Poll: 59% of political “insiders” believe public is ill informed
When it comes to trust, the political class doesn’t have a lot of faith in the public’s IQ. In the latest National Journal Political Insiders Poll a solid majority of political operatives—59 percent—said the public didn’t “know enough about the issues facing Washington to form wise opinions about what should be done.” There was a sharp partisan difference between the two parties: by more than a two-to-one margin, Democratic Insiders believed the public didn’t “know enough,” while a slight majority of Republicans thought they did.
One reason for the skeptical attitudes of the Democrats and the relatively sanguine view of Republicans is that they reflect the outcome of the midterm elections. “The guys who just got turfed out know that the public doesn’t know enough to make these decisions and the guys who got brought in know that it does,” observed University of Wisconsin political scientist Shafer. “There is a heavy shadow of the 2010 elections in these numbers.”
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We are ill-informed every time we listen to the “insiders”.
SKYFOX on March 24, 2011 at 3:44 PM
Poll: 100% of public think that “political insiders” are vile, smug, elite, condescending, opportunists.
aquaviva on March 24, 2011 at 3:45 PM
That’s just how the insiders like it.
zmdavid on March 24, 2011 at 3:46 PM
The Dem insiders think even less of the general public than the GOP insiders do. Of course they are quite familiar with their own base.
katiejane on March 24, 2011 at 3:46 PM
The Democrats depend on ill-informed voters for their election prospects. Voters who know and understand what’s going on won’t vote for Democrats.
backwoods conservative on March 24, 2011 at 3:47 PM
So 41% of political insiders are ill-informed?
DarkCurrent on March 24, 2011 at 3:47 PM
That’s all?
karl9000 on March 24, 2011 at 3:48 PM
thanking the alphabet media for this.
hawkman on March 24, 2011 at 3:50 PM
I blame the messaging….
ted c on March 24, 2011 at 3:50 PM
They do have a point. Look at the percentages of people who think that foreign aid, and not SS, Medicare or Medicaid, are driving the debt. Or the amount of people who have no idea what the public sector unions are doing to state and local budgets. Those of us who are politically aware know these things; sadly, the rest of the populace is watching “The Real Housewives of Plastic Surgery Disasters” and wondering if Lady Gaga spent more than a couple of hours in her egg.
Badger in KC on March 24, 2011 at 3:50 PM
The public is ill-informed.
But “political insiders” are more so.
Abby Adams on March 24, 2011 at 3:50 PM
Any poll like this shouldn’t be done unless names are named.
I wish we could force every single one of these crapweasels stand for re-election next month.
From a Dem in the article. Of course his (?) solution to these problems is likely to be far different than mine.
fiatboomer on March 24, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Well on the one hand Obama did get elected so they may have a point… on the other hand they probably think that was a splendid idea so they can go pound salt.
sharrukin on March 24, 2011 at 3:51 PM
59% of political insiders are ill-informed.
Skywise on March 24, 2011 at 3:51 PM
The Dems see Americans as poor, oppressed, uneducated retards that can’t fend for themselves. Of course that does make up the preponderance of Democratic voters.
Republicans tend to just see themselves.
hisfrogness on March 24, 2011 at 3:52 PM
Translation-
59% of political “insiders” think people aren’t buying their bull$hit because of “messaging issues”
teke184 on March 24, 2011 at 3:52 PM
The public IS ill-informed, but the tide is turning. 2010 is a sign of the latter, not the former despite what the so-called insiders might believe.
Doughboy on March 24, 2011 at 3:53 PM
To your elitist, pompous, arrogant dismay…we do know enough. That’s why your arses got dumped out. Keep insulting Americans, and let’s see how far that takes you!
The real problem is…there are those, and a few who come here, that really believe what they read, and see from the alleged medias, be they papers, magazines or television. They have no idea that they’re probably being laughed for being stupid, and gullible, and easily swayed. In other words, they’ll keep shilling and schlepping, and they count on their pawns to lap it up like a cow on a salt lick.
capejasmine on March 24, 2011 at 3:54 PM
…and political insiders like to keep it that way.
