PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE

People who steer political campaigns often complain of the apparent fickleness of the American voter.

Public opinion polls drive most campaign, as voters seem to shift positions in a matter of weeks, or sometimes, days. Why is this? Are voters so easily influenced by persuasive candidates? Or is it something else?

The results from a new Washington Post survey indicate it is something much worse. Many voters apparently are oblivious to politics -- its parties, candidates and ideologies. The public is less informed on major issues than even the most cynical campaign adviser fears.

For example, the Post survey found:

- Four in 10 Americans are unable to name the vice president of the United States.

- 46 percent can't name the speaker of the House. (Hint: He was just on the cover of Time.)

- Three in 10 don't know which party favored making greater reductions in Medicare spending growth.

- Only 52 percent said that the Republican Party is "more conservative" than the Democratic Party.

Is it any wonder why change agents in government find their task so daunting? How can voters complain about the deficit, crime, taxes, and other government ills when so many of them don't care to seek even basic knowledge of their government. A French philosopher-politician once said, "Our ignorance is the raw material of every extortion that is practiced upon us."

The uninformed become the gullible. When government is unable to impose any law or tax or program without the consent of the people, bad laws, excessive taxes and wasteful programs can be thrust on the people only through deception.

One need only look at the current budget debate to find a glut of demagogic deception. But showered on an uninformed public it has its effect: A schizophrenic electorate continues to accede its own demise.