We are all aware that democracy is under threat. The reasons are many, but a recent poll regarding the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) illustrates an oft overlooked but widespread contributing factor to the current political chaos.
Voter ignorance.
The IRA is, to a large extent, a tax incentive program that would help mitigate climate change. It also provides money for the woefully underfunded IRS that would permit it to identify more of the uncollected tax money owed primarily by the wealthy. Additionally, it will improve affordability of and access to health care for many millions of low and middle income Americans. This act is a win, win, win for the average American. Benefits to the economy have already manifested themselves.
The poll focused on the climate related aspects of IRA and also evaluated President Biden’s approval rating on climate. (Only 40% approved.)
It posed the following questions:
“How much have you read/heard about:
1. Tax credits for solar panel installation
2. Tax credits for manufacture of solar panels and wind turbines
3. Tax credits for heat pumps
4. Tax credits for EV purchases
5. The Inflation Reduction Act”
Note: items 1-4 are key IRA provisions.
In the case of all five questions, those responding that they had read or heard a lot about each item ranged between only 22% and 33%. Only 27% had read or heard anything about the IRA itself.
This despite the fact IRA was all over the news for months.
When asked how many supported the individual components in the act, those polled supported items 1-4 at a rate of between 50 and 65%.
After already saying they supported its individual features, however, only 40% said they supported the IRA itself. In other words, 50-65% effectively support the IRA but only 40% actually know they support it. Thus, a signature accomplishment of the Biden administration, more impressive by virtue of having been carried off in spite of the dysfunctional Congress, will not be factored in to the voting decisions of a huge portion of voters.
One imagines, had the pollsters informed respondents prior to the polling that the components they support happen to be components of the IRA, 50-65%, not 40% would have said they support IRA. Many may also have changed their minds about how well Biden is doing on climate.
This illustrates a profound level of ignorance among the electorate. No wonder we get the “leaders” we do.
In the past, minorities were selectively excluded from the voting rolls by literacy tests and poll taxes. We can all agree that was a travesty. But maybe what is needed are universal poll tests. They should first test the ability of the prospective voter to listen to or read clear statements and comprehend them. Judging by the documented rate of functional illiteracy alone this test would disqualify as many as 30% of prospective voters. If we added to that those who lack a basic grasp of American history and of how government works as well as those who do not follow mainstream news, the failure rate would be higher.
Before being handed a ballot, prospective voters could be asked simple questions regarding American history, civics and current events. One wonders how many could answer such questions as well as they could respond to questions such as “What did your Facebook friends order for dinner last night?” or “What color was Beyonce’s outfit at her last concert?” or “What’s the latest BS exploding out of the mouth of Donald Trump?”
Sound draconian and undemocratic? Think again. Similar standards apply to getting a driver’s license or becoming a naturalized American citizen. The process for obtaining qualification to vote would be the same. A handbook of questions and answers would be provided to prospective voters and they would be required to pass a test.
Why should we permit people who can’t understand what they hear or read and/or know nothing about what they are voting for to vote when, using the same criteria, we wouldn’t let them drive a car or gain citizenship?
Want to ensure vote integrity? How about starting by whittling down the voter rolls to those who are intelligent and knowledgable enough to cast an informed vote?
An Author's Inner Mind 