BEYOND WINTER: Sort Of Relevant Musings of An Old Man—STUPID VOTING [F, 11-1-24]
When I learned that the Potter & Brumfield electric relays factory in the county seat was hiring, I went immediately. I really needed a job. There were only two requirements: you had to be 18, and you had to pass the entrance exam.
I had not graduated high school, but they didn’t care about that; I was 18. And I aced the exam. I was hired on the spot.
The quality engineer who gave the exams was impressed by my score. That pleased me, but surprised me, because the exam seemed quite easy. No dates to remember, no equations to prove, no predicate nominatives to place or match case.
Mr. Pohl explained that the exam wasn’t about such things. “We are trying to see if you can think,” he said. “More than half of those who take the exam fail it. They can’t think.”
In civics class, our teachers extolled the high voter turnout we had in our county. But as I heard Mr. Pohl, I realized that more than half of those voters couldn’t think well enough to do a job on a factory line. But there is no test for voting. Those folks have been voting for 70 years. Those still alive will vote again in November. All without being able to think.
My friend and former pastor, Paul Mallory, used to remind me that half of all voters are below average. They are highly motivated to vote, because they want to show the above-average people that their below-average stupidity is just as good as above-average intelligence.
There was a TV commercial a few years ago featuring the founding fathers working on the Constitution, replete with powdered wigs and knee stockings. I can’t remember what product they were touting, but I do remember that as Jefferson argued for the right of all citizens to vote, one of the others incredulously said, “You mean even the stupid ones?”
Well, yes. But if you are not stupid, be sure to vote, for the founding fathers had you in mind…way back then.
John Robert McFarland
Thank you for this article. I have been thinking America was going to the dogs because of sinfulness, but it didn't fit well. Most of the people who make bad decisions are not sinful...they are actually pretty nice people. I couldn't understand how they were nice and sympathetic and yet voted for people who were really sinful, uncaring, selfish, and cruel. They weren't sinful they were stupid. Thanks for calling that to my attention. I have many really nice and stupid friends...and family members.
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