information

they are busy, don't have time to sort things out, and thus get misled by political messaging or their relative/friend who is very very about their leanings.

And of course I tend to think it's a problem for people who vote Republican out of their interest, but you know there's conservatives who think Dem messaging is misleading and tricky.

[jwirr]

9. Rule by the few by any other name is still rule by the few. And when that few are super wealthy

it is not going to be hard to learn the meaning of oligarchy.