Democracy and Voter Knowledge

Paper Summary:

The paper reveals that Americans of late have been electing leaders based on sound bites and 30-second attack ads. The paper shows the dangers of an ill-informed public that does not vote intelligently and can easily be manipulated by these slick attack ads. The paper discusses the lies involved in the effective "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" attacks on John Kerry in the 2004 presidential campaign. The paper also relates that those uninformed may be unaware of election fraud that takes place.

Outline:
Introduction
Thesis
Literature Review
An Example of How Attack Ads Can Be Effective
Uninformed Voters May Be Unaware of Election Fraud
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Today's political campaigns seem to be more about using media (TV, radio commercials and Web sites) to distort the opposition's record than it is about extolling one's own record. Indeed, and unfortunately, Americans of late have been electing leaders based on sound bites and 30-second attack ads, which are, unfortunately, effective in many instances. Indeed, truth tends to get lost in the medium when hundreds of millions of dollars are raised by both sides - Republicans and Democrats - to produce very glossy ads that embrace propaganda and distort the truth."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kennedy, Robert F. "Was the 2004 Election Stolen?" Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 26,2007, from http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10432334/was_the_2004_election_stolen.
• McCullagh, Declan. "Liberal Net rules spawn political attack ads." C/NEW News. Retrieved April 26, 2007, from http://news.com.com/liberal+Net+rules+spawn+political+attack+ads/2100-1028_3-5207277.html.
• Media Matters For America. "Submerging the truth about Swift Boat Vets on Hannity& Colmes, Scarborough Country." (2004): Retrieved April 26, 2007, fromhttp://mediamatters.org/items/printable/200408050007.
• PEW Internet & American Life Project. "Young high-speed users flock to internet forCampaign news." (2004): Retrieved April 26, 2007, from http://www.pewinternet.org/ppf/p/1023/pipcomments.asp.
• PEW Research Center for the People & the Press. "Fewer Turn to Broadcast TV andPapers. (2000): Retrieved April 25, 2007, fromhttp://people-press.org/reports/print.php3?PageID=243.

More papers on Democracy and Voter Knowledge:

• Analytical Essay # 4643 : "Democracy and the Libertarian Ideal of Self-Ownership"
• Essay # 137931 : "What is a “weak” democracy and what is a “strong” democracy? A Look at Richard Swift’s 2002 text"
• Analytical Essay # 136809 : "Democracy and Economic Performance"

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