Comments (What I think of all this)

Okay, so I lied. The Comments page isn't finished yet. But I will tell you the final average score on the exam. After about 600 graded papers, somehow you people beat every rule of statistical variance and wound up with an average of 50% right on the nose. So, what does this mean?

Well, in one to four years, just about all of us will be reaching voting age. By the very fact that you showed up for this survey, you must have some interest in the process, and are going to be at the polls every time they're open, to have your say. But think: is our country really better off when its electorate knows so little about the candidates, not to metion the issues? And worse yet, in light of this year's terrible turnout, some are considering making voting mandatory! That's right, just like jury duty, voting would be enforced for all. Is this a contradiction or what?

Election Judge: Here's your ballot, sir.

Citizen: But I have no opinion.

E.J.: You still have to express it.

C: But I don't know who's running! I'm not qualified. I don't care who wins.

E.J.: Then it doesn't really matter who you vote for. Flip a coin.

Ah, yes, democracy at its pitiful worst. Doesn't it seem reminiscent of the trial scene in Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand? Once again, for those who have not yet seen it, my opinion here is that quantity of voters does not really count. When I have all the stats tabulated, I will compile a correlation between both watching TV news and reading the paper, and informedness. Past surveys have shown that the greatest gain has come from reading, but at first glance at my data, there seems to be little correlation at all. This seems to indicate that students need to improve critical skills: Critical reading, so they can learn from the magazines and newspapers, and critical listening, so as to learn from watching the news.

As the old joke goes: "Which is worse: ignorance or apathy?" "I don't know and I don't care."

As far as voting is concerned, ignorance is much worse. At least the apathetic don't show up to vote, and thus don't deter the course of the election. The ignorant, though, may very well vote, and thus may contribute to the election of one who is not the most qualified. Certainly the addition of a semi-random ballot won't help the election in any meaningful way; it just adds entropy to the most orderly of national events.

Send e-mail to: RogerW7979@earthlink.net