Myth of the Rational Voter

[Matt Collins]

The Myth of the Rational Voter:
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8262


Here is the summary:
In theory, democracy is a bulwark against socially harmful policies. In practice, however, democracies frequently adopt and maintain policies that are damaging. How can this paradox be explained?

The influence of special interests and voter ignorance are two leading explanations. I offer an alternative story of how and why democracy fails. The central idea is that voters are worse than ignorant; they are, in a word, irrational—and they vote accordingly. Despite their lack of knowledge, voters are not humble agnostics; instead, they confidently embrace a long list of misconceptions.

Economic policy is the primary activity of the modern state. And if there is one thing that the public deeply misunderstands, it is economics. People do not grasp the "invisible hand" of the market, with its ability to harmonize private greed and the public interest. I call this anti-market bias. They underestimate the benefits of interaction with foreigners. I call this anti-foreign bias. They equate prosperity not with production, but with employment. I call this make-work bias. Finally, they are overly prone to think that economic conditions are bad and getting worse. I call this pessimistic bias.

In the minds of many, Winston Churchill's famous aphorism cuts the conversation short: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." But this saying overlooks the fact that governments vary in scope as well as form. In democracies the main alternative to majority rule is not dictatorship, but markets. A better understanding of voter irrationality advises us to rely less on democracy and more on the market

You can read the full version in PDF form:
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa594.pdf

You can read the full version in HTML form:
http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/html/pa594/pa594index.html

[BillyDkid]

Somebody once said that the genius of the American political system lies in its ability to get people to vote consistently against their own best interests. While there are many stupid people, I think that most people are reasonably brights, but they are also intellectually lazy. I think that might be the appeal of George Bush to so many people - he shares their intellectual laziness.

[Energy]

Anyone read this?

[James R]

Somebody once said that the genius of the American political system lies in its ability to get people to vote consistently against their own best interests. While there are many stupid people, I think that most people are reasonably brights, but they are also intellectually lazy. I think that might be the appeal of George Bush to so many people - he shares their intellectual laziness.

I think the internet has the capacity to change voters into intelligent decision-makers. I think whether or not Ron Paul wins, eventually it may be that nothing but people like Ron Paul will win. That said, it may be another lifetime before we get another candidate from congress that isn't in bed with special interests.

[AlexAmore]

Why does the writer say "Lastly, they are overly
prone to think that economic conditions are
bad and getting worse. I call this pessimistic bias."

The thing is...economic conditions are HORRIBLE!!!!

I gotta go to school and i'm gonna stop reading here. Maybe someone can read further or tell me what the writer means. I might read the rest after I get home.

[BuddyRey]

So, wait a sec. If a voter disagrees with the Cato Institute, he/she must be irrational or ignorant?! We can't allow democracy and choice because too many people will make stupid decisions? i thought the entire libertarian movement was about allowing people to make personal choices, no matter how uninformed they may be?

[kylejack]

I don't know, it makes some good points, but plenty of rationally self-interested actors vote for socialism.

[10thAmendmentMan]

I don't know, it makes some good points, but plenty of rationally self-interested actors vote for socialism.

Rational might not have been the best term. If there is a vote on immediately getting $60k from the government but we all knew that it would cause the country to collapse from debt after we died, it may be rational self-interest to vote for such a measure. However, good policy it would not be. I think "good voter" didn't have quite the same ring to it as "rational voter."

[kylejack]

Rational might not have been the best term. If there is a vote on immediately getting $60k from the government but we all knew that it would cause the country to collapse from debt after we died, it may be rational self-interest to vote for such a measure. However, good policy it would not be. I think "good voter" didn't have quite the same ring to it as "rational voter."
Right. And voting for money to be taken from others and to be given to you is certainly in your own self-interest.

[Primbs]

Many voters are emotional and ignorant. I doubt many in America follow Austrian economics. The Ron Paul campaign is reaching and teaching many Americans.

[Hook]

So, wait a sec. If a voter disagrees with the Cato Institute, he/she must be irrational or ignorant?! We can't allow democracy and choice because too many people will make stupid decisions? i thought the entire libertarian movement was about allowing people to make personal choices, no matter how uninformed they may be?

No, because when you vote, your are deciding on the use of force on others. Markets work when no force is involved in transactions. Government is nothing other than force.

[kylejack]

No, because when you vote, your are deciding on the use of force on others. Markets work when no force is involved in transactions. Government is nothing other than force.
Taking things from others is not necessarily irrational, and could certainly be a self-interested act.

[spiteface]

Does anyone really disagree with much of this?? I thought it was pretty much dead on. I could do with much less democracy and much more markets in my life.

