“.Reasonable people are gobsmacked”
There’s the problem right there.
To expect that all people who vote are reasonable is a fantasy.
We are left with the only alternative, either find a way to manipulate the public or cheat to elect a “reasonable” candidate.
Not advocating just stating the obvious.
The public at large has lost the ability to reason.
“The public at large has lost the ability to reason.”
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Those who are able to even approach the level of genuine logical reasoning have always been in the minority. What is so different now compared to the early days of this country is that it is much easier for unscrupulous demagogues to appeal to the mentally challenged using modern communications technology and secondly the level of education (as distinguished from mere possession of diplomas) is far lower on average now. We have removed all traditional requirements for voting such as ability to read and write and have lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 at a time when the average person has far less understanding of government and the average 18 year old is about as mature as the average 12 year old of 200 years ago.
What could possibly go wrong? We are reaping the harvest of democracy in practice. Our constitutional republic which was bought at such a high price in blood has been trampled on and replaced with an operational democracy which we were never supposed to have. Far from being the answer to all the problems of mankind REAL democracy is a horrid form of government. “One man one vote” is a recipe for disaster. You cannot have the people who live off government giveaways electing the people who enact the giveaway programs. You may as well negotiate the price of a piece of real estate by asking the seller how much he will ALLOW you to pay him!