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Too dumb to vote?
 If you can identify the vice president of the United States, polls for next week's election will be open on Tuesday, Nov. 2. For the rest of you, polls will be open next Wednesday, Nov. 3.
I know that there are some who read this who are of the opinion that every citizen should be encouraged to exercise their right to vote, but I think there are some that can do us all a favor by finding other things to do on election day.
It might even be the duty of every American to do what they can to keep stupid people from voting.
Lie, bribe them with Lady Gaga concert tickets, or keep them at home with a day's worth of reality television shows —just distract them until the polls are closed.
A recent survey of some 3,000 Americans by the Pew Foundation should help illustrate the kind of people I'm referring to when I say some people shouldn't vote.
In the poll taken, 41 percent of those surveyed couldn't name Joseph Biden as vice president.
Other surveys by Pew reveal that only about one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment —freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.
More than half surveyed, however, can name at least two members of the fictional cartoon family, the Simpsons.
If Homer Simpson was vice president, some might be more informed. Judging by some comments Biden has made since he has filled the nation's second highest office, I'm not so sure that the patriarch of the Simpson family wouldn't make more sense.
Only 34 percent know that it's Congress that declares war, just 35 percent know that Congress can override a presidential veto and almost half think the president can suspend the Constitution.
Maybe those who believe the last one are right, given recent occupants of the White House.
I guess that calling people who don't know the fundamentals of our government "stupid" is a little harsh.
As Will Rogers once said, "Everyone is ignorant, just on different subjects."
Ignorance, however can be dangerousFor the full story, subscribe to the The Franklin Sun's NEW E-Edition! |
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