Election myths, things aren’t as bad as they seem

OK, I am a sucker and presuming these are right and not just pulled out of the author’s ass, I am an ass…

8 Election Myths You Probably Believe
http://www.cracked.com/article_20134_8-election-myths-you-probably-believe.html

#8. Myth: It’s All Pointless, Since Candidates Don’t Keep Their Promises Anyway

Statistically, those failures were actually the exception, not the rule. Political scientists in the 1980s set out to evaluate the promise-keeping history of American presidents and found that 75 percent of pre-election pledges made by presidents Wilson through Carter were met. Most people are lucky to keep that kind of ratio going in a marriage, let alone while running a country. And yes, this trend still holds true with our modern leaders.

#7. Myth: Campaigns Run Mindless Attack Ads Instead of Giving Us Substance

When exposed to a barrage of negativity, we may feign disgust, but are actually more likely to show up at the polls. Oh, and we’re better informed, too — in one study, people who watched attack ads knew more about the issues of the election than others. After all, negative commercials prompt fact-checking and force opponents to issue a response to clear their names. So what some would call deplorable smear campaigns that belong in the gutter, others would call a dialogue. And it’s the voters who benefit.

#6. Myth: The Two-Party System Is Dividing Us into Opposing Tribes of Extremists

Choices are nice, but there’s one underrated advantage of the two-party system: It makes everyone more moderate. Multiparty systems, as attractive as they may sound, also lead to more fanaticism.

#5. Myth: Political Rhetoric Is More Hateful and Divisive Than Ever

Quick quiz: Name the presidential candidate who was so awful that his opponent’s supporters warned that if the guy won …

“… murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will be openly taught and practiced. The air will be rent with the cries of the distressed, the soil will be soaked with blood, and the nation black with crimes.”

And also that voters would see their children “writhing on a pike.” So who was it? Bill Clinton? Hitler? Nope, Thomas Jefferson. In 1800, supporters of John Adams warned that Jefferson’s election would lead to Cormac McCarthyworld. Apparently early Americans were really into the apocalypse back then, because Jefferson won.

#4. Myth: Campaign Spending Is Out of Control

Now here’s one that seems impossible to argue. The numbers are freaking astronomical. President Obama and Governor Romney raised $769 million and $642 million, respectively (as of September 30, 2012) — that’s $1.4 billion total, for a freaking political campaign. And that’s not even counting the tens of millions poured into political action committees.
…
…in 2011, General Motors spent $1.78 billion in advertising to be the No. 1 car company in America, which is a fraction of the nearly $14 billion spent by the entire auto industry. Between the two of them, Verizon and AT&T spent $3.5 billion to be the top two companies in their sector. And $1.34 billion was spent on makeup ads just by L’Oreal.

#3. Myth: We Judge Candidates Based on Silly “Gaffes” Instead of Real Issues

Gaffes get a ton of play in the media, and while it’s true that candidates in a primary can lose their shot at the big job if a brain fart stains their mouth-undies too much (Rick Perry, we’re talking about you), the same rules don’t seem to apply to the actual election.

#2. Myth: Voter Turnout Is Plummeting, and Voter Apathy Is at an All-Time High

It’s not that we’re bad at motivating voters; it’s that we’re bad at math.
…
In fact, as of 2008, turnout was as good as it was in 1968, which is great. Our ability to properly calculate and talk about voter turnout? Not so much. [see also here]

#1. Myth: It All Just Comes Down to a Few “Swing” Voters Anyway

…there’s no evidence that they make up a meaningful chunk of the electorate or decide the outcome. National elections don’t hinge on swaying a few undecideds; they hinge on activating unmotivated party members.

I’ll admit (a bit grudgingly) that the article rings true to me and I am probably an apocalyptic conspiratorialist who overreacts to everything. But then again, I am human after all.

Author: Tfoui

He who spews forth data that could be construed as information... View all posts by Tfoui