[DrNoZone]

So, wait a sec. If a voter disagrees with the Cato Institute, he/she must be irrational or ignorant?! We can't allow democracy and choice because too many people will make stupid decisions? i thought the entire libertarian movement was about allowing people to make personal choices, no matter how uninformed they may be?

Cato Institute Libertarian? haha...in their wet dreams. The TRUE Libertarian think-tank and policy institute is the Reason Foundation (http://www.reason.org/).

[spiteface]

Yay, let's all bash Cato and prove our libertarian street cred, yawn.

[literatim]

Cato Institute Libertarian? haha...in their wet dreams. The TRUE Libertarian think-tank and policy institute is the Reason Foundation (http://www.reason.org/).

Reason Foundation encourages mind altering substance usage. Not exactly the type of organization I would ever want to associate myself with.

[kylejack]

Reason Foundation encourages mind altering substance usage. Not exactly the type of organization I would ever want to associate myself with.

Citation?

[DrNoZone]

Reason Foundation encourages mind altering substance usage. Not exactly the type of organization I would ever want to associate myself with.

What? They encourage it? No, I think you mean they advocate the end of the War On (Some) Drugs. And THAT, I support wholeheartedly.

[Edward]

Many voters are emotional and ignorant.Evidence by this poll (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?p=326165#post326165), that statement seems to apply to many in this forum.


The Ron Paul campaign is reaching and teaching many Americans.Sometimes I wonder if what he is teaching and what we are learning are the same things.

[Adamsa]

Evidence by this poll (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?p=326165#post326165), that statement seems to apply to many in this forum.

Sometimes I wonder if what he is teaching and what we are learning are the same things.

Voters in all camps can be ignorant, ourselves included.

[ConstitutionGal]

Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. -- H.L. Mencken

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. -- Alexander Tytler

Two quotes that immediately came to mind upon reading this.

[kylejack]

Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. -- H.L. Mencken

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. -- Alexander Tytler

Two quotes that immediately came to mind upon reading this.

The latter is alleged to be a myth as no substantiating text can be found to support it.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/tyler.asp

[ConstitutionGal]

The latter is alleged to be a myth as no substantiating text can be found to support it.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/tyler.asp

Well then, I guess I'll have to attribute it to -- Author Unknown :D

It rings true no matter who said it IMHO.

[jkaufmann]

Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. -- H.L. Mencken

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury. -- Alexander Tytler

Two quotes that immediately came to mind upon reading this.

I like this qoute (Not sure who made it)

"A good argument against Democracy is a 5 minute conversation with an average voter" -- Unknown

[ConstitutionGal]

I like this qoute (Not sure who made it)

"A good argument against Democracy is a 5 minute conversation with an average voter" -- Unknown


Ain't THAT the truth??!!! :eek:

[BuddyRey]

No, because when you vote, your are deciding on the use of force on others. Markets work when no force is involved in transactions. Government is nothing other than force.

That's true, but anybody arrogant enough to presume that those who don't share their worldview to the letter must be "irrational" or "ignorant", and especially that their rights should be curtailed BECAUSE of said ignorance, cannot honestly in the same breath claim to be a libertarian. These attitudes hint toward the presence of a serious God complex and suggest the political persuasion of a royalist or even a Fascist. I know that libertarians are and should rightly consider themselves ahead of the curve ideologically, but anybody who claims to hold a patent on absolute truth triggers my B.S. detector.

[Matt Collins]

Interesting responses. Right after Cato came out with this Reason Magazine had an article in the same vein.

[Matt Collins]

Bump for extreme relevance!

[danberkeley]

We can't allow democracy and choice because too many people will make stupid decisions? i thought the entire libertarian movement was about allowing people to make personal choices, no matter how uninformed they may be?

the answer to your first question is YES!! the problem is that these stupid decisions affect EVERYONE in the democracy instead of the individual alone.

for example...
in a democracy:
if 6 out of 10 people vote to jump off a bridge, all 10 people would have to jump off the bridge. this is bad because 4 people are FORCED to jump off the bridge.

in a libertarian society:
if 6 out of 10 people decide to jump off a bridge, only those 6 people would jump off the bridge. the 4 people who decide to not jump remain alive.

the answer to your second question is also YES!!!

[mport1]

This paper is excellent and explain why we are in the deep whole we are currently in and why we have so much further to go with this movement.

[danberkeley]

... and especially that their rights should be curtailed BECAUSE of said ignorance, cannot honestly in the same breath claim to be a libertarian...

what rights would be curtailed? Libertarians dont advocate the curtailing of rights of others.

[Matt Collins]

what rights would be curtailed? Libertarians dont advocate the curtailing of rights of others.
Conservatives and liberals do.

[Matt Collins]

I think this has been proven true unfortunately.