1/3 Of America T-Shirt
Based on the available statistics, only about half of registered voters actually vote in a presidential election. (Source)
| 1980 | 163,945,000 | 86,497,000 | 52.8% |
| 1984 | 173,995,000 | 92,655,000 | 53.3% |
| 1988 | 181,956,000 | 91,587,000 | 50.3% |
| 1992 | 189,493,000 | 104,600,000 | 55.2% |
| 1996 | 196,789,000 | 96,390,000 | 49.0% |
| 2000 | 209,787,000 | 105,594,000 | 50.3% |
| 2004 | 219,553,000 | 122,349,000 | 55.7% |
| 2008 | 229,945,000 | 131,407,000 | 58.2% |
| 2012 | 235,248,000 | 129,235,000 | 54.9% |
| 2016 | 250,056,000 (estimated)[10] | 138,847,000 (estimated)[10] | 55.5% (estimated)[10] |
Figures are much lower during other elections. Take the average and we estimate that about 1/3 of voters turn out to vote.
What about education? How many voters are educated beyond election ads, social media comments, and what the news media chooses to report? Overall, elections are controlled by feelings rather than facts. What is the actual background of the candidates? What is their experience, feelings on important issues, general mode of operation, communication skills, are they born leaders, followers, or parrots who repeat what they have been told to say? Do they think on their own? Are they able to solve complex problems? Are they detail orientated or do they think the first idea that pops into their head will solve the problem? Are they aware whose money they are spending and how much the general public is over taxed? What is their religious background? What is their take on the Constitution? There is way too much we should learn about candidates at every level than can be covered on a one minute commercial.
It seems common for one candidate to attack the others. No one discusses their qualifications. Candidates prefer to point out their opponent’s faults. What does that tell anyone about their qualifications? Nothing. America has been fooled into thinking they have all the facts from a one minute commercial and 30 second news story. The once unbiased news is long dead and buried. Major news stations side with one political party or the other. This is further complicated by the now popular fake news agencies that have been storming the Internet. Some of those fake news sites mimic major news websites. (Source)
Fake news is one of two things. Fake news is either a money making machine for an individual or small company, or it is a propaganda machine. Take your pick. Neither one is reliable and both have their sights set on the all mighty dollar. To make matters worse, people make money by reporting fake news. Look at the monkey wrench that throws into the overall picture. Even politicians are gong to figure out, they can either spend over a billion dollars to get elected, or for a few thousand dollars they can create a fake news website and make a few million dollars. Do you think we have politicians smart enough to figure that one out?
Voting is important. Educating yourself before you vote is priceless. Make a check list of the issues that are important to you. Hit the Internet and find out how carrier politicians have been voting on issues. Identify your source of news. Don’t let the enemy fool you with propaganda. Even a small piece of information is worth more than no information.
Only an educated America will truly be a free America.