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Summary Of Jason Brennan's 'Against Democracy'

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Summary Of Jason Brennan's 'Against Democracy'
Politically illiterate voters
Jason Brennan points out in his book “Against Democracy” just how politically illiterate the average voter is. Through a myriad of studies conducted by political scientists, psychologists and economists he points out that the average voter is ignorant, misinformed and biased. The average voters can identify the incumbent chief executive, but know little else beyond that. Democracy calls upon its citizens to make a rational decision when voting for a political party, offering different policies and advocating different political agendas. In order to differentiate and make a rational decision, the voter needs to have at least some basic knowledge about economics and political science. Research reveals that……[note] the average voter simply lacks in these departments. MISINFORMATION IS NOT ONLY RELATED TO THE EVER REDUCING NUMBER OF NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIBERS, AND INCREASED NUMBER OF CITIZENS WHO DO NOT READ ANYTHING ELSE BUT FREE NEWS SITES. THE LAST US ELECTIONS DEMONSTRATED THE FORCE OF TWITTER, WHERE TRUMP COMMUNICATED IN ONE-LINERS OF NO …show more content…
The right to vote is considered to be amongst the most important rights of all. However, when thoroughly looking at this, is that really the case? Consider your rights to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to choose an occupation, freedom to eat and drink whatever and whenever you desire, freedom to choose your sex life or your freedom to read whatever you want. If you take away one of those individual rights you would instantly notice the significant decrease of control and autonomy over your own life. When you revoke someones individual right to vote, nothing changes. The right to vote doesn't cost you anything either thus it might be considered as worthless. Your individual vote still does not make a difference, neither does casting it or not. It will not affect your life in any measurable way, unlike the other rights mentioned
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