'Low information voters'

Rush Limbaugh calls them "low information voters." I have used much less flattering terms in the past.

But regardless of the label, there is a large and unfortunately growing number of voters who are absolutely clueless on issues or a candidate's position, background, experience, etc.

And before you liberal bottom-feeders think I am addressing only low information Democrats, the GOP has its share as well.

We laugh when some quasi-newsman takes to the man-on-the-street interviews and gets the most bizarre and always wrong responses from average voters.

Instead of laughing, we should be afraid. Very afraid.

My grandparents -- may they rest in peace -- would have been classified as low information voters by choice. Having endured and suffered through the Great Depression, they would have never pulled a Republican lever even if the Democratic candidate was a felon and self-avowed crook.

But times change, and the manner in which we gather our information changes. And the sad reality is that some voters lack the intellectual level to comprehend anything beyond a supermarket tabloid.

When voters can tell you every detail about Lady Gaga but fail to know who represents them in Congress, there's trouble in River City.

And yet they vote!

And there is still another category of voters who are informed but cannot accept as truth any and all information that runs counter to their belief.

These voters would not give credit to this President regardless of the policy or -- on the other side of the aisle -- would blame Republicans if their fast food meal was not correct.

Historically, there are segments of voting blocs that can be counted to vote party line without fail. Speaking very generally -- so don't throw stones -- but union households and minority voters form a foundation for the Democrats and the Christian right and the military seem to fall into the GOP category more often than not.

But the growing concern is that the dependent class will always support those who promise more for them. And it matters not who pays this price tag or how this financial outlay will end; their votes are a virtual certainty for those who promise the most.

But what we're learning is that costly promises will eventually lead to a day when the debt comes due and the coffers are empty.

If, or perhaps when we reach the point where Jerry Springer devotees form the majority of voters, think for just one moment where that will lead.

We can't mandate that voters have some minimal level of understanding but we can certainly pray that informed voters outnumber low information voters.

Otherwise, the issue is not fiscal responsibility. The issue is survival.

Michael Jensen is the publisher of the Sikeston Standard Democrat.