From the Richmond Times Dispatch 7/23/10
Six in ten Virginians are unfamiliar with the Tea PartyBy: Olympia Meola
Published: July 23, 2010 7:12 AMWe told you this morning that Virginia Commonwealth University released a poll showing a mixed favorability rating for Gov. Bob McDonnell.
It’s really the first independent poll aiming to capture the governor’s approval rating since he took office in January—other than a poll commissioned in June by his political action committee, Opportunity Virginia, which pegged his approval rating at 63 percent.
Of the 810 adults surveyed, 10 percent rated McDonnell’s job as governor as excellent, 30 percent as good, 34 percent as fair and 10 percent as poor.
The poll also found that the most Virginians are unfamiliar with the Tea Party movement, which has not only grabbed headlines for the past year but could have sway in the Congressional elections this fall. Six‐in‐10 Virginians hold no opinion about the Tea Party movement, while 19 percent have a favorable view and 21 percent have an unfavorable view of the movement.
Just out of curiosity, do some of the folks who were polled live in a cave? How can they not have heard of the Tea Party? I have no problem with their rating of the governor, but no not have heard of the Tea Party?
Of the 40% who have heard of the movement, I find it even more interesting that 19% have a favorable view and 21% have an unfavorable opinion. Where do these people live and do they own televisions? Maybe I am no longer a ‘real Virginian.’ I just don’t get it.
More on VCU Poll.
That is downright frightening. I am no longer holding any stock at all in polls. Well, maybe I will since the polling on the AZ law says 70% of them support it. Apparently at least 60% of Americans (or Virginians anyway) are ignorant and don’t pay attention to any sort of news at all. How can anyone take any kind of poll seriously if it turns out that most people are ignorant? Maybe we ought to re-think this whole Democracy thingy where every citizen has a say!
It does help explain the electoral college. The early framers thought that the average person was too ignorant to elect a president, apparently.
Somehow I’m not surprised. I volunteer at a thrift shop and once in a while I’ll start a conversation with a co-worker with “Did you hear or read about such and such?” Often I get the answer that they don’t listen to the news (get’s them down) or read the paper. Supposedly educated people. So, no, I’m not surprised.
As for voting – we’ve got an example in S. Carolina who got voted in because his name was first on the ballot!
I still haven’t figured that guy out, Punchak. Where did he come from and who elected him? How did he even get on the ballot?
None of this is surprising, when so many people I talk to describe themselves as “apolitical” and know more about “American Idol” or “Dancing With the Stars” than they do about where their tax dollars go.
The People have ceded so much power to the government that we’ve stopped being good stewards of our elected officials – holding them accountable – now we simply do what they tell us to do.
I used to joke around that we elected our first American Idol president. But, the joke’s on me because he IS the President and we have to deal with the ramifications of the decision of the electorate.
MH, ever watch the movie Idiocracy?
No, I sure haven’t seen that movie, Marin.
I agree with Emma. It seems the public knows more about reality shows than it does about reality.
this does not surprise me at all. You only have a little over 50% of the population coming out for a Presidential Election, even less for off years and local elections.
And, yes, Americans are largely ignorant about many topics, even the topics directly affect them and that should matter to them. They are also swayed easily by marketing and spin (more so than citizens of other countries).
@Moon-howler
Here is a good discussion and a link to a newspaper article about Alvin Greene:
http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2010/07/personnel-file.html
And, if this poll is accurate, explains how President Obama was elected. Uninformed citizens that REFUSE to be informed and then, vote on extraneous, superficial qualities.
Actually, it explains how A LOT of politicians have been elected.
Interviews after the election, of people exiting polls, showed that those voting for Obama knew NOTHING about his plans, programs, or past and supported McCain’s plans if Obama was named as the originator.
We can survive incompetent politicians, even in the Presidency. We CANNOT survive an incompetent citizenry.
It also helps explain how the current state officials were elected. Very low voter turn out I belleve. 40% rings a bell.
@Cargo, your comment really doesn’t leave much room for ideological differences.
I think it’s apathy and not incompetence; in other words most citizens have the capacity to be informed, they just don’t care enough to make the effort. I bet more Americans can name the celebrity the judicial system sent to jail this week than can name the woman the Senate Judiciary Committee approved this week for a seat on the Supreme Court.
I won’t bet you because I totally agree with you.
Speaking of the Supremes, excellent overage on the Supreme Court in the WaPo today. Most conservative court since 1937.