CityFish on March 24, 2011 at 3:55 PM
I’m not sure they are wrong about a majority being ill-informed. Isn’t that how we ended up w/Barack Obama? I just don’t believe people are “ill-informed” in the way they think they are. People voted for someone they were assured by the elites and the press was a “pragmatist”. Now they are finding out otherwise, and are paying attention. That is why they are “ill-informed”, because they are no longer listening, swallowing and trusting whole cloth what the insiders are saying.
JAM on March 24, 2011 at 3:56 PM
This poll shows the biggest problem the country faces. when our leaders look at those they lead as stupid idiots. they will not respect the will of the people. why would you respect the will of stupid ingnorant people?
you will not. Never before in our hostory has our leaders lloked OPENLY on its citizens in this manner. This does not end well. Until or unles sour leader respect our will and our opinions they will continue to pass crap bills like Obamacare and tell themselves they know better than us.
This can not stand. This is what leads directly to dictatorships, coups, and revolu!ions.
this is a Big Fing Deal.
unseen on March 24, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Alternate headline:
Marie Antoinette thinks peasants smell.
CurtZHP on March 24, 2011 at 4:00 PM
You forgot corrupt, power-hungry, Constitution-despising, and a totalitarian core.
INC on March 24, 2011 at 4:03 PM
I agree. If Dems had remained power in the House and in state governments around the country, the opinion of these 59% would have been confirmed. The booting of so many Dems proves that some voters in the middle have decided to become better informed.
BuckeyeSam on March 24, 2011 at 4:05 PM
Right. It takes two to tango and the ill-informed side is pretty much ready to dump those who are supposed to inform us, especially since we pay for the tickets to the dance.
Dusty on March 24, 2011 at 4:05 PM
Who elected these guys? Ill informed voters.
Herb on March 24, 2011 at 4:07 PM
obviously the informed public is much better at make decisions that corrupt, short-sighted pols.
but, as we all know, there are vast numbers of “voters” who are totally uninformed….but are expert in all things Charlie Sheen.
the left/media/dims feed off of this group
r keller on March 24, 2011 at 4:07 PM
I was going to say that, but thought it might give them ideas for spending taxpayers money to address that. You know, like, giving millions to the BBC.
Dusty on March 24, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Of course Democrats think the public is misinformed – they’re counting on their friends in the Media to make sure.
They can go right on ahead underestimating us. That way lies defeat.
JeffWeimer on March 24, 2011 at 4:14 PM
In other words, 59% of the people who’ve brought this once great nation to it’s knees believe the public is ill informed.
…And, unfortunately they’re probably right. That’s why we were stupid enough to elect the corrupt bastages and their loathsome “insiders” in the first place.
FloatingRock on March 24, 2011 at 4:15 PM
The public is ill informed and the blame lays squarely on the media.
The media is treasonous.
darwin on March 24, 2011 at 4:19 PM
Translation: “You rubes are way too stupid to know what’s best for you, so we will be deciding for you from now on.”
laurakbarr on March 24, 2011 at 4:37 PM
All the great “leaders” thought the same. Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot,hitler, Mao, etc.
Anyone think Reagan thoought this way?
think about that then get back to me on why this poll is a very big deal.
unseen on March 24, 2011 at 4:40 PM
Who are these people and why should I care what they think?
Fallon on March 24, 2011 at 4:59 PM
And yet they spend all their time blowing smoke up our a55es.
ronsfi on March 24, 2011 at 4:59 PM
The thing is, they’re RIGHT to an extent. Huge numbers of Americans are not only I’ll-formed, but show little interest in getting informed about the issues. I mean, weren’t you snidely remarking just this week about how us moderates want to appeal to Indy voters, who have a higher percentage of people who are less knowledgeable on the issues / candidates?
Vyce on March 24, 2011 at 5:23 PM
And yet, we have people right here on this blog who lap up everything these morons put out there!
Remember if you can’t see the brilliance in Romney, Daniels, Christie, Huckabee, Gingrich, and whatever other hack these “thought leaders” push out there, YOU’RE STUPID!
Remember that, YOU ARE STUPID.
How do we know this? Our “betters” just told us so!
gary4205 on March 24, 2011 at 5:31 PM
Translation:
59% of political insiders feeling queasy about their jobs now that the middle class conservative has become involved and activist about lousy “insider” knowledge. Fears of tar and pitchforks predominate.
ExpressoBold on March 24, 2011 at 5:43 PM