Taking their vote for granted, idiocy

Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. That is often attributed to Winston Churchill, and he did indeed say it in British Parliament when he was Leader of the Opposition on Nov. 11, 1947. But he was giving an unknown person credit for the quip.

“No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise,” he said. “Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time; but there is the broad feeling in our country that the people should rule, continuously rule, and that public opinion, expressed by all constitutional means, should shape, guide, and control the actions of Ministers who are their servants and not their masters.”

Regardless of who said it, it’s true. Democracy is easily argued to be the best form of government we have yet invented, and it relies on us to make it good. So why don’t young people contribute? It’s free and easy and can even get you out of work. We asked these questions years ago to U of M political science professors and we revisit their answers today on the eve of another election.

And to those people who choose not to vote, you’re idiots. That is what a classics professor tells us below too.

Why don’t young people vote?

Why bother voting?

Are people who don’t vote idiots?