---
title: "Trump (and Clinton) are just symptoms of a more fundamental problem:…"
date: 2016-10-11
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships shared a link.
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# Trump (and Clinton) are just symptoms of a more fundamental problem:…

*October 11, 2016 · Facebook*

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[http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredmeyer/2016/06/27/american-voters-are-ignorant-but-not-stupid/#72b85f7273dd](http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredmeyer/2016/06/27/american-voters-are-ignorant-but-not-stupid/#72b85f7273dd){target="_blank"}
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Trump (and Clinton) are just symptoms of a more fundamental problem: voters are deeply ignorant and irrational, and have little incentive to become more informed and logical.\
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\"\...only about 34% of Americans can even name the three branches of the federal government: executive, legislative, and judicial.\
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It is not that familiarity with these terms is absolutely essential---it's that anyone who follows politics even moderately closely is likely to know them. The fact that most people do not know is a strong indication of their ignorance about politics and public policy generally.\
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But while political ignorance is often rational behavior for individuals, it can lead to terrible collective outcomes. It does not matter much if any one voter is ignorant, but it does matter if we have an entire electorate that is that way. The situation is comparable to air pollution: one gas-guzzling car makes little difference, but thousands or millions of them could potentially cause great harm to the environment. \"\
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[http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredmeyer/2016/06/27/american-voters-are-ignorant-but-not-stupid/#72b85f7273dd](http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredmeyer/2016/06/27/american-voters-are-ignorant-but-not-stupid/#72b85f7273dd){target="_blank"}
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