Lack of financial literacy among voters is a 'threat to democracy'

[Paul&John]

As the May election draws nearer, a Post-Crash Economics society poll shows how voters struggle with concepts like GDP, quantitative easing and deficit

..
Zach Ward-Perkins, a researcher on the project, said ignorance among voters and especially lower socio-economic groups, means ?democratic debate stagnates into discussions between small elite groups over small differences behind the backs of an increasingly disillusioned and unrepresented public.? He added: ?This status quo is a grave threat to our democracy.?

Lack of financial literacy among voters is a 'threat to democracy' | Business | The Guardian

I'm pretty sure this is quite true for most (if not all) of the countries in the World..

[blackmonsters]

Dumbest theory I ever heard.

Good leaders know how to break information down for the masses.
You know like explaining the death panels in health care reform.

[pimpmaster9000]

Originally Posted by Paul&John

Lack of financial literacy among voters is a 'threat to democracy' | Business | The Guardian

I'm pretty sure this is quite true for most (if not all) of the countries in the World..

it is actually an excellent point...

[RummyBoy]

Originally Posted by crucifissio

it is actually an excellent point...

It sure is because the masses don't really know how an economy works and in general, more people vote for a living than actually work for a living.

So the party with the biggest hand outs always gets the advantage but when the country is broke, you're essentially voting for the party more likely to bankrupt the country. Then its a big downward spiral into disaster. I always thought that voters should have to have some minimal level of education and gain the qualification to vote.

Then you have a system that can actually work for the betterment of society but of course the very low classes wont like that because they're too dumb to actually know that they're dumb and part of the problem.

[bronco67]

Originally Posted by RummyBoy

It sure is because the masses don't really know how an economy works and in general, more people vote for a living than actually work for a living.

So the party with the biggest hand outs always gets the advantage but when the country is broke, you're essentially voting for the party more likely to bankrupt the country. Then its a big downward spiral into disaster. I always thought that voters should have to have some minimal level of education and gain the qualification to vote.

Then you have a system that can actually work for the betterment of society but of course the very low classes wont like that because they're too dumb to actually know that they're dumb and part of the problem.

and which party is more likely to bankrupt the country? The ones who encourage Wall Street to run wild and get us into needless, endless, expensive wars?

The last two times the economy has been good, it was because a democratic administration took over after a Republican fucked it up. Now the economy is primed to have another conservative come in and do it all over again with "trickle down economics" --- which never works, except for the ones in power.

[Paul&John]

Originally Posted by RummyBoy

I always thought that voters should have to have some minimal level of education and gain the qualification to vote.

Yeah I'm always telling the same, however in that case some broke asshole could say that voting is only for rich etc
Of course we are not talking university level of education, a high school would be enough, however a few Economics classes should be mandatory for all, so they understand the basic concepts!