Why Presidential Debates Make Us Dumber

Last updated on: October 18, 2012 at 8:24 pm by Joe Carter

Why Presidential Debates Make Us Dumber 2012-10-18T20:24:53+00:00 Joe Carter

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Over on the Acton Institute’s Powerblog, I explain why presidential debates make us dumber:

This is why presidential debates are designed, albeit unintentionally, to make us dumber. Candidates are expected to take maddeningly complex subjects, fairly present their opponent’s position and explain how their position differs all in 2 minutes or less. While such a task is clearly impossible, to even make an attempt requires stripping all relevant context from consideration. A “low-information voter”—who by definition is already unaware of the relevant political context—that watches a debate comes away, as Dylan noted, with less factual information than they stated with. They are, in a very literal sense, made dumber by watching the debate.

Politics

Previous Post

October 18, 2012

If Ayn Rand Wrote the Left Behind Novels

Next Post

October 19, 2012 The Mask of God

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Anecdotes Art Biblical Studies Bioethics Books Christianity Conservatism Economics Education Evangelicalism Family History Language Arts Military Misc. Moral Philosophy Movies Music Oddities Philosophy Poetry Politics Pop Culture Quotes Science Self-Improvement Shameless Self-Promotion Signs of the Times Technology Television Theology Thirty Three Things Videos Virtues Worldviews

Select a Month December 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I smashed a clay jar in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to illustrate coming destruction. What did this dramatic act symbolize?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The captivity The breaking of Jerusalem Breaking the covenant The end of idolatry