According to Kelley and Mirer , voting is a simple act with a single rule: Voters tally their likes and dislikes for each party and candidate, then vote for the candidate with the highest positive number. If this tallying ends in a tie, party identification serves as a tie-breaker.
Using this model with political attitude poll data, researchers were able to predict election outcomes more successfully than any previous model.
Strangely, such a model is no longer predictive of American elections.
Have you ever noticed that you don’t meet too many proud Republicans who happen to be in favor marijuana legalization. You never seem to meet a Democrat who believes no changes should be made to the 2nd Amendment. Attitudes towards disparate issues appear to cluster and are influenced by party identification.
Put simply, party identification becomes something of a lens, a red or blue filter for new information. A Republican develops seemingly logical rationalizations for their desire to vote for their party, and a Democrat creates the same justification for their allegiance. While the facts we’re presented are the same, their interpretation is predetermined.
As prosperity plummets in our country, with record levels of unemployment and a continual divergence between the average cost of living and average income, we’ve seen group identity grow in importance. Millions of Americans manage, like prestige leeches, to receive sustenance from identification from one of two parties that remain incapable or unwilling to address our dire economic conditions.
As satisfaction declines, group narcissism increases, and unhealthy group think is fostered. For a country perceived to be so divided by issues, America is actually divided by suffering and nefarious groups that profit and sustain power by harnessing confusion and the dissemination of information.
after this last election I dont think it matters anyway. so much fraud
There are too many lies told to the American people. Big Tech, News channels, and politicians that create false news should be sent to prison – period.
I used to vote. But I don’t any more. You are asking why? I used to think my vote made a difference. In reality it does not. One vote won’t change a thing. Then I thought of the state and county majors. What turned me against that is if it goes the opposite way they want it. They will push it to the courts and in two years turn it. Then as a thank you for voting you are now ON THE LIST FOR JURY DUTY! NO THANK YOU!
I think all American’s should vote. Especially the repulicans. Look what happened in Georgia for the run offs. The democrats ran away with it and it made a really big difference. We are definitely are ran by the crooks in the Senate right now and we all are going to pay for it. PLEASE VOTE. The democrats are not going to get away with stealing it anymore. Everybody is too smart for that anymore and I am sure they won’t stand for it, if they try to do it again. In fact, I think the Democrats are going to have a hard time every winning again. Legally. They are destroying this Country and all of them in office should be tried for Treason. For not obeying what they took an oath to do when they took office. Come on Republicans. Let’s stand up to them. We aren’t wimps. We fought and some died to keep our country free. Let’s not let the democrats take that away from us.
Hey Steve Sipes- you are safe to vote. Jury duty rosters come from driver license records now, no longer from voter registration as it used to do.
A dog and pony show. Waste of time and effort. There’s absolutely no point in voting or getting so involved with political nonsense that it creates issues in one’s life relationships. Your real power lies in your purchases. Everything in today’s world is about money. If you want to effect real change spend wisely. In the end the most powerful political entities are involved only to enrich themselves or to further their agendas to garner the same. Vote if you wish but don’t get so hung up on the nonsense you see and hear from the media. The media is and always has been a political tool used to manipulate people only to further those agendas paid for by Uber wealthy billionaires that seek to divide the common citizens. This was done long before the United States became a country. It worked then and it works now. Too many people get so wrapped up in the fervor driven by the media and end up in the streets or on social media permanently destroying their own lives in the process. We see it nearly every day on the very media that creates this divide. People rioting in the streets arguing with friends and loved ones all in the name of some ridiculous political ideology. Life is much too short to be allowing out of touch billionaires to create drama in and division in our lives because in the end it is about their own perpetuating their own wealth. When the ultimate goal in politics is money then money is the tool necessary to make our voices heard. Seventy-five million votes “their number” wasn’t enough to stop the liberal freight train but Seventy-five million purchasers walking away from left leaning businesses will be noticed.
It’s your choice. Vote or don’t but spend with an informed understanding and inevitably change will come.