MIT Study: Appearance is Everything

Who would have ever thought that voters may be swayed more by a candidate’s looks and appearance than by his or her political platform? An MIT study seems to suggest that it just may be true.

The study found that “low-information voters are most likely to vote for a candidate based on looks alone. “What,” you may ask, “is a low-information voter?” I’m glad you asked. Low-information voters consist of those who watch a lot of TV and are not up-to-date on policy issues.

People commonly judge other people according to first impressions, but once they learn more about them, they tend to update their impressions and forget their initial judgments. The problem with voting in elections is that many voters never go to the second step of learning more about the candidates other than that initial impression.

According to people conducting the study, the number of TV-watching, low-engagement voters is far from insignificant. The number of voters in this category could even be enough to sway the outcome of elections.

You think? It doesn’t take a scientific study to know that TV-watching, low-engagement voters may actually be a majority of voters. Even worse, is the fact that most of the people in this category are low-information voters. They hear headlines (on TV) and they make up their minds according to little catch phrases they hear. Beyond that, many of the voters who put candidates in office know next to nothing about what they are voting on.

Can this trend be reversed? It can, but it takes grass-roots efforts. Each of us, who actually pay attention, should discuss actual issues with these low-information voters. If we all do our part, things just may turn around.

Why Should We Vote?

“It is not easy to determine who are the more criminal. They who would make their way to places of power and trust by indirect means, or they who have so little concern for the welfare of their country as to harken to them. No civil rulers are to be obeyed when they enjoin things that are inconsistent with the commands of God: All such disobedience is lawful and glorious.”
---Jonathan Mayew (1720-1766) Preacher in The First Great Spiritual Awakening

When a citizen gives his suffrage [vote] to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor, he betrays the interest of his country.”— Noah Webster (1758-1843) Father of the Dictionary & American Patriot

When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of [our] republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this Duty; if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded.”— Noah Webster (1758-1843) Father of the Dictionary & American Patriot

"If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation."— Samuel Adams (1722–1803) Father of the American Revolution, Patriot and Statesman

“Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is impossible that a nation of inlldcls or idolaters should be a nation of freemen. It is when a people forget God, that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.”— Patrick Henry (1736-1799) Patriot, Lawyer and Orator

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.”— Joseph Story (1779-1845) Lawyer, Supreme Court Justice & influential commentators on the U.S. Constitution

“Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”— Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) Sixteenth President of the United States

“The people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities. ... If the next centennial does not find us a great nation... it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.” — James Garfield (1831-1881) Twentieth president of the United States

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”— Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) Sixteenth President of the United States

“Our nation will prosper or decline in direct proportion to our selection of leaders who are guided by the Holy Spirit. If we fail to select Godly leaders our destiny will surely be as that of the Roman Empire.”— Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) 40th President of the United States

http://www.godtheoriginalintent.com/web%20pages/Quotes%20on%20Voting.html

Vote--It's your Responsibility

The Freedom and Success we as a society enjoy is contingent on voting. Non-voting societies tend to be oppressive, and the common people have little or no freedom or success. Voting is a right, a privilege, and most importantly, a responsibility. We are often encouraged to vote, but many eligible citizens do not vote.

Perhaps the most common reason people don’t vote is because they feel that one vote wouldn't make much of a difference. But that reason is totally and completely unfounded. If everyone felt that way, we would soon lose the freedoms we now enjoy.

Voting is easy and painless. All it takes is a little personal responsibility and a little effort. Do yourself and all of your fellow citizens a favor by going to the voting booth in every election.
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