[mbrumlow]

Maybe those who participate in democracy should have to demonstrate some level educations on the topics they vote on?

Because if you are right it’s a loosing battle. The masses will always be under informed, and under educated. And the only way to inform and educate them would result very undemocratic society.

[AnimalMuppet]

And who is going to determine which voters are sufficiently educated on the topics to be allowed to vote? Do you not see how that could become problematic, in the wrong hands?

Would you trust that power in Trump's hands? If so, would you have trusted it in Biden's?

"Keep it from getting into the wrong hands, forever" is not a workable plan. The correct plan is "the government doesn't get that power".

[awesome_dude]

> Maybe those who participate in democracy should have to demonstrate some level educations on the topics they vote on?

This has been raised for decades, if not centuries.

The problem is that what is or isn't considered an educated view is /heavily/ dependent on... the political bent of the person(s) articulating the view, and the person(s) making the determination.

What's worse is that "fringe" views can often lead us to something that has previously been overlooked.

Finally - Australia has 100% compulsory voting - everyone must vote in elections, else receive a fine. That's intended to be sure that everyone is involved in providing their opinion on how the political body that's being voted on is an accurate reflection of the people being governed. What it doesn't do is force people to care, and a phenomena known as a "Donkey vote" occurs.

You can force people to attend classes educating them on civics, but you cannot force them to absorb, or even care, because, for a lot of people, politics is so repulsive - all they see is people squabbling about abstract ideas that the voters have next to no understanding how, or even if, it will affect them.

[mohamedkoubaa]

Educated is not the same axis as informed

[mbrumlow]

Correct, the word “and” is a coordinating conjunction. It joins two parallel adjectives. They’re related, but they’re not the same axis.