“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter,” the saying goes. Ouch, I take this to mean that many do not have the capacity to do the work to make good, responsible decisions.
Is this right? Do we dig for accuracy, context and truth, or merely lap up the served happy messages? Do we see if elected officials’ messages are congruent with their voting record? Do we allow biases to filter what we see and hear; are we even aware of our biases? Do we understand that assertion is not fact, allegation is not guilt, and innuendo is tantamount to a lie?
Democracy requires work by responsible citizens, more than just turning on the favorite channel or selecting the favorite website. Factual information is not always well-presented; one has to dig. Get your shovel out.
